“The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth”. This is one of my favorite sayings particularly when it comes to fitness. Far too often I find that guys will hit the gym at the SAME TIME, do the SAME WORKOUT, use the SAME EXERCISES, only to have the SAME SHAKE before leaving to listen to the SAME RADIO STATION in the car on their way home. That’s a lot of “same”! Sometimes, change isn’t just needed to provide that feeling of “uncomfortability” (is that a word) that you need to keep you on your toes and awake through your workout, but it’s what your muscles are craving in order to provide you with any noticeable results!
REDEFINING “MUSCLE CONFUSION”
Thanks to popular marketing, the term “muscle confusion” has been adopted as an accepted way to spark new results from your workouts…but is it REALLY being accomplished? Unfortunately, not with DVD’s. You see, unless the workout plan that claims this is providing you with 20,30 or 40 DVD’s (which is economically impractical) the workout variation is limited to whatever can be fit onto 10-12 DVD’s. Consider that you have to address 7 of the major muscle groups like chest, triceps, back, biceps, shoulders, legs and abs and at most you’re getting TWO unique workouts for each…two. Now I don’t care if the late great Jack Lalanne and Joe Weider partnered up and designed these suckers, if you do nothing over the next 90 days but the same two workouts for each muscle group, I can assure you that your muscles are NOT confused…bored is more like it.
NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD
Check out Ireland’s Derek Mulhern up above. Prior to starting ATHLEAN-X, he told us he’d done “all the other programs”. The only problem was, he still didn’t like the way he looked, and he certainly hadn’t built much muscle using them. In my opinion, it all goes back to the lack of variation that compromised his ability to stimulate change in the first place. Remember, first and foremost, muscles respond to PROGRESSIVE overload. This comes in the form of increased weights, increased muscle tension, and attacking muscles unpredictably (with unique exercises)…often! The human body is amazing in it’s ability to adapt to stress…and therefore requires that you stress it in a manner it’s unaccustomed to. Then and only then can you create overload, which leads to adaptation (muscle growth and fat loss!) to be able to handle that stress more effectively the next time it occurs.
SO EXCITED HE COULD…WHISPER?!?
Back to Derek. Just a week into ATHLEAN-X, he quickly learned not only how important the need to change exercises was, but also what the exercise replacements were. Swapping bench presses for pushups on a medicine ball is NOT helpful nor is ditching lunges for squats…they don’t target the same training goal. By the end of the program, he had gone through over 130 DIFFERENT exercises over 60 UNIQUE workouts…each one progressed at the right time and with the right replacement…and as you can see, has results to convince him that he had been missing this approach all along. Well, he was so excited about his results (or dealing with a bit of insomnia!) that he decided to send us a video he shot in the middle of the night while the rest of his family was sleeping to tell us exactly how happy he was! Better turn those speakers up!! You may have heard of the “dog whisperer”? The “horse whisperer”? Well, it appears we’ve got a “muscle whisperer” here at ATHLEAN-X!! Gotta love that dedication, but c’mon Derek…with results like that you’d think you’d be shouting no? Kidding! Great job my friend.
EXPERIENCE THE “X” PERIENCE OF TRUE MUSCLE CONFUSION
If you’re ready to start your 90 day transformation, don’t want to ever be bored with your workouts again, feel inspired by what fellow “TEAM ATHLEAN” member Derek Mulhern has accomplished and you’re pumped about the possibility of filming your own video and sharing your own pictures just 89 days from now…then let’s go! I’m here to coach you every step of the way. Looking to make you our next big suXXess! CLICK HERE TO START YOUR ATHLEAN-X 90 DAY TRANSFORMATION!
Jeff Cavaliere M.S.P.T, CSCS
Jeff Cavaliere is a Physical Therapist, Strength Coach and creator of the ATHLEAN-X Training Programs and ATHLEAN-Rx Supplements. He has a Masters in Physical Therapy (MSPT) and has worked as Head Physical Therapist for the New York Mets, as well as training many elite professional athletes in Major League Baseball, NFL, MMA and professional wrestling. His programs produce “next level” achievements in muscle size, strength and performance for professional athletes and anyone looking to build a muscular athletic physique.
