Hey guys. I just wanted to preface this post and say that I'm speaking in broad terms when I refer to "you." It isn't geared towards any specific individual, forum or blog. It isn't meant to offend anyone, but to foster some thought, and hopefully make "you" reanalyze and rethink what it is you have been, or currently are doing. I've been busy perusing the various forums and training-based blogs that are out there and came to a realization. Actually, a few of them. Some of you guys are VERY into improving your performance and bodies. This I find impressive. While the government and media are seemingly always talking about the ballooning (pun intended) obesity rates, both here and abroad, you're always trying to get bigger, faster, stronger and leaner.. However, there's something I'm seeing that kind of concerns me. You guys are all over the place, with every aspect of seemingly everything related to training. From the actual programs, to supplements, cardio, etc...you guys are all over. I'm going to go over just some of the basics that hopefully help you out.

Programs

Here's what it seems a lot of you guys are doing. It basically boils down to two different themes. You're either jumping from program to program every month, or you're taking parts of different programs and concepts you like, or feel you need, and throwing them together. Let me ask you a question, "How do you expect to ever see any gains if you're spending a month with Wendler's 5/3/1, and then going to DC training for a month, then off to Westside, and so on and so forth?" I'll say that I understand if you're looking to test things out before you use them on clients, as I do this. I'm actually doing it right now. That being said, you really need to give a program a MINIMUM of eight weeks, preferably twelve, before you decide if it's worth it, or cast it aside. If you're using more advanced training concepts, like Conjugate Periodization, or the Block Periodization Concept, as I am right now, there is literally no way you'll know enough about the systems, and the aspects involved in four, eight, or even twelve weeks. You might grasp the concepts, but the application is where you want to excel, and you won't without a good amount of dedication, time and effort.

The second aspect of this, that I actually touched on earlier, is taking bits and pieces from programs you like, and smashing them together with aspects from other programs that you like. This is seemingly VERY common, and in my opinion, VERY wrong. A lot of people seemingly forget that these programs are written for specific reasons, with specific protocols, theories and concepts in mind when they're designed. Now, you can alter variables within the programs, such as repetition tempos, loading, rest periods, etc. But, you can't just throw parts and pieces you like together. You'll end up spinning your wheels, and possibly sliding backwards. Sliding backwards is obviously, not optimal by any means. I know that sometimes it's unavoidable, but you should do everything in your power to avoid it, and absolutely NOTHING that encourages it!