This is the third of six articles listing some common reasons why your fitness routine may not be producing the results you want, and how to fix it.
Reason #3: You don't know what you are doing.
This is a hard one for many people to swallow but let me tell you something. It's okay to not know how to exercise properly. It's hard to admit though, especially us guys. We think we were born with some great fitness gene or something. Guess what, we weren't, and it's okay to admit it.
Health clubs and fitness centers are full of people who come in and look around at all the shiny stuff and say to themselves, I don't know what to do. So they do like most everyone else and start using equipment and copying off the person next to them, who is most likely copying off the person they saw at some other time.
I can't tell you how often I hear people tell me that they stopped going to the gym or using their own equipment mainly because they didn't know what to do. When I hear that I am positive we can help them, as long as they are serious about getting in shape. If they are content, we can't help at all. I often tell people that our gym is a place to come when you need to get back in shape and don't know how to do it yourself.
Now let's say you do have a decent amount of knowledge in one or several areas. Maybe you are a great runner or endurance athlete, or you have taken yoga, pilates, or karate classes for years. That's great, but it's still probably limiting the variety of your workouts and has caused you to be party guilty of Reason #2 (and Reason #4 that you'll read about next week).
It's best to have a whole slew of different exercises that you can perform correctly, using solid mechanics and proper form. There are many ways to accomplish this. There is an unbelievable amount of information on the Internet, most of which is free. One of the best sources of fitness info is the main CrossFit website. Hours and hours of videos, countless articles and a great on-line forum to read about and ask just about any question you can think of-and get expert answers to.
If you aren't into the self-taught approach, you could hire a personal trainer for private instruction. It's a good idea but there are several reasons why it may not be your best choice. First, the cost usually makes it hard for someone to do it often enough or continue it for long enough to really see results. Often times the trainer doesn't really teach you what to do and why, but simply puts you through a handful of routines that they do with everyone they train. If you have one that is still using the old approach of having leg day, then arm day and running on off days, run. I mean run away. If you are going to pay for private instruction, make sure it's from an expert.
You could sign up and join an instructor-led class doing something totally different than what you are used to. If you pick the right one, you'll get expert instruction and learn new exercises to add to your routine, which helps with Reason #2. You'll get an instant group to workout with, so that handles Reason #1. Plus you'll get a new kick in the butt that you probably need.
That new class may eventually become stale and you'll need to look for other classes to take instead, or in addition to. Of course, this is difficult at best. What's my pick for the best choice? Join a CrossFit facility. You will receive constant instruction on the proper way to perform countless exercises while working out in an instructor-led group.
You will also learn how to scale exercises to your fitness level so you can start to do things you never thought you could. Like pullups and ring dips and heavy deadlifts and squats, yes squats. We run, we row, we do old school calisthenics, gymnastic movements, power lifts, olympic lifts, balance and agility work, situps, box jumps, tire flips, and the list goes on and on.
You might say "I can't do that stuff". We say "yes you can, and you should." We'll teach you how. That is if you are serious about getting in better shape.
Next week - Reason #4: You only do what you like to do.
There are a half dozen CrossFit facilities in the Cleveland/Akron area. We operate independently but all take the same approach. Most importantly we all have the same passion for producing results and getting our people in the best shape of their lives. That is truly what separates us from the fitness training herd.
This is a hard one for many people to swallow but let me tell you something. It's okay to not know how to exercise properly. It's hard to admit though, especially us guys. We think we were born with some great fitness gene or something. Guess what, we weren't, and it's okay to admit it.
Health clubs and fitness centers are full of people who come in and look around at all the shiny stuff and say to themselves, I don't know what to do. So they do like most everyone else and start using equipment and copying off the person next to them, who is most likely copying off the person they saw at some other time.
I can't tell you how often I hear people tell me that they stopped going to the gym or using their own equipment mainly because they didn't know what to do. When I hear that I am positive we can help them, as long as they are serious about getting in shape. If they are content, we can't help at all. I often tell people that our gym is a place to come when you need to get back in shape and don't know how to do it yourself.
Now let's say you do have a decent amount of knowledge in one or several areas. Maybe you are a great runner or endurance athlete, or you have taken yoga, pilates, or karate classes for years. That's great, but it's still probably limiting the variety of your workouts and has caused you to be party guilty of Reason #2 (and Reason #4 that you'll read about next week).
It's best to have a whole slew of different exercises that you can perform correctly, using solid mechanics and proper form. There are many ways to accomplish this. There is an unbelievable amount of information on the Internet, most of which is free. One of the best sources of fitness info is the main CrossFit website. Hours and hours of videos, countless articles and a great on-line forum to read about and ask just about any question you can think of-and get expert answers to.
If you aren't into the self-taught approach, you could hire a personal trainer for private instruction. It's a good idea but there are several reasons why it may not be your best choice. First, the cost usually makes it hard for someone to do it often enough or continue it for long enough to really see results. Often times the trainer doesn't really teach you what to do and why, but simply puts you through a handful of routines that they do with everyone they train. If you have one that is still using the old approach of having leg day, then arm day and running on off days, run. I mean run away. If you are going to pay for private instruction, make sure it's from an expert.
You could sign up and join an instructor-led class doing something totally different than what you are used to. If you pick the right one, you'll get expert instruction and learn new exercises to add to your routine, which helps with Reason #2. You'll get an instant group to workout with, so that handles Reason #1. Plus you'll get a new kick in the butt that you probably need.
That new class may eventually become stale and you'll need to look for other classes to take instead, or in addition to. Of course, this is difficult at best. What's my pick for the best choice? Join a CrossFit facility. You will receive constant instruction on the proper way to perform countless exercises while working out in an instructor-led group.
You will also learn how to scale exercises to your fitness level so you can start to do things you never thought you could. Like pullups and ring dips and heavy deadlifts and squats, yes squats. We run, we row, we do old school calisthenics, gymnastic movements, power lifts, olympic lifts, balance and agility work, situps, box jumps, tire flips, and the list goes on and on.
You might say "I can't do that stuff". We say "yes you can, and you should." We'll teach you how. That is if you are serious about getting in better shape.
Next week - Reason #4: You only do what you like to do.
There are a half dozen CrossFit facilities in the Cleveland/Akron area. We operate independently but all take the same approach. Most importantly we all have the same passion for producing results and getting our people in the best shape of their lives. That is truly what separates us from the fitness training herd.
You can find parts one and two here if you missed them earlier.
6 Reasons why your fitness routine sucks - Part 2
Bill Russell
CrossFit Cleveland - RAW Fitness, LLC
17140 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-812-7841
To get more information and watch a video to hear what our people think of our training , visit our CrossFit Cleveland website.
Follow us on twitter @CFcleveland
Become a Fan of CrossFit Cleveland on Facebook
Bill Russell
CrossFit Cleveland - RAW Fitness, LLC
17140 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-812-7841
To get more information and watch a video to hear what our people think of our training , visit our CrossFit Cleveland website.
Follow us on twitter @CFcleveland
Become a Fan of CrossFit Cleveland on Facebook
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