Chin 4x 10
Lunges 4x 10
Bentover Row 4×10Rest 180 seconds between sets and repeat 4 times
These are what I call the fine points of personal training.
A qualified trainer will access the level at which you should start your workouts, and analyze your technique to make sure you don’t incur any injuries. Take the person squatting in the preceding example – was there to much weight on the bar?
Were his knees buckling while squatting?
What about his foot position?
Was the bar placed properly on his back?
Was he looking down while squatting? Was he rounding his back while squatting?
The list of important technical elements goes on and on, and this is just a single exercise. You are NOT going to master all of this after simply reading a magazine article (even if you are both athletic and intelligent).
Furthermore, the person probably wasn’t even physically prepared to squat in a safe and proper manner yet for a number of reasons. At my gym we never let a new client squat in their first phase of training because they first need to improve their structural balance to ensure they are physically ready to squat safely!
What is your goal? Identify a measurable goal to be achieved in a specific period of time, and then determine how much time you have to commit to your objective.
Then really ask yourself if this is a realistic goal within that period of time given the amount of time you are willing and able to commit to the task.
For example, a guy came into my office and said he wanted to lose thirty pounds in eight weeks. I said it could be done, but I wanted to know his level of commitment. He says that he is extremely busy with work so he can only train twice per week with me. I said I can work with that, but how much time can you train on your own? He told me that’s it – twice each week with me and no training at all on his own. I said I cannot help you.
He looked surprised I wasn’t taking his business and asked me why. I told him there is no way you are going to lose thirty pounds of fat if you are only training twice per week. I don’t care how great your diet is, you are on you have to step it up to a minimum of four training sessions per week in addition to maintaining very good eating habits.
To make a long story short, I show him the fine points of what is realistic in terms of his commitment and goals. He came back six weeks later and we draft a training plan and after three months and the loss of thirty-five pounds of fat he is a happy man.
I just wanted to shed some light on the benefits of hiring a professional to help you through the fine points of training. Pro athletes need a coach so why don’t you too? I myself will not hesitate to hire a coach to help me on the fine points in the areas I believe I am lacking. Time is money and injuries suck!
I almost forgot, for any of you out there who read magazines while on the treadmill – THIS IS NO WAY TO TRAIN IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL! It’s not going to happen! Put down the magazine and get serious! Just one of my pet peeves that drives me crazy…
About the Author: Clance Laylor
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