Work Out Smarter, Not Harder
A training program does need to be smart in order to produce long term gains in a safe and effective manner. A well designed program uses periodization, the manipulation of training variables (sets, reps, weight, intensity, etc.), in order to keep workouts challenging over time as you get stronger, and ensure optimal gains.
Work Out Harder, Not Smarter
Working out harder is the primary goal of a smart training program. You shouldn’t worry about having the perfect program, and should focus on putting in the effort if you want results, especially in the long-term.
Can We Target Individual Muscles?
Different exercises for the same muscle groups do work muscles differently, but not in the hyper specific way that people think it’ll tighten, lift, or radically create muscle growth. Variety in exercises to make sure the entire muscle group is strengthened can be incorporated into workout routines, but more variety doesn’t mean better/more gains. If you have a good program with a little bit of variety, it’s more important to focus on consistency and adding weight over time, rather than worry about tweaking exercises.
Understanding Grip Strength Regulation
Grip strength autoregulation can be a useful tool in order to maximize your workouts on any given day - grip strength is a good indicator of full body readiness. If your grip strength is good, then you typically do a more challenging workout, versus a low grip strength which may be a sign to hold back or modify your workouts. Generally, grip strength testing is simple and easy to use, but should still be used intelligently in the context of your training program.
The Squat Isn't For Everyone
Squats are generally seen as the must-do exercise for lower body development, and it’s often ignored by fitness professionals that some people do not enjoy or cannot perform them. Spine, hip, knee, and calve conditions/injuries commonly effect someone’s ability to squat. There are plenty of other exercises that develop the lower body that work better for these situations. Workout programs need to be built on exercises the individual wants to do and is safely capable of doing, even if it means that a popular or effective exercise like the squat isn’t included.