No witty introduction needed here.
The title says it all.
Things I struggle with
1. Writing periodic programs for Gen Pop Clients
I know this might ruffle some feathers out there, but I’m really struggling with the idea of writing periodic (ie, several weeks or months in advance) training programs for the general population.
When working with a competitive athlete who has split the year between “off-season” and “in-season” as it relates to their respective sport…
…yes, it makes sense to write a more detailed, thorough and robust plan to prepare them for these rigors
Being more meticulous with stress management, establishing accurate volumes and loads, managing rest periods, and possibly even measuring things like bar speed are all appropriate when preparing an athlete for a competitive season.
Tom, who’s 49 and works in Human Resources, has two kids at home, a crazy left shoulder, and just wants to lose some fat and maybe match the numbers he’s put up since college isn’t Bo Jackson.
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He doesn’t need to prepare for Sunday or hit a 400-foot home run.
This is it NOT to imply I don’t feel that pop clients don’t need planning or structure within their programming. I just don’t feel that going on a Block-periodized schedule so that bench pressure peaks to coincide with their kids’ spring clarinet recital is really the panacea for progress.
In addition, “life” simply has an ability to hinder:
- Children get sick
- The work is piling up
- Holidays are planned
- Fucking global pandemics happen (ugh).
Of course, I’m not suggesting you take a haphazard approach, but writing training programs several weeks – or more aggressively: months – in advance, while well-intentioned, is rarely going to “stick” with most of the generation’s pop customers.
The most convincing approach will almost always be to write 2-4 week microcycle programs, but with the assumption that on any given day “Tom” is going to show up for a session and some adjustment needs to be made.
2. Speaking of Athletes Although
my friend Mike Perryowner of Skill of Strength here in Massachusetts, noted this a while back: Someone will go on and wax poetic about how so-and-so does so-and-so in the weight room, so why shouldn’t I?
To steal some examples from Mike:
1️⃣ A loaded valgus knee is not dangerous, just look at the Chinese weightlifters!
2️⃣ GSP does a ton of exercise, that’s what I have to do!!
3️⃣ Tom Brady only used bands and look at his success.
4️⃣ Lebron has amazing balance from standing and kneeling on stability balls
There is one thing that all High level athletes have what you don’t.
And it’s untrained.
Natural selection.
Nature chose for them their parents and not yours.
They have superior genetics and would be elite in their sport despite some of the questionable things they do in the weight room.
An athlete might post something on social media where they’re doing some circus stunt exercise, and another might post something about how they avoid foods that are red in color.
Don’t do it.
Stop it.
STOP.
You are not them.
So I guess what I’m struggling with here is resisting the urge to jump into a shark’s mouth every time I see someone – whether a coach or just some rando – try to make this borderline stupid argument.
3. Spelling Calendar Calendar right the first time
Anathema!
Every… once… time. This word is my kryptonite.
4. Fit Pros Convinced That Rotator Cuff Training Is So Much More Than Band Exercises
I know some will see this and read the following:
“Tony Gentilcore hates band work for rotator cuff exercises. He also hates bacon, oxygen and kitten hugs.”
To set the record straight: I have nothing against the band’s rotator cuff work.
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They’re great (when executed correctly, of course).
In terms of EMG activation, band work (as well as Side Lying External Rotations) have been shown to be top notch.
That said, there’s a lot more to training the rotator cuff and shoulder health in general than just standing (or lying) in place performing endless reps of external rotations. The shoulder is a dynamic joint, and if we wanted to be selective, the main job is to maintain joint articulation where the humeral head remains “centered” within the glenoid fossa.
I have long advocated the effectiveness of implementing rhythmic stabilizations as part of a rotator cuff training strategy.
However, taking things to the next level, my friends at Back Bay Health – Laura & Tim Latham – posted this on their IG account a while back:
OMG – so good and I’m stealing right away.
Although, to spice it up, I’d recommend lighting the fire or something.
It seems reasonable.
