Over the past month I seem to have barely trained at all. I've been squeezing in pullups and jumping at working, with the odd flag thrown in for good measure. I've actually been to the gym twice in that time. Both workouts were 'ok'. One thing I have been doing a lot of is mobility training. This is VERY different to stretching. Mobility is about getting each and every joint moving in it's fullest range of motion and actually pushing the stuff that hurts into areas it doesn't like. I've mainly been doing Steve Maxwell's mobility DVDs and concentrating on my spine, hips and shoulders. I am already seeing some benefits but it's not going to make a big difference overnight when I have been shutting down my range of motion for the last 20 odd years! I would recommend this for anyone who is 35 and over and feels that weights and stretching alone are not making them move as well as they should.
This brings me to simplicity in training. I am sure you are all aware of the difficulty in deciding on a training routine. I have note pads galore full of training routines for myself and my charges but more often than not the simple stuff is what works and what people enjoy. My wife is a classic example. I would like her to follow a preset running regime but instead she sets herself simple, achievable goals and gets there slowly but surely. For example, her first goal was to run 10km on the treadmill in an hour. Then she made it to 11km in an hour. Now she wants to consistently run 30km per week in 3 sessions of 10km each. Simple but effective for what she considers to be her goals right now. You can't argue with that. She throws in some pushups and some lunges from time to time but the simplicity is what she needs with a high pressure job and long hours.
I am just getting to the gym when I can, like I will later today. Looking back over my old training, I did very well on training 2 days per week. That kind of split seems too little but in fact it is just right when getting to the gym is hard. I've also laid out plans for bodyweight based training which I can do at home.
Over Xmas I should be able to try some new things but when it gets hectic I think back to basics 2 days a week may be the order of the day.
Here's some Steve Maxwell to wet your appetite...
Nick
This brings me to simplicity in training. I am sure you are all aware of the difficulty in deciding on a training routine. I have note pads galore full of training routines for myself and my charges but more often than not the simple stuff is what works and what people enjoy. My wife is a classic example. I would like her to follow a preset running regime but instead she sets herself simple, achievable goals and gets there slowly but surely. For example, her first goal was to run 10km on the treadmill in an hour. Then she made it to 11km in an hour. Now she wants to consistently run 30km per week in 3 sessions of 10km each. Simple but effective for what she considers to be her goals right now. You can't argue with that. She throws in some pushups and some lunges from time to time but the simplicity is what she needs with a high pressure job and long hours.
I am just getting to the gym when I can, like I will later today. Looking back over my old training, I did very well on training 2 days per week. That kind of split seems too little but in fact it is just right when getting to the gym is hard. I've also laid out plans for bodyweight based training which I can do at home.
Over Xmas I should be able to try some new things but when it gets hectic I think back to basics 2 days a week may be the order of the day.
Here's some Steve Maxwell to wet your appetite...
Nick
