HIT Training 101

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”           -George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionists

            For some strange reason, most will attain some level of progress and then assume that "this is as good as it gets.”  They are stuck inside the Matrix and do not even realize that they are trapped.  If you are reading this, then you have most likely asked yourself the question, "Can I improve?”

            Our American culture swings between two extremes.  One that tells us if we put in long strenuous hours then results will follow.  This can be seen either at the workplace or at the gym.  The other offers a magic pill and tells us that if we swallow this pill we can eliminate any work and simply kick back and watch the results take place.  The answer must be found somewhere in the middle.

            The individuals that will give the worst training advice are the genetically gifted exceptions.  They are the exceptions to the rule, not the rule.  At some point, we have all met the person that will eat Fruit Loops for breakfast, cookies for lunch, and a greasy slice of pizza for dinner and still manage muscular growth.  This is a person whose genetic capabilities are on the extreme end of the scale. Almost anything they do will produce growth.  However, at some point, this will stop.  Their superior genetics will preserve the muscle that they have attained, attracting the questions from their sub par onlookers.  Their progress could move even further with the proper training.

            I read of an individual who was on the genetically superior side of life who said he was a high volume trainer with 3 to 4 sets per exercise.  He stated that he did not feel that doing any less could thoroughly work the muscle.  This is an excellent example of an individual who appealed to his emotions for an adequate answer and not a scientific law.  He then went on to say that carrying around a notebook at the gym to record training results was silly.  That is what I find to be so strange.  On what basis then can one measure any sort of progress?  On the basis of how one feels?  This is surely not adequate.

            Even if this genetically gifted individual could bench press, for example, 405 lbs. for 5 repetitions and continues to do this same amount of weight and reps week after week, where is the progress?  What does it matter whether one could bench 135 lbs. for 5 reps or 405 lbs. for 5 reps if neither progresses?

            If you are one of these people who have been tempted to seek the advice from the person who is benching over 500 pounds, stop right there.  This is like asking a seasoned soldier how to fix the interior intricacies of an M-16 rifle.  The assumption that this battle scarred soldier can do this merely on the basis that he has been in battle will more than likely not solve the problem.  The gunsmith who spends much of his time examining the guts of the weapon will fix the problem.  Consider me the gunsmith. 

            Progress should be seen on a weekly basis.  This is not for a select few but for any individual, no matter what your personal training desires may be.

            There are two distinct types of individuals in life: one is a theorist while the other is a realist.  The theorist will begin, as all theorists do, with a hypothesis.  This, however, will not be just any hypothesis.  It will begin with a negative slant.  The theorist will do everything in his power to debunk something that absolutely scares him: the truth.  The comfort of the Matrix keeps him unchallenged and most important, deceptively safe.  The realist will test his hypothesis in the gym while becoming his own guinea pig.  He will not simply make statements to paint a picture of an intellectually elite athlete who is superior to others.  He is seeking the truth and no matter what, this is all that counts, for progress is his greatest journey.