02/06/2020
Are you confused how to re-start when the gyms re-open?
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Here’s my 5 tips to help.
1) Don’t expect to start where you left off. Chasing the load you did before will lead to mental fatigue and injury. Start back at the basics. Foam roll-Warm up-mobility-main session - cool down -Stretch.
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2) Start your sessions at MEV (minimum effective volume) for each body part. Too much volume/frequency/intensity will lead to mental fatigue/deflate you, because you aren’t lifting or enduring what you once were. Check out / JTS hypertrophy guide YouTube videos, he goes into body part specific details on this.
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3) This is perfect time to focus back on form ex*****on, to allow your mind and body get familiar to the movement patterns (not an excuse to have 10 minute breaks between sets and a laugh) just be smart, and select a load that feels challenging for those selected rep ranges, whilst practising ‘perfect’ form ex*****on. Strength will come back over time.
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4) I know we miss the gym and we’re saying to ourselves “I’m going to go so much more when they re-open!” At this stage, of doing nothing/to little exercise, to then increase frequency/volume/intensity will only lead to physical and mental fatigue. This will result lower motivation and enthusiasm, potential higher risk of injury. Less is more, when starting, or starting back. Cut your session volume, have those rest days; eat, hydrate and sleep. We all know we grow outside the gym.
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5) Set yourself a SMART goal. You ensure every rep, set and session is a step closer to achieving your goal, whether it be lose weight, gain weight, feel body confident, fitter, whatever it maybe, set a goal and keep that fire burning to achieve it.
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A nice little analogy I like to think of;
‘A car does not go from 0-100 in one touch of a pedal. It has to go up through the gears to achieve that speed, and can’t hold that fast speed for a prolonged period. Why would you go 0-100 in your gym sessions, and expect pick up where you left off, and hold that performance and get PBs every session?’ You can’’t. Just be smart, think longevity