What's up, guys?
Jeff Cavaliere, ATHLEANX.com.
So today we've got to talk a little bit.
We've got to talk about science in strength training and how there's a great deal of focus
these days on science and strength training.
It's a great thing.
You guys know I'm a big believer in it.
I say here "We put the science back in strength".
I'm a big believe in letting science help us make better decisions in what we do in
the gym.
That being said, I think we need to start putting a little bit of – not the science
back in strength – but sanity back in science.
So let me explain.
You probably know a member of the PubMed Posse, right?
The people that are quick to throw a PubMed article, or research article at you as the
basis for why everything you're doing is wrong, and everything they're doing is right in the
gym.
It's a growing posse, and it's one that needs to be cut – have their legs cut out – before
it grows too large because the problem is, in focusing solely on the science of training
you are pretty much ignoring one of the most important other aspects of it; the other 50%.
That is the practical application of what the science is trying to tell us could be
true in the actual weight room, or in the actual application.
Doing the work itself.
That is where I think people are becoming too exclusive.
They're either one, or the other.
In order to be effective you're going to have to be both.
In the days ahead here, as we get better and better at what we do you're going to have
to be both.
Have your feet in both areas in order to be able to do this the best.
As a physical therapist and a coach I have a great opportunity.
I was given a great opportunity to be able to have myself in both places so that I can
see – I pour over the research all day long.
But then I actually get a chance to see it across many different body types, many different
levels of athleticism, many different genetic potentials, we could say; many different people.
People of different muscle fiber types.
The people with different body compositions.
So we can take all that we see and actually apply it.
So now, when we look at a study here's the problem with even just regular studies.
Two things, really.
If all you do is read the abstracts you're probably not getting the full intent of what
the researcher was trying to communicate in the first place.
A lot of us, I know, we're lazy.
We want to read the abstract and go right on to the next thing so you can quickly go
post it on Instagram and let somebody know why you're doing what you're doing.
But if you read the abstract only you're missing the part in the explanation, down the conclusions
and even leading up to that.
Even the selection of the subjects and how they go about the subject selection.
There's a lot of disqualifications that are made and a lot of other alternative explanations
that are presented.
It's just that in an abstract you kind of have to come up with "Okay, but what is your
conclusion?"
In a conclusion that is more cut and dry.
Black, or white.
Whereas, there is a lot of grey built in to the actual, full article that's never read.
The second thing is, the actual conducting of the experiment.
You have to understand that most of this research is being done on college students, and find
subjects – reliable subjects – is one of the most difficult things that any researcher
could ever do.
Even if you're testing somebody, the context of which could be testing heavy weights, versus
light weight training and which one is more effective, you get your subjects in there.
They show up, they train, they do everything you want them to do.
Then they leave and one guy goes off and gets absolutely fricking tanked that night.
The next guy has a philosophy test the next day.
So he goes home and studies and gets to bed early.
He comes back nice and early, ready to go for the next day of testing.
Then the other guy – who knows?
He goes and finds out what PornHub is for the first time in his life.
He never even shows up the next day for the test.
So now what do you do with your subjects?
Where is the control there?
Is it the same person that showed up that day?
So if we're testing performance and training, heavy weight, versus light weight, and each
one of those people had a far different experience from the moment they left the lab; you're
not going to get the same performance the next day.
That can completely skew what's going on.
Especially from a nutritional standpoint, too.
I know in dealing with some of our local researchers here at one of our universities, we know that
selecting subjects is one of the most difficult things because even if we're trying to train
somebody, or study an aspect of training we can't control what they then go and put in
their mouth.
At least not with a surety, and certainly not when we're talking about younger kids
and not knowing exactly what they're going to do.
I will tell you this one, final point here.
Even from a pro-athlete standpoint we can give them the best program, the best structure,
everything we can do to arm them in the off season to go get what they need to do done.
But we can't be there with them every, single day feeding them and telling them what to
do.
So if somebody comes in to spring training out of shape, guess what?
It's not something that we really could have prevented.
All you can do is try to call, make visits, try to stay on top of them.
But ultimately, it's going to be up to them.
What I'm going to tell you is, it's ultimately going to be up to you to determine what is
working.
Read what you want to read.
Find the things that are interesting.
New research is coming out every, single day.
There are some very smart people out there doing some incredible, incredible research.
But take what's said and try it.
Put it to practice.
Fill in the other 50%.
Do what you know you need to do to test what they're saying and see if it works for you
because it may, or it may not.
And make sure that, in your condition, if it's something that is working for you, always
be open to new ideas that something else might come along that might work better for you.
Or even what was working for you now may not be working for you the best in the days ahead.
So guys, let's put a little bit of sanity back in science.
This is a little bit of a rant.
I had to get it off my chest, but I think it's really important because I'm a big believer
in it.
I'm a big believer in the value of putting science back in strength and letting it guide
us where we go, and get smarter and get better at what we do.
All right, guys.
I'll be back here in a couple days.
We actually have a warmup video coming here for you shortly.
In the meantime, make sure you leave your comments and thumbs up.
Let me know what you want to see here.
If you're looking for a program that puts the science back in strength – as we do
with all of our training – head to ATHLEANX.com right now.
Click the link below this video.
Use our program selector to determine which program is best suited to your specific goals,
the one that's going to help you to get to your goals the fastest.
All right, guys.
I'll see you soon.