What is the difference between training SMART versus training HARD
The meaning of training smart and training hard
When training smart you reap many of the benefits such as looking well, feeling energized, and being healthier and more upbeat. If you feel completely beaten and weak after your session in the gym, you might want to revisit your training plans. Training as hard as you can won’t necessarily bring you the positive benefits you expect. First of all if it doesn’t make you feel good, it is unlikely that you will stick with it for a very long time. If you injure yourself and have various aches and pains, you will end up sitting on the sofa on doctor’s orders. Smart training means that you create a plan that caters to your interest, your physique, your goals and your time frame.
Things that are hard but not smart
1. Choosing a hardcore diet to get in to shape
2. Chemicals, junk and unhealthy eating habits
Chemicals, pesticides, various toxins, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and hormone medications are count as an ongoing challenge to our liver and intestines. If you put more toxins in to your body than what you are able to get rid off, sooner or later if will affect your immune system as well as your liver and thyroid functions. Gaining weight, bad teeth, sugar cravings, high cholesterol are just a few side effects that can happen. A more extreme version includes heart disease, vascular disease and various cancer types.
3. Hardcore training plan to exhaust your body
The old-fashioned approach to exercise was that the more and harder you worked, the better you would look and feel. I’ve seen people doing only yoga or 30 minutes weight training 3 times a week and look absolutely amazing. I’ve also seen aerobic bunnies collapsing on the gym floor after a back-to-back triple exercise session. Take it easy, and don’t loose focus of your goals. You want to look and feel good. Exhausting your body and overworking your muscles and joints will certainly not help you to do that.
4. Yoyo diets and following different diets each month
There are always new (commercial) methods to loose weight and get in to shape. Every month you can find a new weight loss kit, a super clever drinking solution, or a drastic eating plan (stay away from eating eggs or cabbage soup for weeks on!). What is common in these solutions is that they all offer to bring out the best of you. Well, I’ve got news for you: you are the best one to bring out the best of you!
Things that are smart but not hard
1. Training smart
Choose a form of exercise that you actually enjoy doing. Stick with it and show up regularly. This means training smart. If you like high intensity exercise, commit to doing HIIT (high intensity intervals) twice or three times a week. If you prefer something slower and more strategic, do weight lifting. Choose yoga or pilates if you need to still your mind and flex your body too. Find a group to exercise with, if you want to find inspiration in working out with others. Exercise should be fun, make the most of it!