Clockwork Feedings: Building Muscle Fast with Nutrient Timing- Part 1
Eat more protein. Eat more carbohydrates. Do more sets. Do fewer
sets. Exercise in the morning. Exercise in the evening. Enough
already! What's a bodybuilder to do with all of the different
philosophies that permeate book upon book and magazine...
Movement That Matters: Exercise With a Greater Purpose
You've seen the commercials Ive fallen and I cant get up! While this has been a topic of many jokes and late-night comedy skits, the reality is falling is a very real danger for many people. Too often falls can lead to broken bones,...
Six Steps to Weight Loss Success
What does it take to lose weight? When it comes to losing weight there is so much conflicting information out there that a lot of people just are not sure where to begin. There is an old saying that states "if you want learn how to get rich then...
STRETCHING; Why Should I?
This short article looks at some of the tips, tricks and helpful hints you can use to help prevent sports injury and do-away with stiff, aching muscles & joints. It's been put together to answer some of the more common questions we get regarding...
What should you do if you have 33 pounds of fat on your body?
What should you do if you have 33 pounds of fat on your body? If you are man that weighs 200 pounds...nothing. It's normal. With all the obesity epidemic scare and weight loss diet hype being tossed around in the media these days, people are...
How NOT to Return from an Exercise Break
Several sites, including this one, recommend that you take a break every 8 weeks after working out with weights. But how do you come back from that break and get back into your routine?
Does anyone suggest you just jump back in and do the same intensity as when you last left off? Definitely not.
This article will share a personal insight that I’m positive many people have faced when returning from a break or an injury. It will answer the question: how should I return to my workout after a week’s break from anything but relaxation?
Every 8 weeks I take a complete break from the weights. This allows my joints to recover, my body to heal, and gives me time to think about the next 8 weeks and my objectives. Upon returning to the gym you can take one of two approaches. Return full speed ahead, since you’ve had the rest, with the same intensity and the same weights. Or you can ease your body back into the program and reestablish the mind-to-muscle link that you have probably read about. (I suggest the second approach.)
Upon my return, I stepped up to the aerobics machine. A type of stair-master to be exact, and immediately selected level 10 out of 20. My memory recalls (if I used a journal) that I had previously been able to handle this level. By the end of the workout,
I felt overworked, tired, out of breath and was at level 6. My body could handle it, but not as efficiently as it had previously. (I was not at all satisfied.)
Easing your body back into a workout for the first week allows the mind-to-muscle link to be reestablished. It further allows your body to adjust to an increased level of intensity for the upcoming months. Coming back from a break and then immediately going into an overtraining mode does not entice your body or your mind want to continue the abuse.
If given the two approaches to returning from a break, I now opt for the second approach. Easing your body back into the routine will allow for a mind-muscle-link to be reestablished and your progress will most likely increase. Take the first week to get accustomed to your routine (60% intensity) and the next 8 weeks to accomplish your goals (100% intensity).
Marc David has a degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State, a 16 year history of non-competitive bodybuilding and is the owner of Freedomfly -the fitness network! For free fitness tools, discount supplements, fitness consultation, and workout routines, visit http://www.freedomfly.net