One of my hardest working girls has a "guy trainer" at the gym giving her the business for two days now all over walking backwards on the treadmill.
Day One he says she can't do it because of gym liability. She can't walk backwards but if she wants to have a seat and try to bench twice her weight, drop the barbell, crush her lungs...they would not be liable. Give me a break. After she confronted them about this (go Sherri), he figured out real quick she had signed a waiver and was free to take up the "dangerous sport" of walking backwards.
Day Two he tells her he has researched the topic and found there is no benefit. Where the hell did whiz boy look?
- The Japanese have been doing if for CENTURIES to improve mental alertness, balance, and coordination. It's called "retro walking."
- NFL, Sprinters, Soccer, and NBA athletes, I believe, practice running backwards FAST or don't get a paycheck.
- Many people with knee issues, ankle problems, or weak hips greatly benefit from backwards walking as it helps strengthen these areas by activating the smaller muscles surrounding them and taking some load off the joints.
- It is a tremendous cardio workout. You are going to get your heart rate up faster.
- Two time Olmypia Champion Jen Hendershott along with many figure competitors I know ALL DO IT. If it's good enough for them I guarantee my butt is going to do it.
So, let's just say I don't know what I'm talking about gym boy. Here's some reference material for you to read since you can't Google.
I'm sure this guy means well. He's steamed up that an online trainer is more creative and keeping him from having another girl doing 3x20 Overhead Presses followed by a walking lunge with a biceps curl. I'm sure 5lb weights the whole time is really kicking her into a new physique. He's got the guts to tell her I don't know what I'm doing and she'd do better with him since today happens to be her steady state day.
But, he didn't once ask her what is her typical week. He just assumed I have my people doing endless treadmill and elliptical I suppose. Well, I'm not going to defend anything other than to say you need to work all ranges of the cardio system.
My goal isn't to just strip off some weight. I want my girls living a long time. Are you going to talk to them about the half-eaten cookies they toss back when the kids are screaming, too? I doubt it but I'm sure you'll have them doing more than enough bosu ball lateral raises to fix those incidents.
My only questions to him are...
- Do you ever advise people to go backwards on the elliptical?
- What about reverse lunges...any benefit to those bad boys?
- What about karaokies? I suppose if backwards is stupid why go sideways.
Ehhh...in the end ladies you just need to watch out for these guys. I'm not saying I'm perfect but be wary of trainers who love a good cookie cutter. We're trying to get in great shape and cookies in the kitchen or gym have no place in our lives.
