In an age where training philosophies change by the day by the hottest trend, it is astounding how much we can over think things. I for one am guilty of sometimes over analyzing every little detail when developing a program when the most basics of parameters can and do achieve amazing results. In today's fitness world, we are pummeled with every "Guru's" super duper muscle blasting fat scorching program that they say will bring results, when in reality all they are trying to do is make a quick buck and a name for themselves. With so many crazy recommendations out there, we lose slight of the simplicity that is proven to bring results.
However, Eugene Sandow got it right...all the way back in the late 1800's. Sandow, a bodybuilder, embodied simplicity by today's standards. Check out this little tidbit from Sandow:
"The Training I, of course, specially commend is dumb-bell training and bar-bell exercises, and, for beginners especially, very light weights. (For the generality of people, my experiences would limit the weight to four or not more than five pounds.) But walking, rowing, skating, swimming and when where the heart is all right, climbing and running are very good exercises; football if not roughly played being also excellent.
Nothing, in my opinion, however, is better than the use of the dumbbell for developing the whole system, particularly if it is used intelligently and with the knowledge of the locations and functions of the muscles. With this knowledge it will surprise most would-be athletes how much can be done with the dumbbell and what arrangement for the best complexity of muscles can be brought into play. It has been well said that the muscular system of command is not made up alone of chest and biceps; yet to expand the one in the large the other is almost all that is thought of by the untrained learner."
Now while Sandow was more famous for his physique rather than feats of strength, his words here are insightful nonetheless. It is amazing how over 100 years ago, an effective way to exercise had already been discovered, yet, in the time since, we have strayed so far away from it.
Keep it Simple,
Kyle Bohannon, CSCS Owner/Head Trainer kyle@trainstrive.com
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