Go Heavy or Go Home

Why are so many people scared when they hear about weight training?

Is it the bulking up, and therefore investment in a new wardrobe, worthy of being comparable to Bruce “The Hulk” Banner’s walk-in closet??

If you have seen the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie “Pumping Iron” (1977), I can fully understand this assumption. It gives viewers an in-depth look into the world of bodybuilding and how much iron these ladies and gentlemen are pumping to get bigger. It was not this movie that brought blown-up biceps and larger-than-large legs to the screen.?

The spike in bodybuilding interest rose once Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the cinemas with Conan the Barbarian (1982) and one of my all-time-favourites - Predator (1987).?

The results of his years of dedication are now seen as the driving force of what we are capable of when we're investing time, blood, sweat, and more protein. En masse, those keen to achieve party balloon-sized human beef were largely influenced by him. The numbers speak for themselves as dedicated bodybuilding centres and courses flourished.

Is it something I want to achieve? Not in a gazillion years.

But I lift heavy, and I intend to go heavier and heavier.?

If we are looking to age gracefully, and keep our independence without walking canes, wheelchairs, and a downward bent spine with our eyes fixed to the floor for some loose change, then I will keep on lifting heavy.

We have come a long way in understanding the science and biomechanics of weight lifting. And all fingers are directed towards those fibrous pieces of string we call muscles.

In particular, the power and value our skeletal muscles bring to the table have dictated how well we can age when we grab hold of a pair of dumbbells. It is the currency of functional ageing. An essential contributor to maintaining optimal metabolic health. That ignition switch burning off those love handles. Decreasing the deterioration of our bone density by a factor of X.

I can go on.

I have been very fortunate to receive compliments because they did not expect me to cross the half-century mark versus how I look and feel. It’s just that we look at the complexity of how we may age gracefully, reach our pension age, and sit under the palm tree doing little to nothing. If that’s your goal, perfectly fine, however, the majority suffer from some discomfort when we crawl further up towards a ripe old age.

Lifting heavy is one thing.

Lifting accurately by contracting the right muscle groups is a totally different story.

Tapping into all three of your energy systems is neglected too many times. Yes, we have three - and too many people only go for one.

Nothing will work when you do not move well, move consistently, and replenish accurately. How hard you may try, and you do not have any external factors under control...all your single-handed, non-guided aspects will either be in vain or vanish in record time.

Health goals are highly individual - one size certainly does not fit all. But running and cutting calories do not do it. Nor going on a dry spell for a month and see whether it promotes the tides of human belly fat - from flow to ebb.

Balance your health goals and include some type of resistance training in your schedule.?

As Arnold would say, “I’ll Be Back” pumping iron sustainably.

If you think lifting weights is dangerous, try being weak. Being weak is dangerous. | Bret Contreras