Is Your Workout Working for You?
January 18, 2010 in uncategorized by Joseph Arangio
I’m a workout guy.
I’m also a researcher, writer, and businessman. I’ve written about exercise and other health-related topics for some of the leading fitness publications out there. I’ve written fitness articles, books, and interviewed workout gurus. I’ve worked as a personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach for most of my life.
My introduction to the health and fitness publishing world was at a leading fitness magazine for men. I was in the editorial department. Not only did this experience expose me to a ton of smart journalists and a well-run company, but I was fortunate enough to observe brainstorming meetings. It was at these idea-gathering sessions that I learned my first lesson about the health and fitness industry: Words sell.
Words sell magazines, books, nutritional supplements, exercise equipment—pretty much everything health and fitness. Words sell everything else too.
Or, as Andrew Lock says, “Everything is marketing, and marketing is everything.”
I know this is not a revelation, but certain words jump off of the page and literally compel the reader to reach into his pocket and buy. Same goes for women. And it’s not too surprising that the words that grab a man’s attention are rarely the same words that grab the attention of a woman.
You’ll find some words–like abs, fat, and sex–on the cover of most every successful fitness magazine, every single issue.
Why? Because these particular words boost sales. These words also speak to our needs and wants. But that’s a topic for another post.
For example, if you’re speaking to a guy about getting in top shape, he’ll be more likely to listen if you say…
Boost strength
Gain muscle
Rock-hard abs
Build powerful arms
Max muscle
Women will be more likely to listen if these words are used…
Shrink fat zones
Body-sculpting secrets
Flat belly workout
Sexy and sculpted
Long and lean
If you tell most guys that you have a great workout to help him “shape and tone his trouble spots,” he’s probably not going to be interested. On the other hand, if you tell him you have a workout to help him get “six-pack abs and bigger arms,” he may be willing to try it out.
Marketing is everything, and everything is marketing.
Want a diet program to slow aging?
How about a workout to burn belly fat first?
Need an exercise machine designed to target your fleshy love handles?
There are literally thousands of workout options out there for someone who wants to look and feel good, or win in sports, or live a better life.
In fact, many successful workout programs are built using the same principles.
There’s something called the principle of specificity, which is often called the SAID principle. It’s an abbreviation for specific adaptation to imposed demands.
In other words, the body will specifically adapt to the type of demand placed on it. For example, if you lift heavy weights, your body has no choice but to get stronger.
If you want to run fast, you must practice running fast. If you want to run far, well, run far.
This is a very Zen way to think about your workouts.
When you remove the shiny packaging and slick marketing campaigns, a smart workout is one that helps you achieve goals like these:
Balance and stabilization
Strength
Power
Endurance
Hypertrophy (Muscle size)
Of course this is not a complete list, but you get the idea.
Nowhere within this list do you read “shape and tone” as a goal. There is no “six-pack abs” goal either. These are just marketing words designed to target a niche market.
If you want to get “toned” or show off your washboard abs, you’ll need to lose the layer of fat living between your skin and muscle. And that requires the following three things:
1. A progressive workout program
2. A portion-controlled meal plan
3. Plenty of rest
If you’re eating right and sleeping soundly, a well-designed workout can literally transform your body.
Just remember that a workout isn’t just about the exercises you do. Or the sets. Or the reps.
The smartest workout combines several workout variables together in a progressive fashion. You want a dynamic workout that changes on the fly, based on your experience level, injury history, available equipment, and goals.
Is your workout working for you?
If not, you can find a smart workout here.
