Training for Specific Results

Running a few miles or doing a few leg extensions is not enough anymore to say you're in shape. As the fitness industry has become more sophisticated through anecdotal reports and actual scientific research, certain trends have emerged. We now understand that physical fitness is a relative term that means different things to different people. For example, a marathon runner wouldn't consider herself physically fit if she was strong and muscular, but lacked the endurance to run 26 miles. She might look good, and society might judge her to be in shape, but without the endurance she wouldn't be able to compete in her sport. Likewise, a powerlifter who can run for long distances but can't perform a one-rep maximum bench press would have terrible fitness for her sport. Her cardiovascular endurance may be excellent, but that won't win her any medals in powerlifting. These athletes need to train for the specific demands of their sports.

What about the stay-at-home mom whose physical need is to be able to chase her kids around all day without becoming fatigued? She would love to have a fantastic body, but perhaps it's more important to her to be fit enough to keep up with her children. She needs to train specifically for the physical demands of her day. Specific training leads to specific results, whereas haphazard training leads to haphazard results. You might think you are physically fit if you can run a few miles and do some leg extensions, but it depends on how you define what physical fitness is for you. What are your physical fitness needs? Defining your needs is as specific to each person as choosing the exercises to meet those needs.

When we get in a car, we usually have in mind both a destination and a route to get there. We don't drive willy-nilly all around town hoping that we'll wind up at work, the dry cleaner's, and the grocery store. It should be the same with your exercise program. Think of your physical fitness program as a journey to reach a specific goal. What is your goal for exercise? Do you want to enter a strength competition? If so, you will have to incorporate very different training techniques than if you want to lose a dress size. Your specific goals determine the type and amount of training you must do. Familiarize yourself with the following components of fitness to help you determine your goals. In chapter 7, I'll tell you how to design the perfect program to meet those goals.

Components of Fitness

Specificity of Exercise

Setting Your Training Goals