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OUR BODIES ADAPT TO WHAT WE DO
Bodybuilders have bigger muscles than non-bodybuilders because they lift weights more often and with more intensity. The muscles respond to the repetition and energy expenditure, and grow bigger, to handle the new demands that have been placed on them. Muscle size alone, however, does not relate directly to muscle strength or endurance, and is actually counterproductive when it comes to muscle speed. These attributes can all be manipulated with the appropriate training techniques; it simply depends on what specific goals you have. You must set specific goals, such as losing weight, toning your physique, gaining muscle mass, increasing muscular endurance or speed, or increasing agility, and then incorporate an exercise routine specifically designed to produce the results you seek.
Athletic records are being broken everyday. Olympic gymnasts can perform athletic feats that they themselves considered impossible just a few years ago. We have never reached a limit to what our muscles can do. Every year our athletes get stronger and faster. The science of training athletes has seen dramatic improvements over the past few decades due to an increased understanding of how our muscles work. Equally important is the science of nutrition and the role it plays in fueling our activity. The good news is that the training techniques and complimentary nutrition guidelines used by elite athletes are not top-secret, classified documents. They are widely available and used by personal trainers everywhere.
Muscles learn through repetition, and repetition is accomplished through will. Determine your goals, then train your body accordingly. If you want to be great at running on a treadmill, run on a treadmill repeatedly and you will get better and better at it. Now go take a run on a sandy beach and you will realize that they are not the same thing. When running on sand, there will be more muscles at work helping to stabilize you and keep you balanced. More muscles working means more fuel being burned, and you will tire more quickly. Continue to run on the beach and you will get better at it. Your muscles adapt to the specific training you give them. To be better prepared for a dynamic lifestyle, your training should incorporate a wide range of dynamic movements.
Do not forget to train your mind. Our bodies adapt to what we do, and we are highly programmable. Your mind can be your greatest tool, but if the fitness level of your mind is ignored, it can atrophy just like an unused muscle. To train the mind you must be able to control it, and this requires meditation. You can never know the limits of your own mind if you never take the time to explore it. Repetition is, once again, the key to progress. The more you practice meditating, the faster you will gain control of your own mind. There is nothing more important than this. Where the mind goes, the body follows. A distracted mind will lead to an unfocused, distracted body. Sit still for 5 minutes, and try not to think. This is harder than it sounds, but it will get easier with daily practice. Meditation will give you the mental power to control your physical abilities.
Train for your life. You do more than just curl dumbells and run on treadmills all day. Make vanity the lowest of your priorities, and focus on how you feel. Pay attention to your body; it will always reflect what you are doing to it.
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