Updated: 25 June 2018
Work Out Every Day™ (or W.E.D.) is a principle I've developed that once started can be difficult to stop. The premise is simple: simply do a workout every day. It doesn't matter how long it takes just so long as it is a form of workout.
The benefits of W.E.D. include:
- Increased mental drive and focus.
- A real sense of achievement.
- Depending on what you specifically do it can increase your flexibility, cardio, balance and co-ordination, strength, and anything else associated with what you do.
But isn't training everyday detrimental and a cause of over-training and injury? If you're going to be pushing yourself doing resistance training each day or something else physically demanding then yes it is. However, W.E.D. involves making extensive use of active recovery. Active recovery is where you are active in a way that promotes recovery rather than intensity. It is when you do less intense and demanding exercise and can range from stretching to simply a brisk walk amongst a multitude of other things.
Once you have performed W.E.D. for a month you start to feel a sense of dedication to your own health and well-being and you won't want to stop for once you do you'll be back at square one. This can help keep you continuing on, increasing your mental drive and focus.
I have almost done 7 weeks of continuous W.E.D. It feels great and has contributed to improvements in my overall health and fitness.
You may wonder do you have time to W.E.D.? All you need is a minute at the least and you can have some form of workout done. You could do a minute of balance training, a few minutes of stretching, a five minute brisk walk. You could even do 30 seconds here and then 30 seconds later and so on, it all adds up and it all counts! You are only limited by your willingness and imagination!
I recommend keeping a simple diary of what you have done, especially if you have a goal you want to achieve and want to keep track of your progress or of what you have done. It is not a requirement but it does help!
Personally at present my W.E.D. comprises the following: my normal resistance training two to four times a week; self-myofascial release and static stretching, Qigong, scapular pre-habilitation, plyometrics, balance training, core, mobility, with plans to incorporate more things. Some days I spend nearly two hours doing various workouts spread throughout the day. Other days I spend only a few minutes, but it still counts!
P.S. I know there is a grammatical difference between "workout" and "work out" in case you're wondering why its "Work Out Every Day" whilst I've used "workout" in the article.
Lyle Richardson,
Gym Pal, Your friend in the world of fitness
