VOLUME VS.
INTENSITY
O
ne high intensity workout a day o
or two medium intensity workouts a
day? Should I do an extra work out for
the one I missed last week? How else can I be
active today? These common questions occur to
fitness enthusiasts on a daily basis. But the main
divide between volume and intensity gets down to
one question: Is it more effective to do one intense
workout or multiple lower intensity workouts? Let’s
dive in and take a look at some factors.
All of us in the fitness world are worried about
one thing, results. How do we decide on the best
way to get those results? In my own experience,
both in my training and as a coach, I see well
intentioned gymgoers get burned out with their
fitness routine all the time. As members of a
growing culture of impatience, we’ve started
expecting immediate results for everything, even
the exercise we do. Experience shows us, though,
that in order to obtain true and sustainable results,
we must first create a strong base through
consistency. No matter what your workout is on a
certain day, you should always hit that workout
with as much intensity as you can. Two simple
words can get you a long way in obtaining your
goals, Work Hard!
Well intentioned athletes ask me all the time,
“What else can I do after my workout to get more
results?” I always give them the same simple
advice.
Instead of thinking about what else can you do
today, think about whether or not you could
have worked harder during the work out you
just did. Intensity is going to be the key to your
success. For the one to two hours that you are
working out in the day, is your heart rate
staying consistently elevated? Are you
increasing your weight from set to set during
your strength training? During conditioning, are
you really emptying the tank every time? Start
focusing on these key points, and you’ll see a
big difference your workouts and your results.
On the other side of the argument is
Volume. Can’t I just do more in my workouts to
get the results faster? My response is this;
fitness is a lifestyle, not a passing phase. You
should create a routine that allows you to work
out every day and to stay consistent. If you
continue to cram your workouts with more and
more exercises, the quality of your work will
start to decrease. Eventually fatigue sets in
and you start to exercise in bad positions,
leading to an increased likelihood of injury
down the road.
You can’t get the results you want all in one
day. You must stay the course. Develop a
good routine and schedule that allows you to
enjoy your workouts but also keeps you
excited for the next one. Stick to your schedule
and, when it does come time to work out, crank
up the INTENSITY!