The Best Overall Fitness strategy? page

[tcoop2232]

We all have our beliefs and opinions for achieving optimal fitness. I have dabbled in various types of strength, endurance, sport-specific, and other types of training. There have certainly been some things I would do again, and some training techniques I would stay away from. Ultimately, I am looking for YOUR opinion of the best fitness "protocol" to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic a person can be, while keeping health in mind. What are YOUR thoughts?

Obviously, training methods will differ based on your goals. So, like I mentioned above, the goal is: to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic I can be, while promoting optimal health of course.

I'm not looking to be on a fitness magazine, deadlift 8x my body-weight, flex for an audience, swim across an ocean, or set the world land speed record. However, I would like to be able to jump into a basketball game, throw a couple weights around, or run a few miles from time to time (get my drift?). *I'm guessing I'm not the only one in this category, so hopefully this discussion can help others too.

I know in the Primal Blueprint, Mark says this can be achieved through Primal Fitness, and his strategy seems to work fairly well for me. I just wanted to throw the question into the abyss that is MDA Forum and see what all of you primal fitness enthusiasts had to say. Maybe you completely agree with Mark's suggestions? Or maybe you add in a little of this or that on top? I'm curious to hear YOUR thoughts, whatever they may be.

So, let the discussion commence!

[Neckhammer]

I mix everything. I do body weight exercise in a grease the groove fashion most days of the week, a body by science big five workout once a week, a couple times a month I'll do dead lifts, sprints 2-4x/month, and I shoot for 3-5 hours of work (usually jogging) at a bout 75% my max heart rate each week.

I think the above works for fitness and health FOR ME. But, Marks program alone is actually plenty for fitness and health. I just like a bit of variety. As far as athleticism is concerned I'm currently not doing any skills work so none of what I do is geared to any specific sport. To be "athletic" you need to do skills training in that particular athletic event.

[Tribal Rob]

I think the princibals in PBF have it pretty much spot on, certainly it seems to be working for me.

Personally I would add in some higher level cardio once a week, a swim, a run, a bike ride, instead of some of the move slowly.

I also think you could add in something like interval training once a week - burpees, step jumps, fast, explosive full body stuff.

And once you've mastered the basic moves of LHT there is a world of progressions and alternative bodyweight stuff to try, or you could lift something other than yourself.

A bit of Movnat, parkour type stuff would also, I think be really benifical to push you into what is IMHO the most impressive thing I have seen a human do with their body.

So really, Move Slow, Move a bit less slow, Lift heavy, Sprint, Intervals and gymnastic stuff - that gives you 5 things to do in a week, and I think would cover pretty much every aspect of fitness.

[primalrob]

I think the principles in PBF have it pretty much spot on, certainly it seems to be working for me.

me too. i do add things to the specifics of mark's program, but mostly i strength train, sprint, and move. i know that i can move myself, or other things, through space. i can sprint if i need to. i can play sports, climb trees, hike all day long.
i'm not ready to compete in an iron man or anything, but i'm wholly confident that i could easily do a sprint triathlon, a spartan race, and help a friend move all back to back this weekend.

[jfreaksho]

I use PBF for the generic framework, and have used a number of different programs for the LHT.

[arthurb999]

First you say... "I am looking for YOUR opinion of the best fitness "protocol" to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic a person can be, while keeping health in mind. What are YOUR thoughts?"

Then you say... "I would like to be able to jump into a basketball game, throw a couple weights around, or run a few miles from time to time"

2 very different things... you don't need to be the "the fittest, strongest, most athletic you can be" (statement 1) to be able to play a pickup basketball game, lift weights, and run a couple of miles (statement 2)... not even close.

Which goal do you want to accomplish?

[Dirlot]

I think the princibals in PBF have it pretty much spot on, certainly it seems to be working for me.

So true and really emphasize the play - my grip, pullup strength, extreme deep squat strength have all improved from climbing more than training would have taken them!

[Blanchy]

The PBF principles have been working pretty well for me! Strength train, sprint once a week, and go hiking as often as I can.

[Winterbike]

I've dabbled in a lot of stuff before, but right now it's agility agility agility. I want to move well. I want to move like a panther on a hunt.

I'm doing BJJ, I take salsa and swing lessons, I juggle, I try various tricks with my bike, I might buy a longboard soon, I do some parkour once in a while, and when I go to the gym (doesn't happen often anymore, not enough time), I go with gymnastics stuff or moves that require a lot of skill.

It's mostly an accumulation of small skills, but overall, it's starting to make a big difference. I feel much better than when I was doing various strength or endurance training protocols in the past, and I'm learning new activities faster and faster. I'm also surprising myself. Walking on my hands isn't some obscure dream anymore, and I can do a long jump face first, land smoothly in a roll and keep running afterwards.

The only downside is it's almost impossible for me to put on muscle without lifting weights. Because of it I might go back to olympic weightlifting some day, or indoor climbing.

[tcoop2232]

First you say... "I am looking for YOUR opinion of the best fitness "protocol" to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic a person can be, while keeping health in mind. What are YOUR thoughts?"

Then you say... "I would like to be able to jump into a basketball game, throw a couple weights around, or run a few miles from time to time"

2 very different things... you don't need to be the "the fittest, strongest, most athletic you can be" (statement 1) to be able to play a pickup basketball game, lift weights, and run a couple of miles (statement 2)... not even close.

Which goal do you want to accomplish?

arthurb999 - you're right I do say those things within my post. However, I do believe it is quite clear of my goal as I say it twice.

1. Ultimately, I am looking for YOUR opinion of the best fitness "protocol" to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic a person can be, while keeping health in mind. What are YOUR thoughts?

2. So, like I mentioned above, the goal is: to be the fittest, strongest, and most athletic I can be, while promoting optimal health of course.

While these 2 statements are not identical, I believe the main difference is I mention (I) myself in #2. After I stated my goal (twice), I then mentioned a generalization that I would like to jump into a basketball game, etc. All I wanted to do was initiate a discussion on the best overall fitness and training techniques to be an all-around athlete. I'd love to hear your perspective.