I’ve previously provided a guide to general gym terms; now it’s time to get a little more specific and talk about strength training terms in more detail. An online glossary may not be the most exciting thing you’ve ever read, but if you’re comfortable with weight training terms and definitions you’ll be better equipped to learn about other strength training topics. Let’s get started!
I previously extolled the virtues of sticking to a programme for long enough to get every last drop of progress from it. Training consistency in general is a big talking point with trainers right now, and usually the intentions behind this are pure: trainers want you to know that striving for consistency in training is more important than pursuing gut-wrenching intensity in every session.
However, a rigidly consistent training programme may be a pipe dream for those of you with busy lives. No amount of consistency-worship is going to change your life commitments, and that doesn’t mean you’re lazy, lacking willpower, or unworthy of results. Here are my tips for making the best of your situation.
In training, it can be hard to commit to one training programme for a long time. No matter what your training goal, it can be difficult to pick from the…
Changing your body composition involves altering the amount of muscle and fat you have in your body. In modern society, favourable body composition changes are often described as an increase in muscle and a decrease in body fat. This allows you to accentuate the parts of your body that are conventionally appealing.
I’ve made it known in the past that I have misgivings about training with an excessive focus on body composition. I’ve written about fitness transformations and the effects of a negative body image on motivation. As a result, I mainly focus on strength training and gym habits on this blog.
However, I accept that there are many people who want to change their body composition regardless. I accept that I cannot simply tell people they’re wrong for wanting bigger arms or a smaller stomach.
If you’re going to do it, it’s important that you do it in the healthiest and most efficient way possible. Here are several things to consider before you embark on changing your body composition.
Functional training has been a very popular term for as long as I’ve been a trainer. It’s having a surge lately, thanks to some very popular coaches on social media claiming that they provide more “functional exercises”, or calling themselves “functional fitness trainers”.
Unfortunately, as with many terms in the fitness industry, the exact definition as it relates to your workouts is pretty broad. In order to get to the truth of things, I’m going to talk about three groups of trainers that existed when I started out as a PT…
If you’ve set some new goals for the new year, then you might be considering hiring a new personal trainer. While I’d love for everyone in the world to come and work with me, I accept that you may have to browse elsewhere. Personal trainers come in as many varieties as there are varieties of people, so it’s important that you find one who is a good match for you.
Too many people start with a new personal trainer based solely on diary availability, or because they were automatically assigned to a certain trainer by the sales rep they met with. While these arrangements can work out well (especially if the sales rep really cares about their gym members), it fails to take into account the “personal” element of personal training. Here are 3 other things you should consider when choosing your new trainer.
At the time of writing, we’re staring down the barrel at 2022. You might be thinking about getting into a new fitness routine, and a new gym membership might be a part of that.
It might seem prudent to pick the closest gym to your home or workplace, but there’s so much more to finding the gym that suits you best.
Here’s a list of what to look for in your new gym.
This one may seem obvious, but the equipment in your new gym will have a major influence on what workouts you can do. It is well worth thinking about your training plan before signing up to a new gym.
In part 1, I explained why I think the front squat is such a useful exercise. There’s just something impressive about the leg and back strength required to squat deep whilst refusing to be buried by the weight that’s resting on your chest. I also discussed the step-by-step approach to performing the front squat, and highlighted the importance of good front squat form.
I also mentioned that there are many aspects of the front squat that require your attention in order to master the exercise. There are many potential weak links that can limit the front squat, including the wrists, upper back, and general squat mobility issues. This guide will cover how to adequately prepare each aspect of front squat form for the best squat workout possible.
I’ve covered squatting in my two-part guide previously, but the front squat offers enough distinct challenges (and benefits) that I thought it was worth going over it separately.
The front squat, as the name suggests, is a way of squatting with the bar on the front of the body as opposed to on the back. This alters the weight distribution of the exercise, which typically leads to a more upright, knee-dominant squat compared to a back squat.
This is one of my favourite lifts. It trains lower body strength through a large range of motion, and also challenges the muscles of the back to remain upright with a weight bearing down on your shoulders. In my opinion, this makes it a useful exercise for a myriad of sporting and “real-world” tasks that require you to keep a rigid trunk (core), as well as carrying things – not to mention the act of squatting itself.
The front squat will also improve certain specific exercises such as cleans.
Lots of us have a hard time staying on the exercise bandwagon. We have periods of time where we train really hard or consistently, followed by periods of little to no exercise.
Despite what your favourite Instagram-mer says, some of this is actually totally normal. Life moves through peaks and troughs, and any responsible training programme should follow those same fluctuations. If you find yourself adopting an all-or-nothing approach that is preventing you from making any progress over a long period of time, it might be time to make some changes.
Note: Of course, not everyone trains for a specific goal and may not be looking for “progress” per se – you may just be exercising to move as opposed to getting stronger. That being said, I still think the changes I have listed below could improve your relationship with exercise.
