Read 35 times since Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Albert Einstein said that everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. Now he wasn't a Glasgow personal trainer but this philosophy is as true for training program design and nutritional advice as it is for theoretical physics. Many overly complicated / technical exercise or diet plans that promise great health and happiness only exist to massage the ego of their creators. The more complicated something is the more likely it is to break down and not work. The most reliable machines are the ones with the fewest moving parts because there is less that can go wrong. So here are some simple guidelines to live by for a healthy life.
1) Get lots of sleep. Sleep is the foundation that good health is built on, if you are not sleeping enough you are hurting your health. 2) Drink mostly water, and lots of it. Water is the only liquid your body needs to thrive and the only one with no drawback. 3) Eat a little bit of everything. Quantity of bad food is most peoples downfall so limiting yourself to a little of everything protects you from eating lots of bad things.
4) Train the whole body every time you train. Focussing on specific areas mean you either have much longer between sessions where that body part is trained or having to train much more frequently, neither is good. 5) Only train every few days. Your body wants, likes and needs physical activity but give it too much and it will break down. Let yourself recover because that is when your body improves. 6) Don't train for too long, but work hard when you do. Intensity, not volume, is the key to physical improvement. It is better to work hard for a short time than to go easier for longer.
7) Learn good technique and use it. Bad technique will eventually bite you and a bad injury is contrary to good health. 8) Only use multi joint movements. Muscles evolved to work together, not in isolation so use them the way they are intended. 9) Give equal attention to the basic movement patterns. Work the front, back, left, right top and bottom of your body equally to build a healthy physique without imbalances. 10) Spend lots of time outdoors. Our bodies expect and like fresh air and the elements on your face, be they sun, rain, wind or snow. Iain Smith (MPhil/CSCS) owns Standout Gym, an independent warehouse gym in Glasgow, focusing on weight loss. He offers small group training as an affordable alternative to Glasgow personal training. Iain is a former international decathlete with 17 years coaching experience. www.standoutgym.com.
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