Form and Function - Doing What Works

There are certain rules that govern how our bodies work. If you follow the rules, there's a cause and effect relationship that is predictable.

That part seems obvious.

Here's the less obvious part.. and the part that almost no one talks about:
There are certain things about our bodies that science does not yet understand.

Here's an example...

Muscles contract and relax. And if you exercise your muscles with, for example, weights, it's possible to stimulate growth (called "hypertrophy"). But, as of right now, we have no idea how this happens.

We don't even really know for sure HOW muscles contract.

We have some theories (that have been around for about 50 years or so) but none are conclusive.

Even though we don't understand everything, there are some ideas you can use to get started.

Focus on what you can do, on what works for most (with an emphasis on using what works for those that are most like yourself), and do it. Do it with consistency. Record what you are doing. Monitor your progress (or lack thereof). Be willing to change strategies ONLY AFTER you have proven to yourself that the current strategy doesn't work.

With that in mind, I'd like to share some generally accepted rules.

1. For any given individual, a bigger muscle is a stronger muscle (i.e. if you biceps is 15" in circumference now, it is stronger than it was at 14") based upon cross sectional area of the biceps muscle.
2. You must present your body with a reason to adapt in order for it to do so (i.e. you must challenge your body to go beyond it's current capabilities for it to adapt). This process of CHALLENGE, PERSIST, ADAPT, REPEAT continues until you get to where you want to be.
3. You will not be able to appropriately challenge your muscular system until your cardiovascular system is sufficiently developed. (I'm not talking about doing cardio to burn fat. I'm talking about getting your system to a fundamental level of fitness so that you can achieve an intensity level appropriate to challenge and yield adaptation.)
4. You must support your body with proper nutrition and rest.
5. You must first learn HOW to move (i.e. technique and coordinated movements) before you can provide an appropriate challenge to stimulate proper adaptive change.

More thoughts to come soon.