Intensity

I've written about 3 key elements.  Work, nutrition, and rest.  All 3 making up the progression we find in our physical bodies over times.  Neglect any one of the trinity, and you will find a lack of health.  Rest is easy.  Nutrition, we'll see about in future blogs, but I want to break down this whole work topic in to two very simple components.  The first is, intensity.  This word has a very broad connotation.  Think about your goals as a person looking to improve one's self.  Most of us are not athletes.  Most of us are training to live...be healthy...be a better me.  What are your goals?  Looking to lose weight?  Put on more strength?  Put on more balance/agility?

Intensity is defined by your objectives.  In less than 5 years I want to lift competitively.  That means I have a coordinated increase in weight or repetitions across a given expanse of time in order to achieve greater weight totals in the big 3 lifts (squat, dead lift, and bench press).  Next year I have a friend who wants to run a marathon.  He's already well conditioned, but he has a special 18 week course of running, rest, and nutrition that is built for him to shave weight, build endurance, and remain at his peak strength thru the time of the race and remain healthy.  Again, a course of increasing "intensity".

Intensity is what you make of it.  You want to be a part of the 8lb pink dumbbell crowd?  Once you can press those dumbbells 50 times, try to cut down on the amount of time those 50 reps take.  ManTis over at USAJG knows intensity.  Doesn't look like he's working towards a max dead lift.  Doesn't look like he's worried about his time in the 5k.  But it does look like he ratcheting up that intensity every time out.

Remember Sir Kelvin.  He stated that what can not be measured, can not be improved upon.  Power is a simple equation between the amount of weight moved and the time it takes to move it.  Either move more weight, or the same weight for a longer time, or do both in less time.  Make sure to keep notes, and make sure to do it every time.  Don't pump, and strut around in front of those full length mirrors.  You're not built to be a model, but you are built to improve.

--The Walleye