What's the Right Physical Training Frequency?

As controversial as what physical training methods to use is the topic of physical training frequency.

Physical training frequency is how often you should physically train to get optimum performance improvements to reach your fitness training goals.

Let me first ask you a question...

Why do we participate in physical fitness training programs in the first place?

No, I'm not talking about all the benefits of exercise that we commonly hear or even the desire to look better.

I'm talking about what makes it necessary for us to add physical training into our daily lifestyle.

Why can't we just do without it?

For the answer, we must look back in time...

Early men and women did not have to add physical training to their lifestyle... because daily life was so demanding that it made extra physical activity unnecessary.

Our bodies were not only made to survive in this demanding world... but flourish in it.

The world has become considerably less demanding... but our bodies don't know that.

Human evolution is way behind the advancements of mankind.

But what does all this have to do with physical training frequency?

Simply put...

If our bodies were made to adapt and flourish to a high level of activity in a demanding environment, and the environment that we currently live in no longer provides the stimulus necessary for this adaptation and flourishing, than our physical training must make up the difference.

OK, taking this into account... what do you think our physical training frequency should be?

That's right... our physical training frequency should be every day!

Oh, I know... Everybody has been brainwashed by the body building community and commercial fitness industry to believe that the best physical training frequency should be every other day, or 3 times a week.

Actually, depending on what type of muscle building program you are on... the recommended physical training frequency can even be less.

But remember this...

Bodybuilders are interested in increasing muscle mass... not improving over-all fitness levels to get optimal usage out of the body.

Now, I have nothing against increasing muscle size... but I do have a problem with increasing muscle size at the expense of strength, conditioning and fitness levels.

But wait a minute... If I am recommending a physical training frequency of every day, what about overtraining?

Again... if you are training to force your body to grow muscle, overtraining would be a real concern with such a high physical training frequency.

But what if your were physically training to "optimize" your strength, conditioning and fitness levels by improving 10 different physical abilities... and used different training methods, intensities and stresses in your training to do so?

That's right... strength, conditioning and fitness improvement without the fear of overtraining.

If you want to reach your true physical potential, you must train your body in the manner in which it was made to be used.

Our bodies were designed not only to survive, but to flourish, in a cruel and harsh environment... an environment that would be physically demanding each and every day.

Do you really think body building type training and moderate, aerobic exercise 3 days a week can make up for our otherwise undemanding lives?

I've never heard a caveman say, "Sorry, Saber-Tooth Tiger, I can't wrestle with you today because it is my day off. I have a strength and conditioning workout scheduled for Monday, so do you think we could wrestle then?"

If you want to meet the random challenges of sport, work and life with excellence... your physical training frequency must reflect that desire.