Did you know that exercise burnout, aside from making you more susceptible to injuries, can have a long list of side effects that include depression and mood swings?
For that reason alone, Cameron Falloon, founder of Body Fit Training recommends using 8-week progressive training blocks, which is the same way that he has trained elite sporting teams for decades.
To learn more about what training blocks are and how you can exercise without injury or overtraining, read on and see what Cam has to say.
What is a training block?
The foundation of a training block uses validated principles of periodisation and progressive overload designed to get the best results. Periodisation is the planned manipulation of training variables and when coupled with progressive overload to allow for gradual musculoskeletal adaptation, this provides for an optimal environment to achieve your health and fitness goals in the short and long term.
Athletes train specifically year on year cycling and varying their programs through considered manipulation of training variables such as movement patterns, weights, rest periods and exercise selection. This allows the individual to constantly progress and never stagnate with their training.
We use the same principles at BFT to provide the everyday athlete the opportunity to develop their skills and training in the same way in the group environment.
By training in progressive blocks, it’s easier to stay motivated and see progress. Being able to measure your progress from where you started to where you finish is highly addictive. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner to exercise or an elite athlete, training blocks can work for anyone.
Why do training blocks need to be progressive?
Whether you’re training to compete at City 2 Surf fun run or show off your bulging biceps at the annual Arnold Classic, it all starts with nailing the basics first and getting the movement and technique correct, then building capacity with weight, speed etc to get optimal results.
Doing the same thing day in, day out will get you the same results.
Why progressive training blocks are the way to go
Founder of BFT, Cameron Falloon is no stranger to coaching the elite athlete. Having trained AFL and soccer teams, his BFT methodology is successfully tried and tested by those across the globe.
1. You don’t go from 0-100 in a week. Nail the technique and movement patterns first, before progressing your weight or reps, which prevents injury from poor form.
2. When you train in progressive blocks you’re less likely to get bored with the routine, hurt yourself or overtrain because you’re not seeing results.
3. They factor in recovery time with an alternating cardio or strength bias.
