In the last couple posts, I discussed infrequent weight training to failure. This appears to be a way to minimize weight training time, and then make room for enjoyable physical activity. But why the dichotomy? Why is it assumed that running, bike riding, swimming, etc. can all be done in an enjoyable manner but that weight lifting cannot?
Some of the prescribed weight training routines I see are almost like a medical procedure. They are not designed for any enjoyment, and so inevitably a person just wants to get done and then move on to something else.
But it wasn't always this way. If you read about the old-school bodybuilders during Arnold's days, I think a lot of them really enjoyed weight lifting. Arnold himself was obviously built for weight lifting, and he seems to really enjoy it. I think a lot of the unique exercises and techniques he developed were from playing and experimenting with weights. If you truly enjoy something, then you have that intrinsic motivation to play around and find new ways of doing it.
If you strip away all the information about sets, reps, and intensity, then you have what is the core of weight lifting: moving objects. Picking up something, maybe carrying it, and then putting it down. This is a movement pattern that is as old as man. It is very natural and does not have to be drudgery.
Also, lifting doesn't have to be done in a gym or even with conventional equipment. There are plenty of people training outside with sandbags, rocks, and other objects. Movnat is good resource for this type of training.
It seems like you can go in either direction with weight lifting. You can go towards more clinical, more painful, and more time efficient training. Or you could go towards more intuitive, less painful, and more frequent training. I vote for the latter.
Matt,
Medical procedure, great line. I agree, lifting is fun. One thing I do frequently is go into a gym with no plan and just see what looks fun to do. A few squats, here, deadlifts there, pullups, machine work, swiss ball, like a kid playing with toys. I try to tune in to what seems fun without preconceived notions about what is the best plan. In the end, I have fun, get a good workout, stay fit. I also avoid stress to joints by varying the exercises quite a bit more than if I was following a plan. This is not a high performance plan, but it keeps me fit healthy and happy.
I think you’ve got a good point, Matt. The last paragraph strikes me as a false dichotomy, though. Why not do both? You mentioned before the possible hormonal disadvantages of lifting to failure but there are also the possible hormonal advantages, such as HGH stimulation. My BBSish workouts don’t feel clinical, in fact I’ve gotten more motivated using them. I also do medium intensity stuff, none of it involves going to the gym.
If I could hang out on a beach and do Movnat, that would be ideal, although I might skip the barefoot sprinting and jumping.
Heresy! lol. Actually, I agree with you on this one. I would even go a little further and say that some of us can also enjoy routines that are bit more structured. It doesn’t have to be like a medical procedure, but Todd’s approach (good to see you here, Todd!) would be a little too “loose” for me.
Matt,
I actually enjoy lifting. Over the last 2 years I got away from it a bit exactly due to what you refer to here “to make room for more enjoyable activity”. I read to much info that it’s not good for you to lift all that much.
I realised that I really enjoy it. I’m short on time and a quick workout for 30-40 minutes feels like play to me.
I’ve found through self experimentation that I function best “moving things” about 4 times a week. No set plan..completely intuitive. I enjoy it.
Marc
Glenn,
Good point. There is another side of me that has fun following a strict plan, as a way to do a controlled experiment. For example I’ll do BBs for a few weeks just to see the results. I always get bored after a few weeks though …
After doing hard physical labor for my teens and 20′s, I decided lifting things just to lift them is no fun. I took up running in my late 20′s for health and enjoyment. I no longer run due to arthritis and knee injuries. I strength train because I see real benefits, but more than 1-2 times a week has done more harm than good.
It’s great some people like to lift. Not me. I wouldn’t work out at all but for the tangible benefits. I think for a lot of us, if exercise isn’t built into our lives, we don’t do it. If it becomes a chore, we hate it.
Griff
That’s why I enjoy Dan Johns stuff. He makes it fun, though you know it is a work-out.
Having struggled with this for a while I decided on a happy compromise: when I have the time and feel like it, I go to the gym up to 3 times a week and enjoy myself. When pressed for time I take The Body by Science approach and am fine with that as well.
Having a grim exercise routine is as healthy as eating grim meals because they are “good for you.”