
When many people start on a new health and fitness program, they approach it as an all-or-nothing endeavor. Because you might have been in a “nothing” phase for awhile, the tendency can be to swing the pendulum over to the “all” side of the equation.
First, let me say that all the coaches here at HFF certainly commend the enthusiasm and willingness to work hard toward your new goals.
However, the “shadow side” for many of you can be a Obsessive-Compulsive attitude towards working out and nutrition, along with other aspects of the journey. That mindset and the level of activity (physical and mental) it generates is usually counterproductive to your specific goals, such as weight loss or completing your first marathon, as well as to your overall, long-term health.
Put simply, more is NOT always better, and can actually create the exact opposite of the results that you’re seeking.
Minimum Effective Dose (MED)
The term Minimum Effective Dose (MED) refers to the idea of only doing the amount of work (in regards to training, nutrition, supplementation etc.) that will trigger the desired results.
In terms of strength training, keep in mind that you’re actually doing damage to your muscle tissues. This is on purpose, of course, in order to force the adaptation response i.e. getting stronger, in preparation for the next anticipated workout.
This system works beautifully, IF you respect the MED principle.
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