The first thing you notice when you walk through any gym is that there are mirrors everywhere. Where there's a wall, there's a mirror. What do you think this tells you? Most people that go to the gym are simply going to look good. Performance and function in the training world take a back seat to being ripped and looking good.
Functional fitness has been taking a beating lately in the fitness world, but that's because so many people have misconstrued its meaning. Functional fitness is a subjective term and to me, functional fitness isn't juggling medicine balls while balancing on one leg. Functional fitness is the ability to perform better in your chosen sport or martial art and in day to day life. The ability to run faster, jump higher, be stronger, and endure more.
Looking better is another bi-product of functional training. The key to getting started is setting simple goals and trying to break them. It could be as simple as doing the maximum amount of push-ups you can do (even if that maximum is one or less than one), and trying to do more the next time around.
Training for functionality can be started simply with the following list:
1. Rather than your usual cardio, try interval and sprint training
2. Instead of normal gym exercises, do compound workouts like pull-ups and squats
3. Try new full-body training techniques, like kettlebell exercises
By training with specific performance goals in mind, accomplishing them will be that much sweeter. In addition, you'll look better and you'll really be strong.
I set a goal for myself to lower my body fat by 2% in a month. I worked out and ate right, and even with some slip-ups along the way, I hit my mark. This was great, but it was almost like it wasn't enough or there was something missing. Months later, I read about the kettlebell US Secret Service Snatch test. The test was developed when the trainees for the secret service were given ten minutes to perform as many snatches as they could with a 53lb kettlebell with 200 being their ultimate goal.
A kettlebell snatch involves swinging a kettlebell from between your legs to above your head in one fluid motion. Just a reps will cause most people to start sweating, and accomplishing the test could require months of practice and hard work. Even so, I promise that if you can do it, you will not only feel accomplished, you'll being extremely functionally fit.
When it comes down to it, functional training is much more efficient than standard gym exercising. You not only look strong, you are strong.
Functional fitness has been taking a beating lately in the fitness world, but that's because so many people have misconstrued its meaning. Functional fitness is a subjective term and to me, functional fitness isn't juggling medicine balls while balancing on one leg. Functional fitness is the ability to perform better in your chosen sport or martial art and in day to day life. The ability to run faster, jump higher, be stronger, and endure more.
Looking better is another bi-product of functional training. The key to getting started is setting simple goals and trying to break them. It could be as simple as doing the maximum amount of push-ups you can do (even if that maximum is one or less than one), and trying to do more the next time around.
Training for functionality can be started simply with the following list:
1. Rather than your usual cardio, try interval and sprint training
2. Instead of normal gym exercises, do compound workouts like pull-ups and squats
3. Try new full-body training techniques, like kettlebell exercises
By training with specific performance goals in mind, accomplishing them will be that much sweeter. In addition, you'll look better and you'll really be strong.
I set a goal for myself to lower my body fat by 2% in a month. I worked out and ate right, and even with some slip-ups along the way, I hit my mark. This was great, but it was almost like it wasn't enough or there was something missing. Months later, I read about the kettlebell US Secret Service Snatch test. The test was developed when the trainees for the secret service were given ten minutes to perform as many snatches as they could with a 53lb kettlebell with 200 being their ultimate goal.
A kettlebell snatch involves swinging a kettlebell from between your legs to above your head in one fluid motion. Just a reps will cause most people to start sweating, and accomplishing the test could require months of practice and hard work. Even so, I promise that if you can do it, you will not only feel accomplished, you'll being extremely functionally fit.
When it comes down to it, functional training is much more efficient than standard gym exercising. You not only look strong, you are strong.
About the Author:
About the author: Marcus Martinez can show you how to your fitness goals. For fitness tips view his free fitness programs concerninghealth & fitness.
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