The Myth of More
So you want to get stronger? Lift more weights! You want to lose more body fat? Do more cardio! More, more, more is better! Right? Wrong. Don’t fall victim to The Myth of More.
The blanket statement that more is better can be potentially harmful to that body of yours. However, I have another blanket statement that will remain true. Here it is: Exercise intensely and then rest. Simple huh?
Counterintuitively, the benefits we are all seeking from our exercise come when we are out of the gym and our body is resting. It may surprise some people that exercising is not what actually makes our bodies stronger. When we rest, our body is literally rebuilding itself so that it can ultimately become stronger. This process is called supercompensation.
To go even deeper, 24-48 hours after a moderate to intense workout, your body removes metabolic wastes, replenishes energy stores, restoring your central nervous system, strengthens your immune system, repairs your muscles and restores your hormone levels. I’m sure you and I both need those hormone levels to stay in check! As for the waste that is produced in our bodies, products such as water, carbon dioxide, sodium chloride and nitrogen. It is paramount that we allow these different wastes to dwindle. This done by taking part in a four-letter word that we all love; REST.
With that said, don’t workout hard every single day. Studies say that two high-intensity workouts are sufficient to achieve most fitness goals. By going high-intensity twice a week with 48 hours between, your body has sufficient time to recover and prepare for the next blast of intensity. Perhaps the two most important things for us to do are get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water. Recovery and taking care of your body is simple. It does not have to be complicated like Einstein’s general relativity equation. End message: Take rest days.
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About the author
Dwayne Wimmer founded Vertex Fitness Personal Training Studio in 2001, excited to bring a new concept about personal training to the people of Philadelphia’s Main Line in Pennsylvania. Driven by knowledge and results both, while a strength coach at Villanova University, he worked closely with world class athletes such as Brian Westbrook, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, on strength training and conditioning for optimal performance. Dwayne’s client base extends much further than world class athletes. Along with athletes, he works with adolescents to seniors, and he’s a highly acclaimed and sought out personal trainer who has received numerous awards, such as Best of the Main Line Personal Training Studio and Best Main Line Personal Trainer. A graduate of Missouri Western State University, Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Coaching. Aside from personal training, he’s spent time as a physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and a football coach, but has found his passion and home in the fitness industry, inspiring and reaching out to others. As a strong believer in continuing to learn, Dwayne has also taken classes at East Stroudsburg University toward a Masters Degree in Sports Management. He can add author to his list of accomplishments, having created a chapter in the upcoming book The Soul of Success with Jack Canfield, renowned for the Chicken Soup series. To get to the point where he is now, Dwayne has always been thankful for the support of his father, a man who always believed in his mission and saw the need for what it was that Dwayne envisioned. During his free time, Dwayne is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys viewing the amazing landscapes and finding good restaurants to enjoy that are off the beaten path. He also takes advantage of opportunities to travel and experience many other cities while attending fitness seminars and giving presentations about the industry he is so passionate about. As a way to give back to the community that has been a part of his entire life, Dwayne has created Vertex Fitness PUMPED (People United Making Progress through Education and Donations), which provides support to area non-profits through a community-wide outreach effort. At this time, they help three non-profits per year in the Philadelphia area. For more information from Dwayne, you may contact him at (610) 525-6604, dwayne@vertexfit.com