When you hit the gym, are you “working out” or are you “training”? Do you know the difference? Training will help you to reach your fitness goals, merely working out may not. Knowing the difference between the two can greatly determine your success or failure.
It’s a subtle difference. Training takes into consideration what you are trying to accomplish. Everything you do in the gym is based on what you need to do to improve and reach your goals. Simply being in the gym without the proper programming or structure is not enough. Randomly putting together a series of exercises, no matter how hard you work them, is no guarantee that you will make the changes you want.
There is a way to train for different aspects of fitness like power, strength, growth, speed, weight and fat loss, agility, shape, physique balance, etc. And while there is some overlap and some general improvements that can be made from “working out”, if you want to get the best results then you must “train” to get those results.
Start by honestly assessing where you are. Next, decide what you want to do and where you’d like to be. You may want or need to work on or improve in multiple areas. You have to decide if they are compatible and can be addressed at the same time, (like improved power and agility) or if you need to focus on one thing more than another for a time (like getting leaner versus building size or strength).
Working out can be random and can give you some general improvements towards some of your goals. But if you really want to maximize your. results, you must focus on training to improve the critical areas that will get you to a new level. Training isn’t random. It is a controlled, specific approach you take to get from point A to point B. It involves choosing the right exercises, rep ranges, rest periods, training techniques, training frequencies, nutritional approach, etc., to support you in reaching your goals. Whether you’re trying to get leaner, build strength, build muscle size, prepare for a sport or athletic event, improve your shape or balance, maximize your health, etc., there are choices you can and should make about what you need to do and how you do it that will make reaching your goals a lot more likely.
It’s not hard to train effectively. You simply have to constantly stay aware of what it is you’re trying to accomplish and make sure that the things you are doing in the gym are in line with that. That will keep you from spinning your wheels. That will make sure that your workouts are an effective part of a training program that will get you to the place you want to go.
Photo: Terry Goodlad
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