5 ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL PROGRESS

an overview

TRAINING/EXERCISE- Almost every one thinks they know how to train after a year or so of working out. In reality, the more you learn, the more you discover what you don’t know. As much as I pride myself on my passionate search and discovery of training methods, it has taken me years of study and commitment on a daily basis. Each year, I find out how much I didn’t know during the previous years. Become a student and realize that there is always more to know. Never be ashamed to say I don’t know.

OPTIMAL NUTRITION-There is basically two different types of foods. They are micronutrients and macronutrients. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals. Macronutrients are your proteins, carbohydrates and fats. If you are building a house you would need the right amount of brick, wood, nails and cement. To many of these materials would be too much and would be a waste. To little and you wouldn’t be able to build your house. It is the same with your body. It needs the right amount of micronutrients and macronutrients to become what you want it to be.

RECOVERY-When exercise is performed, impairment occurs. We cause damage to the connective tissue, muscle fibers and drain energy reserves. This damage occurs so stimulation and improvement can take place. Recovery is when the body repairs, overcompensates and improves as a result of exercise. This results in strength gains. Exercise provides the stimulus for progress. Recovery and nutrition allows the body to produce the results.

There are basically 3 different types of recovery.

The amount of rest we get at night
The amount of rest we get from our exercise routine
Taking active recovery such as massage, chiropractic care, sitting in a whirlpool or sauna. Basically anything thing we do to speed up our bodies recuperative processes.

For more information on different types of recovery you may follow the link/links below:

SHAW CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

SPECIALIZED SUPPLEMENTATION-There is basically two different types of supplements, nutritional supplements and enhancement performance supplements. Nutritional supplements make it convenient to get in our required amount of nutrients. Examples of these would be vitamin/mineral supplements, meal replacement shakes, protein shakes and bars. Enhancement performance supplements are taken to enhance performance. They are not to be confused with nutritional supplements. A good example of this would be creatine monohydrate. This supplement is used widely for its strength enhancement qualities. More on supplements.

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY TECHNIQUES-Learning to tap into your mind/body relationship is one of the more difficult areas of the Pyramid of Physical Progress. However difficult the struggle may be to unlock the door, the results will more than make up for the frustration encountered in the years of persistence it takes to master this great resource. Simply going to the gym and exercising without any previous mental preparation is like trying to run uphill. Likewise, going from set to set and exercise to exercise without being focused is like adding a stiff wind to that uphill grade. Knowing that this mind/body relationship does exist and making a true effort to learn and apply how it works is the first step towards results. It won’t be long before people are using visualization and guided imagery, which have been proven to be highly effective at enhancing many of the aspects of physical performance/progress.

"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it - as long as you really believe 100 percent. It's all mind over matter.

All I know is that the first step is to create the vision, because when you see the vision there - the beautiful vision - that creates the want power. For example, my wanting to be Mr. Universe came about because I saw myself so clearly, being up there on stage and winning".

Arnold Schwarzenegger