I can completely relate to Dalo’s position and his way of thinking.
There are three key principals I follow in my personal fitness training which I have developed over the two and a half years I have been getting and staying fit from scratch. Tried and tested, I hope they help some people as they certainly helped me a lot. Some have been mentioned before but my principals bring it all together.
Ok this might be a little long…
They are as follows: -
Variety: Variation is an EXTREEMLY useful and important aspect of fitness training, I go by the rule that I will not do the exact same thing i.e I will not do the same run, type of run or circuit training session more than once a week, twice at the absolute most. This principle doesn’t necessarily have to apply to weight training, or your press-ups, sit-ups or pull-ups as these rely on repetition, and besides these cannot really be varied except in format as in with the circuit they are contained in for instance.
You will find that if you do the same thing like a 3 mile run 5 times a week like I used to do when I was getting fit for the first time you will hit a platu very quickly, this is extremely frustrating. The trick is to keep your body on it’s toes to stop it getting over used to one specific activity and stalling well bellow peak.
Reality: - Base your exercise on ‘reality’ i.e train in a format and style that you expect to face in what ever you are training for.
DON’T take the easy route!
This sounds like common sense but if you put some thought into it goes a long way. For instance, when you are out running, instead of using stiles, ‘role’ over the gate like you would when crossing that obstacle on the assault course at CTC (can’t remember what it’s called) where you have to through your body weight over and then swing your legs over. Train when it’s cold and wet, when it’s hot, where it’s muddy and where it’s hilly, Push yourself even harder when you realise you are getting tired because on PRMC and in training this is when the PTIs will push you harder, and it’s where real strength of mind shows through and the weak fall back…
NEVER stop or walk during a run! (This might take practice to discipline yourself but you will begin to surprise yourself when you start getting mentally fitter along with physicaly).
Run in boots sometimes, and sometimes some weight on your back. Get your body used to doing exercise when your tired (you will be surprised sometimes how well you do when you think your to tired to train). Also mix up and combine your exercises, do press-ups and sit-ups before and after a run, warm up HARD and make sure your not fresh before you start.
Effort: - Finally this is obviously a big key – ALWAYS push yourself to the max, if you are not knackered enough at the end of a run and you still got some distance then go all out and if your still not knackered at the end then keep going or do some Press-ups and sit-ups, etc. Most people (they won’t admit it) will stop at the end of a run and think “blimy I’m hanging out” but really, they no they can do more – this is where it counts.
Set yourself challenges – when you start getting fitter and can go for longer runs, set your self a ‘scenic’ route and get out into the middle of nowhere, I have found on several occasions when I deliberately went out of my way I was in the middle of nowhere and absolutely f@#k, I had stopped briefly for a drink and thought…. I’m not gonna make it back, but I got no choice… and your will have to push yourself.
Try it because it will toughen you up!
Also Set yourself little self discipline tests in every day life like going out to the shops without that nice warm flees so you can get used to being a little bit cold and uncomfortable (This does work, but obviously don't go over the top and stand in the snow in the middle of the night in your boxers because that's obviously not good for your health...), or always add on 2 or more more press-ups to any set target in a set just to get yourself into a habbit of going that little bit extra.
Having said all that
, if you are pretty unfit when you start then it sometimes helps to start bellow your ability just to get ‘conditioned’ before you start pushing yourself regularly, this will prevent injury as well as help in stopping the inevitable doubt and lack of motivation felt after a couple of weeks of getting fit for the first time.
Also it is just as importent as any training principal to get the right amout of rest and even diet, without these you will not progress effectivly and will be tempting illness or injury.
Good luck,
JZ.
