Everything starts with strength. Without it, you’re nothing. Natural Selection, Social Darwinism, Survival of the Fittest. All of these ideas are premised upon the idea that the acquisition and application of strength (and other desirable traits) permit certain organisms to prosper while others die off.
The single biggest issue I see among the general population is lack of strength. Most people are horribly weak. The inability to do a push-up or a squat with good form is a pretty good sign of weakness. I can’t stress enough how alarming this is. Lack of strength will lead the body to break down. Injury and chronic pain are often the result of weak muscles. Without the ability to move, you’ll undoubtedly gain weight. It’s a vicious downward spiral. You need to break the cycle of inactivity and weakness.
Most people, especially women, start exercising to lose weight. Losing weight should be a favorable by-product of training, not the goal (unless you are obese). I suggest you start thinking along the lines of training like athletes. Athletes train to get strong and fast. If you participate in any activity more strenuous than jogging , think of yourself as an athlete. You may not view yourself as such, but do so anyway. Athletes move the same way you do, just at a more intense level. On some level you require agility, flexibility and coordination. The last piece of the puzzle, however, is strength and power.
Don’t be the typical commercial gym-goer. Don’t focus on cardio. Don’t squeeze strange things between your legs to work your “inner thighs”. It’s not going to improve you strength and certainly won’t improve your performance in your preferred activity. Learn how to bench press, squat, dead-lift, military press and row. Train like an athlete, eat like an athlete, and you’ll be rewarded with an athletic body and better performance.
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