Comments on: Making Each Workout Unique & Instinctive

By: Yash

Yash — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:08:12 +0000

This is a good principle to follow during “in-between” maintenance phases, but doing this for extended periods of time personally gets me off track and less motivated to go train. When I have a specific goal, I like doing the pen and paper thing because it’s a high watermark that I feel like raising from session to session or week to week. Depending on the person, structure can be more motivating than spontaneity.

By: Keith Norris

Keith Norris — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:45:15 +0000

Good stuff, Chris. Sensible, n=1 experimentation, along with an embrace of chaos and change, is what longevity in the iron (and workout in general) game is made of.

By: Loewen Behold

Loewen Behold — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:25:56 +0000

I love your description of starting with a rough plan and allowing yourself to be innovative in constructing your workout. I think if there’s anywhere in our lives we should engage our creative, spontaneous selves its when we work out.

I love taking off out the door and running until I find something that inspires me to do a strength exercise – you know like I high barricade that I can easily do push ups on. Then running again until I see something that might work for lunges and so on.

My only personal caveat is I know I neglect certain muscle groups becuase they are weak on me, but more than that, is the muscle groups I neglect to stretch – like my neck for example which doesn’t stretch because it has the consistency of concrete.

Maybe one of those evolving as they happen work outs could centre around neglected areas… or maybe its just me that wants to ignore my tight hipflexors.

Thanks for this – it reminds me how important is to have fun when we exercise, because at the end of the day, that’s what will keep us all coming back.

By: Liam | EverythingZing.com

Liam | EverythingZing.com — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:41:22 +0000

This is some fantastic workout advice. Workouts that are too repetitive and structured very quickly lose their training effect. Stick to a basic structure (bodypart / compound & isolation) and apart from that mix it up! Variety is the spice of all good workouts.

@ Liam: Agreed, getting rid of repetition is the key. I have done everything from KB circuits to pure Bodyweight stuff and run/sprint intervals this week and its been great, the variety is superb plus I feel well worked but not exhausted….Thanks for reading

By: Daily Fuel – Thursday, January 7th « Live Relentless

Daily Fuel – Thursday, January 7th « Live Relentless — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:45:27 +0000

[...] Great piece on keeping a workout instinctive. I like the attention paid to individuality and responding to your own body’s [...]

By: Hans Hageman

Hans Hageman — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:37:24 +0000

I really liked this. These guidelines are really important for someone, like me, in my early 50′s. I have other responsibilities along with aging joints. The principles you outlined fit in with this part of my life’s “passage.”

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:17:45 +0000

Yeah – there’s nothing worse than trying to hit the gym on a full stomach.

Our gym has a pool, and mixing in a swim with weights is a nice combination.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:12:15 +0000

There are some good points, but the fact that different people have different goals has to be kept in mind.

@ Josh: Thanks for the valid point, yes these workout rules are quite unique and probably lean towards people who are just looking for a good workout. If your goals are to build strength or cardiovascular ability then these rules are probably not what you want to be doing Thanks for checking in.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:43:17 +0000

Great pic…
I agree with the fasted workouts although because of life it’s not always possible. Working out at night 3-4 hours after dinner has actually produced some of my most memorable workouts lately.

Mike