How do you decide what your training should look like?
I was having a discussion with my coach a few days ago and the topic of ‘values’ surfaced.
What was important to me. What were my goals and how could we achieve them via training and lifestyle habits?
After some thought, my current value set revolves less around a specific set of movements or numeric goal, like a 500-pound deadlift or a strict L-muscle-up. No, my objectives at the moment are less quantifiable than that.
I currently place a premium on how I feel, both physically and emotionally, my sleep patterns and cognitive performance.
These may seem a little unusual until you get into my personal background. The last few years I’ve been working myself out of a state of Adrenal Insufficiency, more commonly known as Adrenal Fatigue.
A prolonged battle with stress (loss of a loved one, running a small business, etc.) impaired my bodies ability to deal with stress. Insomnia, Brain Fog, Fatigue, Anxiety, difficulty rising in the am, and suppressed thyroid function.
After dealing with all that for a solid three years, I can say I care more about staying as far out of those conditions as possible than what my hang power snatch numbers are. (Note: I truly enjoy Olympic lifting and recognize the value they provide. However, if I focus on them too much it taxes my nervous system too much and slow progress towards what I’m actually after.)
I know my training, diet, and lifestyle are all working right if I sleep well, wake with good energy and maintain it throughout without a ton of (caffeine and sugar!).
Also, I need to be able to deal with the daily stressor of owning a small business (and life in general) without being overwhelmed with anxiety.
In a nutshell, I place a value on function, vitality, and longevity.
Should these be everyone values? Absolutely not!
Some people want to to be highly competitive in their given sport while others want to look good at the beach. These are all worthy pursuits. The point is you and your coach should be adjusting your training, lifestyle and habits so they’re in line with your goals and values.
What are your values and is your training moving you closer to them?
