So the core function of the gym / weight lifting / a workout routine, in general, is to simulate a lifestyle that we as humans no longer live... at least not the majority of us. Since we evolved out of those lifestyles relatively recently, our bodies still need that exercise and conditioning to stay healthy. Since we aren't spending our days fully active, constant walking, moving around, gathering barries (standing up, squatting, standing again), hunting animals (controlled muscles for silent movement and large bursts of energy for attack, then a slow burn carrying the creature back to our family unit), we recreate those movements in the gym, usually in a set period of time... like an hour.
This formulaic approach works! A lot of us swear by working up an intense sweat and really pushing our bodies during that time period... but is the burnout really necessary?
Don't get me wrong, I love working out at the gym, I'm definitely a bit of a gym rat, but when I work out really hard, I feel pretty shitty afterward. Obviously that style of burning it all out in one hour when you've been sitting at a desk all day works.
But I've noticed that when I'm not going to the gym and I'm just living a more active lifestyle (doesn't even have to be heavy or involve running), I reach a lean and fit state very quickly... and maintain it. Like during the summer, I'm outside more. Spending leisure time at the beach sounds lazy but... you have to walk there, playing in the waves takes a lot of energy, and walking along the sand is good for your legs. Doing this all-day keeps me fit and toned... and I don't even feel like I worked out.
I recently spent a month in the mountains in Africa and lost a lot of weight, partly due to lack of access to food... but also just with the constant moving. It wasn't strenuous, I spent time sitting, but mostly, I was just walking a lot... and usually carrying something... and nothing that heavy. I don't even mean that I was walking miles a day, I wasn't. I was just moving more often.
I know that this may not be possible for everyone... but what if you spread your workout throughout the day? Rather than trying to slam out 25 pushups in one go... what if you do 100 pushups throughout the day... but just do 10 at a time, every 30 minutes. Slow and controlled so that you feel the burn?
I am definitely learning more about the benefits of 'less is more'. I have recently been doing a 3 to 5 minutes a day of continuous slow and controlled movements with 1lb weights... and WOW. My arms are toning rapidly! I never even saw this after months of alternating reps and circuits of heavier weights and machines at the gym. I also don't feel like crap after! I feel a serious burn by minute 3 and I just keep doing the movements that increase that burn until I'm shaking. Just 1lb in each hand!
In keeping the idea of simulating a more primitive, moderately active lifestyle... could spreading that activity throughout your day possibly be better, more effective, and less damaging to the body overall?
- I am speaking of this more pertaining to strength and maybe HIIT cardio. I still think that a jog, or even better, a long walk still needs a solid, continuous block of time.
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* This article was originally published here
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