Build for Life: Functional Fitness

Why Functional Fitness Should Be Your Go-To Training Approach

Lift - Move - Breathe Podcast Episode #43 Build for Life: Functional Fitness

In a world where fitness trends come and go, there's one approach that stands out for its practicality and long-term benefits: functional fitness. This week on the Lift Move Breathe podcast, I share insights on why functional fitness should be at the forefront of everyone's training regimen. Here's a breakdown of his key points.

Functional Fitness Defined

Functional fitness focuses on exercises that simulate everyday movements. Unlike traditional bodybuilding, which isolates muscles to achieve aesthetic goals, functional fitness trains the body to handle real-life activities more effectively. This type of training includes a variety of movements such as squatting, reaching, pulling, twisting, and even sprinting.

Why It Matters

1. Real-Life Applications: Functional fitness prepares you for the physical demands of daily life. Whether it's lifting a heavy suitcase or catching yourself from a fall, these exercises build the strength, coordination, and balance you need.
2. Holistic Training: This approach targets multiple muscle groups and movement patterns, promoting overall physical health. It's not just about looking good; it's about feeling good and being capable.
3. Reduced Injury Risk: By mimicking real-life movements, functional fitness reduces the risk of injury both in the gym and in everyday situations. It prepares your body for unexpected challenges, like sudden movements or lifting awkward objects.

The Downside of Traditional Training

Traditional bodybuilding and athletic training often focus on aesthetics or performance in specific sports. While these can be rewarding, they don't always translate to everyday functionality. Many people who train this way might struggle with simple tasks like picking up their kids or reaching for something overhead.

A Balanced Approach

Functional fitness doesn't exclude muscle-building exercises but incorporates them in a balanced way. It prioritizes full-body workouts, often in circuits or supersets, to save time while enhancing muscle coordination and endurance.

Getting Started

To begin incorporating functional fitness into your routine, start with basic movements that cover a wide range of activities. These include squats, deadlifts, push-ups, and pulling exercises, along with more dynamic movements like lunges and rotational exercises. Why not run through my Functional Movement checklist below, can you comfortably execute each of these movements??

• Squatting: Comfortable getting up and down from a seated position.
• Lifting: Safely lifting objects from the ground.
• Carrying: Ability to carry groceries or similar loads.
• Pushing: Pushing doors open or moving objects.
• Pulling: Pulling items towards you, like opening heavy drawers.
• Bending: Bending down to pick something up or tie shoes.
• Twisting: Rotating the torso to reach for objects.
• Balancing: Standing on one leg or walking on uneven surfaces.
• Walking: Ability to walk long distances without fatigue.
• Climbing: Ascending and descending stairs comfortably.
• Jumping: Light jumping or rebounding, like stepping off a curb.
• Sprinting: Quick, short bursts of speed for emergencies.
• Stopping: Quickly coming to a halt without losing balance.

Final Thoughts?

Functional fitness is more than just a trend; it's a sustainable way to enhance your quality of life. It prepares you for the physical demands of daily activities and helps you stay active and injury-free as you age. If you're interested in exploring this approach, consider revisiting your current training regimen and incorporating functional exercises. For personalized advice, you can reach out to experts like Wade Foster via LinkedIn.

By focusing on functional fitness, you're not just training to look good—you're training to live well.

Tune into this week's episode of Lift, Move, Breathe for more.

Peace.

Wade

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