The Importance of In Season Training
Stopping strength training during the competitive season is one of the most destructive things an athlete can do to their performance.
And yet, it happens every year.
An athlete busts their tail getting stronger, faster, and more explosive leading up to their season.
Then the season starts.
Practice.
Games.
Homework.
A social life.
Family commitments.
It all adds up, and strength and conditioning is usually the first thing to fall off the schedule.
There’s never a perfect time to start a training program.
There’s never a perfect time to start a training program.
You might tell yourself that there is.
Once the summer’s over and things calm down, then I’ll get back in the gym.
But then work picks up again, the kids’ schedules get hectic, and before you know it, it’s the holiday season.
Why Training 3 Days a Week Gets Better Results Than 2
If you're a strength and conditioning nerd like me, you've probably spent way too much time reading research, scouring the internet, and debating with colleagues about the perfect sets, reps, and training programs.
Because if we're being honest, most people don't actually love working out. And if someone says they do... they're probably a bonafide psychopath, so proceed with caution.
What we all love is the result. Feeling stronger. Having more energy. Moving better. Looking better. That's the fun part.
With that said, we're always trying to optimize things for you to get the biggest bang for your training buck.
I mean, if you're going to show up and put in the effort, let's make the most of it.
Kid’s Don't Need to Train Like the Pros!
Every parent wants to give their child the best opportunity to succeed.
So when they watch elite athletes, it's natural to think:
"If this is what the best in the world are doing, shouldn't Johnny be doing the same?"
That's exactly where youth sports have gone.
And in many ways, it’s exactly where they’ve gone wrong.
Don't Start Over in September: A Realistic Summer Fitness Guide
I Hate Cliché Fitness Advice
You know the kind.
The stuff you read in every Yahoo Health article around the holidays.
"Eat before you go to the party so you don't overindulge."
Yeah, right. Just so I can eat before the party and then eat again at the party?
Or my personal favorite:
"Get shredded in 4 weeks!"
There Is No Offseason Anymore
There really isn't.
Teenage athletes today are playing on club teams, school teams, and layering private lessons on top of all of it.
Just 15 years ago, summer was the universal offseason.
Athletes with big goals would spend the summer in the gym four days per week, train three days per week during the rest of their offseason, and continue lifting twice per week during the season.
Today?
Most athletes train in the gym twice per week at best during the summer and offseason, and many take the entire sports season off from strength training altogether.
The problem is that there isn't much true "off" time anymore.
Stop Trying to Lose Weight. Start Becoming the Hero of Your Story.
If you live in North County San Diego, you're probably active.
You surf.
You hike.
You chase your kids around soccer fields.
You might squeeze in a yoga class.
Maybe you hit the gym once or twice a week.
You go for a run when you're feeling motivated.
From the outside, it looks like you're doing everything right.
But here's the strange part.