These days you can train like a Spartan, or a caveman, or a superhero. There are tons of articles describing the training regimens of this or that actor or actress or star player, but do they work? Continue reading If you’re not a Pro, don’t try training like one
All posts by averagenorm
Making progress
We have often talked about progressive exercises in the past. The idea is that as you train, you will eventually need to move to more challenging exercises to make further progress. Today we are going to take a look at a few ways to do this.
Breaking it down
People have mixed opinions about partial movements. Many think they’re utterly useless, while some others believe they’re harmful. That can be true if they’re done mindlessly, but there are many ways in which consciously doing partials can help you. Continue reading Breaking it down
Warm up
Some people shrug warm ups off or do them half heartedly as undesirable foreplay to “real” exercise, but the truth is that warming up before effort is a great idea if you want to stay whole. Not only does it help with long term injury prevention, but it also prepares the body for movement, which gives you better performance during – and more benefit from – the actual exercise. Continue reading Warm up
Isometrics
When you think “exercise”, you probably imagine some sort of movement. And, in most cases, you’d be spot on. Isometric exercises however are a special case, where you exercise without actually moving.
Do not for a second imagine that this makes them any easier to perform. Continue reading Isometrics
The Plank
Yarr! Happy international talk like a pirate day! Today we’ll be looking at a staple of piratey life, the plank!
Well, almost; the plank we’ll be talking about is not the one you’re made to walk off into shark filled waters, but an awesome abdominal exercise.
Mindful exercise
Or, why you should pay attention to what you’re doing.
It’s easy to get caught in a rhythm when you’re doing an exercise. Whether it’s a martial art drill, or a set of squats, as soon as you settle into a pattern your body seems to go off on autopilot, and your mind starts to wander. Ideally, you want to avoid that. Continue reading Mindful exercise
Exercise, Training, and Play
In one of his articles, Mark Rippetoe discusses the difference between exercise and training, and why the two should not be confused. Understanding the distinction is crucial if you want to improve yourself over the long term. Continue reading Exercise, Training, and Play
Bring on the weights!
Before you ask: no, barbells are not strange alien devices which will turn you into The Hulk just by being in the same building. But more on that later.
Weights are a fundamental component of fitness training. Whether you want to get stronger or just shape up, exercising with weights regularly will get you there. While the barbells and dumbbells are relatively recent developments, the idea of getting stronger by lifting heavy stuff has been with us for time immemorial. There are artefacts from ancient Greece describing progressive weight training, and it likely that they weren’t the first people to figure it out. Continue reading Bring on the weights!
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Most of us have been felt it sometimes – and if you haven’t, chances are you will at some point. That dull pain that can set in up to a couple of days after a particularly harsh workout, and makes even the smallest movement an absolute torment. While it can happen to everyone, regardless of age and condition, and can be annoying or painful as hell, there’s no need to let the idea put you off your exercise. Here’s why. Continue reading Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)