What style of training is best?
I get asked this question a lot. Sometimes people expect an answer so they can go on and get to it. However, this is not the reality. To truly answer this question, many more questions much be asked. There are various styles of training which can include powerlifting, bodybuilding, Crossfit, marathon training, Strongman, the list goes on and on. Each style serves its own purpose.
For this specific example, let’s assume an individual does not have any pre-existing injuries that would cause them to refrain from any style of training. With that assumption, I still need to first ask a question: what is your overall goal? Each style has a unique benefit. If someone is looking for complete fat loss, powerlifting may not be the best way to reach that goal with the quickest results. With that in mind, if someone has a strength goal, powerlifting may be ideal. If someone wants muscle hypertrophy and to get bigger, a bodybuilding-structured program is probably the route to go. However, if aerobic conditioning is something they want to improve upon than it is probably not.
Therefore, to truly answer that question, it depends on the individual and getting to know what it is that they are trying to physically achieve. We can use science-based programming to help each person achieve their goal once we know what that goal is.
With that all being said, there is a more important piece to the puzzle: adherence. Adherence, meaning sticking to something, is extremely important. See, as a trainer, we can prescribe the perfect program — the “best style of training” for a client — but this is all for nothing if a client does not stick to it. So, what exactly does this mean? Adherence helps us answer the initial question, “what is the best style of training?” The best style of training is the one that the individual enjoys. People stick to doing things they enjoy and that is how results are made.
This is when a coach or trainer’s expertise comes into play.
If a client wants to get bigger and bodybuilding would be “ideal,” but they find that style of training extremely boring, it is our job to work around that and still help the individual reach their intended goal.
There is no overall answer to what is the best style of training. All styles have their place. So the real question becomes what do you enjoy and what are your goals? Let me worry about how to get you there.
