Today I got a guest blog post for you from Mark Young.
Earlier this week, I did a review on a great product that Mark just finished up called:
How to Read Fitness Research Review
Mark’s guest blog post talks about what looking at the Research has given him. He is so right. Enjoy.
When most people think of reading Research, they think of being chained to a desk and laboring over boring studies full of confusing information for hours. In fact, to some readers, Research sounds more like a punishment you might impose on someone rather than something you might willingly (and enthusiastically) undertake on your own.
For me, Research is the opposite. Research is freedom!
Research is Freedom from Hype
With all of the pseudoscientific nonsense and misinformation spread by “experts” on the internet to differentiate themselves from the rest, it is no wonder people are confused. Fitness enthusiasts and even strength coaches, trainers, and therapists are completely lost because they do not possess the ability to decipher fact from fiction.
Reading Research can give you freedom because you’ll no longer be dependent on anyone else’s interpretations. You can go straight to the original paper and decide for yourself if something is even close to worth your time. Sure, you can learn from others, but you can confirm (or refute) that information, so you’re making an intelligent decision and not getting wrapped up in trends and hype.
Research is Freedom from Rules
I work predominantly with fat loss clients, so this may not apply directly to you, but bear with me as the concept will be relevant.
We’ve all heard of the rule that we should eat 5-6 times per day to stave off the dreaded starvation mode that will invariably prevent people from losing fat. And if you were a slave to industry trends and popular opinion, you might tell a fat loss client that this is an absolute necessity.
Imagine telling a fat loss client they would no longer be tied to planning, preparing, carrying, and eating six meals daily. That is freedom from dogma. However, if you were able to read Research, you would know that fasting for periods as long as 72 hours can INCREASE the metabolism. That makes clients happy. And that will differentiate you from the masses.
Whatever area you are in, if you examine your practices with Research, I’m positive that you’ll find freedom from many of the “rules” that govern them.
Research is Freedom, But You Have to Read It
I won’t lie to you and tell you that reading research is better than a day at the park. It isn’t. It is hard…especially at first. But like any skill, it will get easier with practice. All you need to do is learn how and start doing it. Trust me when I tell you it is worth it!
Mark Young is an exercise and nutrition consultant from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is currently working towards completing his Master’s degree in exercise physiology and has done research in one of the world’s leading muscle protein research labs. He has also been training clients for over 11 years and has had his work featured in numerous magazines.
Rick Kaselj, MS
P.S. – Here are a few other articles that might interest you:
In the article, I look at some research that has come out on muscle imbalances, single-leg squats, and core function.
In this article, I go through the six journals I look at to get the latest on exercises and injuries.
That is it.
Have a spectacular day.
