Q: Should I be training for something or just working out?
A: Whether you are starting a new program, or already working out consistently, this question seems to enter everyone's mind at some point. Sometimes it seems like everyone around you is training for something; sometimes it seems like you are the only one you know in the gym. The easy answer for us is three part:
1. You are content with your body and your routine. Unless you feel the need to become increasingly competitive, you could probably go "run your race" any day. As long as you are content where you fall out in the mix when you complete any activity you participate in, just keep enjoying your workout time. If you feel stuck in a rut, a new Peak Functional Fitness plan can help.
2. You are competing some, but not as well as you would like. Try picking an activity 60-90 days out, and order an Athlete plan for you based on your goals and the time you are willing to dedicate. Stick with it, even if you don't like it at first. This is a change, and all changes come with ups and downs. Make sure you get to see the results. If you like the results, the plan can always be changed to make it fun and enjoyable for you. If you don't, well you are in better shape (hopefully) than when you started and can always return to working on your Peak Functional Fitness.
3. You are the couch potato or have just started your foray into the wonderful world of fitness. For many people here, the goal tends to be weight motivated. While there are numerous "Couch to..." programs out there, we have one simple question: Do you want to say you completed one event, or do you want to transition to a lifestyle of lasting fitness? A good Functional Fitness plan can get you to that same race, and keep you moving forward. Once you are fit, and ready to progress to winning your age-group, then seek out the Athlete plan that is right for you!
23.11.11
Daily Lifestyle Fact - 22.11.11
Working out at 80% of your maximum yields the same physiological benefits as if you were training at 100%? Train a little less, and save that extra energy for your races!
22.11.11
Lab Rat 1.1 - Do NOT Try This at Home
Ok. So, my short version of advice: Do not plan on using either of these unmodified for strength/resistance training post-partum. The core workout from The Complete Book of Core Training (c) 2006 is an excellent core workout, but not strength. If you follow another strength program, I could recommend it for the core portion (if not provided). It starts extremely easy. This is probably another reason why I don't like it. :) TRX - Military Fitness Guide (c) 2007 is a decent attempt at getting your full body moving. The moves are too complicated or require too much starting balance for new mothers, especially those who haven't worked out much in the past. For the complexity, they don't address enough of the major muscle groups effectively. So, we will call this my experiment week. No need for you to repeat. I will add in an extra week at the end, so the nine week program will be 10 weeks of posting.
The up-side is that if you try to combine these, you will feel a lot of solid core work. They do provide balance and stability training (almost to excess); what I really wanted to ensure made it into the end workout. I like the TRX very, very much. It will continue to be the focus of the workouts because of one simple thing: body mass. The workouts themselves are getting scrapped completely, and I am writing new ones. I am trying to give you a strength workout from home. This allows anyone with a door or outside on a tree...I live on a boat...no excuses...to manipulate their body weight into dead weight (i.e. your resistance). (Picture of my setup at the end.)
Since I am changing the workout so drastically, I am going to post it at the end, vice beginning, of the week. I will let you know how the lab rat fares, and you can follow along a week behind (at your own risk, provided for informational purposes only, I am not liable for your actions...you get the picture). Please comment all you want. I will approve them all as long as you would let your child read them. :)
Lab Rat's Top 10:
1. Lots of core = sore abdominals = happy rat.
2. Difficult moves for a short door.
3. Not enough leg muscle recruitment.
4. Good arm strength requirements.
5. More strength was maintained than I expected through the past two months.
6. More stamina is gone than I had hoped.
7. My body is craving cardio (not normal for me).
8. Body feels tighter (that annoying just had a child squishy feeling is gone). (MY FAVORITE!)
9. Was excited that the 2-month old liked watching and the 2-year old tried to work out.
10. Have to watch not pushing too hard too fast. This is the big one if you were active as late as possible in pregnancy. My body now has a taste of working out and wants to "go, go, go!" in the words of my 2-year old. For me, completing a workout that I want any of you to be able to use (assuming you are in reasonable health) will keep me grounded. Find something that will do the same for you. Otherwise, I can see injury trying to crop up just when we take off.
To New Moms!
-Crystal
The up-side is that if you try to combine these, you will feel a lot of solid core work. They do provide balance and stability training (almost to excess); what I really wanted to ensure made it into the end workout. I like the TRX very, very much. It will continue to be the focus of the workouts because of one simple thing: body mass. The workouts themselves are getting scrapped completely, and I am writing new ones. I am trying to give you a strength workout from home. This allows anyone with a door or outside on a tree...I live on a boat...no excuses...to manipulate their body weight into dead weight (i.e. your resistance). (Picture of my setup at the end.)
Since I am changing the workout so drastically, I am going to post it at the end, vice beginning, of the week. I will let you know how the lab rat fares, and you can follow along a week behind (at your own risk, provided for informational purposes only, I am not liable for your actions...you get the picture). Please comment all you want. I will approve them all as long as you would let your child read them. :)
Lab Rat's Top 10:
1. Lots of core = sore abdominals = happy rat.
2. Difficult moves for a short door.
3. Not enough leg muscle recruitment.
4. Good arm strength requirements.
5. More strength was maintained than I expected through the past two months.
6. More stamina is gone than I had hoped.
7. My body is craving cardio (not normal for me).
8. Body feels tighter (that annoying just had a child squishy feeling is gone). (MY FAVORITE!)
9. Was excited that the 2-month old liked watching and the 2-year old tried to work out.
10. Have to watch not pushing too hard too fast. This is the big one if you were active as late as possible in pregnancy. My body now has a taste of working out and wants to "go, go, go!" in the words of my 2-year old. For me, completing a workout that I want any of you to be able to use (assuming you are in reasonable health) will keep me grounded. Find something that will do the same for you. Otherwise, I can see injury trying to crop up just when we take off.
To New Moms!
-Crystal
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