Most debates among strength coaches are silly. We bicker over the minutiae. Zoom out and you see that most people need to focus on training consistently for years.
We talk about research looking into the best way to stimulate the chest muscles, or if someone grows bigger triceps with pushdowns or overhead extensions.
For research purposes, I guess I understand. They have theories and want to test them. For most people, this is irrelevant.
I’m certainly biased because of my clientele. I train many folks who strength train as a way to enhance their life. They have a little garage or basement gym, and a few pieces of basic equipment. They get stronger given their circumstances- their equipment, their time, their energy, and their goals. Most don’t want to train 5 days a week, 2 hours per session. Most don’t have access to lots of machines to hit every “optimal” angle for whatever body part.
Most have 2-3 days per week to train, maybe for an hour each session. Some have a little less, some have a little more. But most people I work with have a family and a job that chews up their mental bandwidth. Lifting is a little break, but it’s not their main thing in life.
And it doesn’t need to be that way. Getting stronger for everyday life doesn’t require 10+ hours in the gym each week. It doesn’t require 20+ exercises with complex periodization schemes and the most high tech equipment. You don’t need an app to track all of your metrics. You need to do a few things consistently for the long haul.
When you’re reading all of the science and research, and listening to all of the experts, keep that in mind. Who does it apply to? In what circumstances does it apply to?
