Quotation of the Week

"What you do in the gym should improve quality of life first and foremost, and any activity that carries a high likelihood of injury is very rarely worth the risk." - Eric Cressey

I am dedicating this quote to those people who:

1) Perform prehistoric bodybuilding-type workouts, filled with isolation exercises and movements that are unsafe in terms of body biomechanics.

2) Have an injury and push through pain (the bad kinda pain... the sharp, shooting kind!), with complete disregard for the area that needs rest and recovery.

3) Practice extremely high exercise volume, in hopes of reaching a goal faster (and because they think 'more is better')


Eric Cressey's words pertain to anyone who falls in these three categories.
Because...

#1 - If we exercise the body with faulty biomechanics, or in a manner that's different from the way the body actually works, then that exercise is not going to improve our quality of life! In fact, it'll probably end up leading to incorrect movement patterns, muscular imbalances, annoying aches and pains, and nagging injuries. So, stop doing behind-the-head lat pulldowns and endless bicep curls!

#2 - If we don't tend to things that are irritated and painful, then we are eventually gonna get injured! That is pretty much guaranteed! It's just not worth it to "push through the pain" or to ignore physical issues. Those pains are important signs that something is wrong! It's just not worth it to risk creating injury from that pain. So, even though it sucks to have to avoid certain movements temporarily... and to have to do some extra rehab-type exercises/stretches... it'll only improve quality of life to get rid of not-so-friendly pains.

#3 - The body can only handle so much physical stress. If we are using exercise excessively and in a compulsive way, in order to reach a fitness goal - and NOT because we really enjoy the activity we are excessively participating in... then we are most likely going to become run-down, exhausted, and possibly injured. If lots of physical activity is present in life because it is extremely enjoyable, and if we can step away from that activity when it's necessary to take a break, then I'm all for a hefty exercise schedule! BUT - if we are exercising whenever we possibly can, because of guilt, obligation, compulsion, or any related issue, then we are not using physical activity to improve the quality of our lives. Period.


So, like fitness pro extraordinaire Eric Cressey has stated so well...
THAT should be your main focus when adding exercise to your life.

Is it the kind of exercise that improves the quality of your life by working the body in a balanced, functional way?

Is it the amount of exercise that will give you the results you seek, yet won't allow you to become burnt out and exhausted?

If not, it's time to make some changes.

Now, I'm gonna go improve the quality of MY life by climbing some rocks in Joshua Tree this weekend! Talk to you on Monday!