Professional and semi-pro athletes have an obvious reason for training the way they do. Weekend warriors train because they have some race in 6 months that they want to crush. Most of the population probably wants to merely look and feel good, not really caring about any upcoming fitness event. I would like to propose an alternative motive for having an exercise routine… that applies to everyone above:
Your daily activities (including home, work, leisure activities, etc.) should represent, at the very most, 50% of what you do for your exercise routine.
(The answer is yes, I did just make up that statistic, but I think it is a decent generality to make and I will explain why.)
Scenario: I am a construction worker and my job consists of lifting, moving, squatting, etc. I can argue that I get eight hours of physical activity per day and I do not need to exercise any more.
This way of thinking will ensure exhaustion by the end of EACH day because the worker is performing 100% of his physical activity during work. What if this person had an exercise routine that trained him to lift more functionally, engrained proper squatting leading into weighted squats, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, etc.? This routine, of only 3 days per week, will condition this construction worker to perform his job with much more ease.
Quality of life is the backbone of this theory. Your regular daily activities should feel like “no big deal” when compared to your exercise routine. If you put this into play you will have more energy, be more productive, and FEEL BETTER! As a chiropractor, I often am asked if I get tired from moving people around, adjusting, or performing soft tissue techniques. I can honestly say no. Specifically this morning I performed sets of deadlifts, tested a 30 second maximal effort on the air dyne (twice), and performed gymnastic movements on Olympic rings while training my aerobic capacity. Handling things in my office is just physically not demanding and I want you to feel the same way.
If you are not looking for a very demanding exercise routine, I suggest you at least incorporate these movements into an exercise routine. If you have anything that is hindering you from exercise (like headaches, knee pain, low back pain, etc.) please contact Yaun Chiropractic for a free initial consultation.