For many people, it seems to make sense to only focus their training on what they can actually see in the mirror.
For most it may just be providing the motivation to keep going on a fitness program. Six pack abs, puffed up chest, massive biceps…how can you NOT focus on this! Well sorry to say it, but the first priority in your training, regardless of your goal, should be to prioritize the training of your posterior chain.
Your posterior chain is made up of the largest muscle group of your body – your back, butt and hamstrings. Making this area the priority of your training will result in successful fat loss, athletic performance, injury prevention, overall strength and muscle hypertrophy. By solely focusing on the muscles that you can only see in the mirror, you will run into a myriad of painful problems like kyphosis (think of the hunchback of Notre Dame). This is common in those who don’t pay attention to those back muscles you just can’t see in the mirror.
Athletic performance is highly affected by the strength and power of what is behind you and we all know the major effect of core training on performance is also highly dependent on the posterior chain. It may seem odd to you that while the majority of the movements in a particular sport seem to focus on forward movements like throwing a punch , throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball, and running forward, the force and power of those movements actually for the most part come from the muscles behind you. Think of sprinters with great butts!
If you’re looking for fat loss we all know that the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate will be, which has an incredible energy need simply while you are not even moving! Not to mention that by focusing on the major muscle groups of your posterior chain – as opposed to the “showy beach muscles” like chest, abs and biceps – your caloric burn during your workout will also be much higher.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of muscular imbalances if you are new to a sport or training, as you ARE often moving in a forward motion with more emphasis on the anterior muscles during your athletics. If you are not working with a coach or trainer, you may feel that these are the muscles to focus on; but this just is not the case.
This actually emphasizes the importance of not only practicing your sport but practicing a well-balanced strength training program with the help of someone who can properly plan a program. With the right trainer, you will better generate force, power and torque and prevent muscle imbalances that lead to injuries. It is often what is less obvious to the human eye that is worth paying more attention to and this even applies to training and athletics.
Check out Fitlode’s Product Reviews for the Best in High Performance Sports Nutrition.
Protein powders are an excellent way of providing the body with the nutrients it needs to perform well before and after training.
Protein powders are the secret weapon in any serious trainer’s arsenal. Whey protein is a rich source of essential amino acids and is a natural, pure and a high quality protein. Whey protein isolate is the purest form of whey protein and provides high performance nutrition for the body to help with cellular repair, muscular growth, healthy bones, increased energy and metabolic maintenance.
Whether you want to bulk up or lose weight, dietary supplements will help you reach your goals faster, safer and with better results. We review only superior market brands to ensure you’re getting the weight loss management and high performance nutrition advice you need. These brands are backed by scientific research and have shown proven results.
ALLWHEY Tri-Stage Whey Protein Matrix
ALLWHEY’s patented formula NitriCore™ is a new 3-Stage extended protein delivery system that ensures 100% whey protein is extracted to deliver a high-quality source of whey protein per serving. The NitriCore™ delivery technology helps to dramatically increase levels of nitrogen retention in muscle tissue and builds muscle fast.
ALLMAX Nutrition
2 lb
MSRP: $29.99
Sale: $23.99
Find out more
ISOFEMME Protein Smoothie
As part of the Body Transformation System, ISOFEMME is a sinfully delicious protein smoothie created exclusively for women. It’s a convenient way to increase your dietary protein intake and meal frequency. What more could a woman ask for with just 3.5 g of total carbs, zero added sugar, no estrogenic proteins, virtually zero grams of fat and just 120 calories per serving!
ALLMAX Nutrition
2 lb
MSRP: $34.99
Sale: $22.99
Find out more
MUSCLE MAXX Protein Shake
This muscle building protein shake combines the goodness of protein to fuel muscle growth and recovery with Omega-3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids, and a complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals to flood your body with the anabolic nutrients required for explosive gains in lean muscle mass. Recommended for competitive athletes.
ALLMAX Nutrition
1 lb
Sale: $32.99
Find out more
R-ALA Antioxidant
For recovery and protection against exercise-induced oxidative stress, R-ALA promotes the uptake of glycogen by optimizing insulin activity and helps speed up the amount of nutrients shuttled to your muscles. R-ALA can be combined with creatine to create a powerful and anabolic compound. R-ALA is also an extremely potent antioxidant, so powerful it is known as the Universal Antioxidant.
ALLMAX Nutrition
60 Capsules
MSRP: $21.99
Sale: $13.99
Find out more
Tags: PKC, Posterior Kinetic Chain
