We're in a war, and it's constant.
It's a push and pull that never seems to go away.
And the problem is...
Most of us aren't even aware it's happening.
It's the battle between sticking to what works while adopting the "new and improved."
You see, the challenge in fitness (or anything else) is that there is a constant tension between "tried and true" and "new and improved."
Old School vs. New School...
Yin and Yang...
These two forces are always in competition for dominance...
I like to think of the Old School as an old guy named... Ernie. (That's the oldest sounding name I name think of!)
Ernie is safe, he's reliable, he seems secure, he's familiar, and he makes you feel like you're at home.
You know that everything is going to be a-ok when you're with Ernie.
For those of us who are motivated by safety and security, Earnie is the obvious choice. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Sure, Ernie smells kinda weird, and he's undoubtedly rough around the edges, but at the end of the day, Ernie gets the job done.
But he isn't perfect. He comes with a few hang-ups.
He's rigid, and as a result, he misses opportunities to improve.
He takes longer to get the job done than you'd like. He's also been known to break a few things in the process since he hasn't purchased a new tool since I love lucy was the #1 show on television. Ernie is set in his ways.
Some of us get tired of Ernie taking forever, smelling weird, and breaking stuff...
So...
We look for something different.
That's when Nadia shows up (my name for the New School). Nadia is a exotic, but she's smart, she's sexy, and she's always optimistic; she even smells great (sorry, Ernie). She's got lots of exciting ideas and energy. Nadia is constantly coming up with new tools and concepts. She gets you excited and fills you with the hope that things can be even better than you imagined.
The problem is Nadia tends to throw the baby out with the bathwater. And perhaps worse, most of her ideas are untested.
Many of her ideas sound great, but in practice, they can prove ineffective.
"Ernie is a dinosaur!" She says, "his stuff is too slow and clunky. He needs to get with the times. And did I mention he smells weird?"
And as a result, she misses much of the wisdom Ernie gathered over decades.
Ernie and Nadia both have strengths and weaknesses. And they're both in competition.
Unfortunately, most people naturally pick a side without even thinking about it, usually based on their bias toward order or chaos.
And this is the "3rd WORST Mistake."
It's becoming too ideological with your routine.
It's identifying, personally, with one particular modality or routine.
Your workout routine is a means to an end. It's a tool. Or perhaps, a toolbox, to be more accurate.
But many of us get stuck on one way of doing things. Usually, because it worked in the past or because someone they trust told them it works.
So it's understandable that you might want to stick with Ernie. He's been reliable in the past. But your body needs new stimuli consistently. Otherwise, it will stagnate, plateau, and even lead to injury.
You have to change it up. You have to find things that challenge you in new ways. And it would be best if you did it without throwing everything good out the window.
This is where it gets tricky. And it's also why so few get it right.
So the question is...
How do you continue to do what works AND find new ways to improve and challenge yourself?
There's no easy answer, but there is a simple one.
Use Ernie's tried and true principles/strategies while introducing Nadia's techniques/tactics to challenge your body and mind.
You can think of the tried and true strategies as the framework or the lines on the page. They give you structure. And you can think of the new innovative stuff as the words you put on the page. You can be as creative as you want. Just make sure you stay between the lines.
So what are some of the tried and true strategies/principles to keep?
- Strength train regularly
- Work in every plane of motion, every workout
- Work on flexibility and mobility regularly
- Eat a healthy, sensible diet
- Change your type of workout every 4-6 weeks. (Isn't irony is the best? Think about it)
These are just a few tried and true principles. As you can see, you can adhere to these principles and still introduce a whole world of new exercises and routines. Ernie and Nadia CAN work together.
That's why at PCF, we change the type of workout every 4 weeks. We have tried and true structures that our trainers work within. BUT we encourage them to get as creative and nuanced as they can within that structure. Basically, PCF is an enlightened Ernie, and our coaches are Nadia.
You can take the same approach with your workout routine. The important thing is to keep one foot firmly grounded in order and the other in chaos.
If you can do that, you'll get the best of both worlds.
If you don't. You'll either stagnate or flail wildly.
As always, the choice is yours.
Until next time, stay consistent.
If this blog raises more questions for you, hit us up at PCF any time. We'll show you how to exploit the old school and the new school to maximum benefit. Just submit your information below, and we'll reach out to you within 24 hours.
