Trainer Notes: Week 13

Last week we finished up the first week on another new workout routine. The volume of the workout (number of sets and resistance levels used) was a little lower, so we could really focus on getting the exercise technique down, and allow his body to adapt to the new stimulus. This week we will progress and work in 3 sets of this challenging muscular endurance program. Michael did tell me how different this workout felt, and that it was still quite challenging, but overall doesn't feel as intense as the previous strength program. He's out of breath a little more, and his muscles burn a little more specifically, but the intensity of the set itself has a different feeling and level of intensity. At the end of the week, though, the cumulative level of fatigue was still about the same. He said he felt pretty wiped out this weekend, as he usually does after the first week of a new program.

I thought this brought up a good topic, as many people often don't know or understand how certain workouts or exercises should "feel." There are differences, as not every workout or type of workout should feel the same, or always be at the same level of intensity. We often try to educate our clients not only on the correct technique, muscles working, etc., but also on how a specific type of exercise or workout phase should feel and how intense it "should" be. Not every workout or phase always needs to be max effort or intensity, nor should it be. In fact, we peridocally incorporate what's called a "transition" program, which is generally a shorter phase (1-2 weeks) that plans specifically for a lower volume and intensity. It's usually fit in between two different, more intense phases, or after a very intense program, and allows the body to "actively" recover, helping to prevent injury or advanced breakdown, and to help avoid overtraining/burnout. Regardless of the intensity, though, we are always focused on getting the maximum amount of effectiveness from each lift and each workout. Intensity is a very important aspect to getting good results; it has to be there, but always at the appropriate level, and that varies from person to person, workout to workout depending on where each individual is currently at. As experienced professionals, our job is to know what that needs to be on any given day depending on the person and what may be going on with them at that time. In Michael's case, we will come up just short of a time where we would normally incorporate a transition program - sorry Michael :) . Even though these are often planned, we may occassionaly work in an impromptu transition workout if we identify there is need and that it would actually benefit the clients more to do that rather than go all out on that day or week. Stayed tuned later this week or early next week for Michael's updated measaurements and weigh-in.