The 5 most beautiful words in the English language: it doesn’t hurt any more.
I am neither a physical therapist nor a rehab expert. But often pain is caused by weakness. Building strength is how I can help people reduce pain. For example, as I always do, I checked in with a client before starting our workout so I could determine what, if any modifications would be needed. "How’s your shoulder?" --- It doesn’t hurt any more. "How’s your lower back?" --- It doesn’t hurt any more. "How’s your knee?" --- It doesn’t hurt any more. It hasn’t hurt since we started working together. The 5 most beautiful words in the English language: it doesn’t hurt any more.
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Failure is good!
Lifters sometimes train to failure. For maximal strength gains, occasionally attempting a lift you know you cannot perform challenges every muscle fiber and sets you up to successfully make that lift in the future. Before you try this at home: you must be able to lower the weight with control. This is called a negative. And you must have a capable spotter, unlike the guy in the cartoon above. Viewing failure as a goal is an attitude adjustment you can take outside the gym, too. “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” ― Truman Capote People often ask me, “What’s the secret to making progress in strength training?” In a word: consistency.
Working out once a week, or once every two or three weeks, just doesn’t cut it. Your body needs time and repetition to adapt to the physiological stress caused by exercise. A successful fitness program is progressive, meaning it builds, systematically, on previous sessions. You need to do strength training 2-3 times a week, week after week, month after month, with just an occasional week off to rest your body. Those who make progress make time to work out. Notice I did not say, “find time” to work out, because if you’re passively looking for the time, you won’t find it. You have to make the time, by scheduling it, on a regular basis, in your calendar. My clients know that I’ve blocked off times in my week for my own workouts, and that I treat them with the sanctity of a doctor’s appointment. In fact, the only appointment I will schedule in those time slots are for medical appointments that I can’t schedule any other time. I’ve followed this practice for 20 years. Trust me, it works. |
Judy Wolff
Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor since 1998. Archives
January 2018
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