Trainers and coaches frequently get this question. It comes from friends, family and gym goers alike and usually involves a “few exercises to get rid of this” as they gesture toward their “love-handles” or “wings.” At face value it might seem to be a reasonable request but if we look a little deeper into the issue the usual response of “no” might make more sense. First, I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes:
Routine is the antithesis of progress.
Obviously, you want an overall plan or, perhaps, even a protocol to shoot from, but a day-to-day routine is exactly the mistake many “disciplined gym-goers” make. Maybe a trainer once wrote them a routine or maybe they’ve taken exercises from the internet or a magazine but I can almost assure you that routine hasn’t evolved to any reasonable degree since they started. Nor has their physical fitness or health. A routine becomes boring, not only mentally but also physically. When the routine is in place, workouts become predictable and progress slows, and then stops. Isn’t a predictable and familiar set of activities with which we are comfortable what allows our body to become weak or soft or unhealthy in the first place?
This offer is only valid for one week.
Would you go to a car dealership and ask to purchase a car for as little as possible or for free knowing it would only last you a week? A “quick routine for you to do” would have to include probably a page and a half of small print essentially explaining why the routine would only be good for the first week, would not guarantee the results you want nor that you would remain injury free due to lack of coaching. And the coaching piece is perhaps the biggest point to be made here.
What’s wrong with having a routine you follow at the gym to keep you active?
There is definitely nothing wrong with that, and it’s a good start, but it is certainly a low standard and a misinterpretation of the definition of wellness. A good workout is about more than breaking a sweat, feeling tired and being sore in the morning. A good workout brings about progress, positive physical changes and an improvement in wellness. Bending, twisting, reaching and squatting are things we need to do, but they are also all things we need to learn to do both in the gym and out. You can mimic Tony Horton or Denise Austin to the best of your ability but they cannot coach you in the movements to avoid injury or get the most from your efforts.
We’re here to help.
Most good trainers have a combination of 3 things; personal experience, education and a passion for helping people achieve their goals. Many have been overweight or unhealthy in the past and probably all of them have gotten out of the rut. Most should be (or at least have been) competitive in a realm of physical performance. A lot of good trainers will have degrees and certifications to back their experiences. And every single trainer I have met, good or bad, has a passion for helping create positive changes in the health and wellness of others. With resources like this available to you, why settle for a quickly written, and almost immediately obsolete, routine or dancing with a videotape? Why wonder if you’re doing things right and, not only getting results, but staying injury free and progressing? You would take your car in to a mechanic for maintenance and repairs to save money in the long run and to continue with your day-to-day life, why not take the same care with your body?
~Matt Brouse
Personal Trainer
Anytime Fitness of Lakeville
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