Train for Function, not Fashion

[Ibanez Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ibanez]

All too often I hear people starting fad diets or buying the "miracle" machine, or even beginning a workout regiment who's main goal is looking trim and sexy. The greatest folly of health and fitness is training for looks and appeal, rather than strength and being able to use the human body to it's full capacity.

Watch the upcoming 2012 Olympics, or the World's Strongest Man competition, or even watch a local Triathlon and you'll see that the human body was made to move and function, not spending hours at a photo shoot blabbering about how defined your abs are! Not too mention the emotional toll this takes on people trying to get fit.

Here's the proposal: Start working out and eating properly for the sake of being able to move and strengthen your body.

I admit, for years I worked out with the mindset of getting fit and being able to go shirtless for a summer, but I was always discouraged at the end of the day! Until I started coaching at a gymnastics center I thought fitness was about the look. On my first day strength coaching at the gymnastic center I quickly realized how weak I was and how wrong my former fitness philosophies were.

To highlight what I mean, go to youtube and watch gymnastic workout routines and then simply try doing them; or go split wood by hand for a few hours in the fall and see how long of a break you need between logs; or simply see if you can stand up from sitting on the floor without using your hands, and you'll quickly see that just doing squats and bench press at the gym did nothing for your flexibility, cardio stamina, or total body strength and conditioning.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with lifting at the gym, but your purpose for working out must be proper and one that will ensure you feel great every day.

Anyway, enough of me toting! What are your thoughts? Experiences?

As a disclaimer, I mean to offend no one, and I apologize if I do

[ThirdArm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ThirdArm]

I wouldn't count out barbell training for function and to some extent flexibility.

But I see what you're saying on practical strength, like chopping wood.

[3666777 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 3666777]

What if you work out specifically for aesthetic value? What is wrong with that? I don't chop wood, I"m not a gymnast, I don't do yoga, I'm not particularly flexible, but I have an incredible body, I love walking on the beach with my shirt off, and I love manipulating my body for optimal aesthetics and body composition. I understand what you are trying to say and the crux of your point, however I think you fail to recognize that people can workout for WHATEVER reason they want to. Your post should be stated "Why I love to workout" or "I love to train for functional strength" because contrary to your statement squats and bench press are two of the core compound exercises that easily contribute to TOTAL BODY functional movements.

[bigmoe5067 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigmoe5067]

a great routine for health is well rounded, and not just based on practical real life scenarios, as much of life is unexpected.

i break up my body work into components that i focus on.

1) cardiovascular (distance running, high intensity interval training, body weight circuits)

2) muscular strength (lifting, body weight circuits)

3) muscular endurance (lifting, bodyweight circuits)

4) flexibility (yoga, stretching, Active mobility training)

5) coordination/control/agility/power ( yoga, active mobility work, lifting, circuits, etc etc)

this is why weight lifting or at a least body weight exercise is important, since its just one of many dynamics that are present in the ideal health filled physique

[bigmoe5067 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigmoe5067]

there is this weird notion that we can only focus on one area of health at a time, or only be proficient at 1 area unless we dedicate our entire lives to our health. it isnt true. if planned properly we can address all the dimensions of health into a week of working out without it consuming all our time.

the main is issue is ego, and the perception that all areas of physical health are not equally as important, or equally attainable

[Chungungo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chungungo]

What if you work out specifically for aesthetic value? What is wrong with that? I don't chop wood, I"m not a gymnast, I don't do yoga, I'm not particularly flexible, but I have an incredible body, I love walking on the beach with my shirt off, and I love manipulating my body for optimal aesthetics and body composition. I understand what you are trying to say and the crux of your point, however I think you fail to recognize that people can workout for WHATEVER reason they want to. Your post should be stated "Why I love to workout" or "I love to train for functional strength" because contrary to your statement squats and bench press are two of the core compound exercises that easily contribute to TOTAL BODY functional movements.

This guy is right, we have to respect everything until the six pack guy without functional anything haha starts bothering us

[Ibanez Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ibanez]

These are good discussions. I'm not disregarding workouts that are aesthetic, and I do respect any and all reasons people exercise. My argument isn't to stop squatting or bench pressing...my argument is to broaden the horizons for why you work out. All these points are well taken and respected

[3666777 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 3666777]

These are good discussions. I'm not disregarding workouts that are aesthetic, and I do respect any and all reasons people exercise. My argument isn't to stop squatting or bench pressing...my argument is to broaden the horizons for why you work out. All these points are well taken and respected

I don't mean to be rude, but the point is WHO CARES. Why does someone need to broaden their horizons for why they workout if their ONE reason for working out gives them enough discipline and enjoyment to maintain consistency in any routine. I don't need to broaden my horizon for why I work out because looking amazing is enough for me and I gain all the extra health benefits regardless.

[Pegasus AdministratorPE Gym EditorPEGym Hero ☺ Admin of the Month Mar 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close Pegasus]

Funny enough guys with the greatest function in a given area are not usually great allrounders . So the worlds best lifters are not usually good at distance running , distance runners might not be that powerfull and neither of them might be flexible. Of course some sports require all round capabalities, but who is to say wrestling is more worthy than distance running?

[bigmoe5067 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigmoe5067]

exactly, training wise distance running would give you a better VO2 max and stroke volume than wrestling would, which are two of the srongest indicators of CV health.

the point the OP was making, and i see it all the time are these body builders who a training in fashions with excess weight in poor form at low reps whom are giving themselves a sure shot at arthritis, and not improving anything in a functional sense. i know a bunch of bodybuilders that outweigh me and outlift me whom i could pummel in hand to hand combat if the situation ever arose. excess unfunctional muscle is not healthy muscle. yea you might be able to shoulder press 300lbs 3 times but that doesnt mean it applicable to any real life scenario

there is even a correlation between athletes that carry excess muscle and a higher risk for early death due to cardiovascular disease.

i say workout any which way you want. its great to see people taking pride in their health and their bodies, just make sure that your workouts are actually benefiting your health.

[3666777 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 3666777]

Funny enough guys with the greatest function in a given area are not usually great allrounders . So the worlds best lifters are not usually good at distance running , distance runners might not be that powerfull and neither of them might be flexible. Of course some sports require all round capabalities, but who is to say wrestling is more worthy than distance running?

Yes.

[malehanger Banned Find all posts View Profile Close malehanger]

I totally agree. Then again there are people who get way too hung up on "functional training" and tend to put down certain types of exercise as "non functional". I've even seen some call the "bench press" "non functional" whatever that means. Come on, you're strengthening your chest, triceps, forearms, and various stabilizers. How in the world is that "non functional"?? Then, you see guys who only work on the "for show" muscle groups. They're some of the funniest and most un-balanced looking clowns, I swear. All chest, shoulders (well, sometimes) and arms. My favorite is seeing some turd with huge triceps, biceps and no forearms. They always wear pants because they never work their legs or lower body to the degree (if at all) they do their upper body. I'm all for total body conditioning.

[TheSnitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TheSnitch]

There is another thread like this, it's a few months old if I remember correctly, but it was a thread about Convict Conditioning - which is a work out regiment that targets exactly what you're talking about. The author, a former inmate, makes a good argument against the loss of calisthenics and the emphasis on heavy weights that stress joints.

Check it out, it's a pretty cheap ebook.

[bigmoe5067 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigmoe5067]

some people at the gym really are hilarious and incredibly one dimensional.

my mindset has always been "if i had to both catch and kill an animal with my bare hands, what physical skills would i need to do so?" looking at it from this aspect put whole body naturalist health into perspective.

my beef is that our society seems to think flexibility/agility/mobility is for athletes only. what is the point of have strength, speed and power if none of them can be utilized? i can think of so many areas outside of sports where these concepts apply

[malehanger Banned Find all posts View Profile Close malehanger]

some people at the gym really are hilarious and incredibly one dimensional.

my mindset has always been "if i had to both catch and kill an animal with my bare hands, what physical skills would i need to do so?" looking at it from this aspect put whole body naturalist health into perspective.

my beef is that our society seems to think flexibility/agility/mobility is for athletes only. what is the point of have strength, speed and power if none of them can be utilized? i can think of so many areas outside of sports where these concepts apply

Yep. The day your car dies on you in the middle of winter and you have to push it a half mile to a gas station, or somewhere is the day you'll wish you'd trained your entire body Had it happen to me before. Of course, nowadays I have "AAA Roadside Assistance" but, still.