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Maintaining muscle and minimal strength training
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Posted on Apr 13 2020
With no clear end in sight yet, it’s remarkable how royally insensitive people are. In the middle of this unprecedented time where we’ve got nothing but time, I’m reminded how painfully clear it is that there are just some folks who are oblivious and have zero perspective.
Weeks before this started to get out of hand, there was a viral post on my social media feed comparing the number of deaths from the obesity epidemic to COVID-19. At that point in time I thought to myself, “That’s just plain silly and ignorant. We’re on the brink of a potential outbreak and suddenly everyone is an expert on health, and infectious diseases.”
Q: I don’t want to put on any more weight than I already have, so I’ve been doing workouts outside using things I can find around the house, and running on my street. What do you think?
A: There’s no right or wrong here as everyone’s priorities during this time are different. Since it’s going to be incredibly difficult to replicate the effort and intensity of a traditional workout in a gym, effectively, it’s going to be a far cry from what I would deem optimal. I will say it should get the job done as far as maintaining where you’re currently at, though. Most of all, it’s better than being sedentary.
Q: I’m trying to get some exercise regularly, but it’s just not the same. I miss the gym. Given the circumstances, how often should I workout per week?
A: One of the primary vehicles for expediting results is training at a high frequency that’s manageable. This essentially means those who consistently train 3-5 times a week will likely experience better outcomes than those who only workout 1-2 times a week. Although, this doesn’t mean the latter option should be totally left out. Last week, I openly admitted how my motivation to train is pretty low. Given the current state, I’d wager most of you are in the same headspace. For that reason, it’s fine to do whatever you’re willing to do. You can even micro-dose your workouts. Meaning, with no rhyme or reason you do a little bit here and there throughout the day.
