Snacks #001: Why you might benefit from reducing your training volume:

Firstly, what exactly is my "snacks" series? 

-> It's simply my bite-sized series of weekly practical advice for you to apply to your nutrition and training for the upcoming week. To make sure you don't miss a beat, subscribe here (or below the article) to have this short newsletter delivered to your inbox weekly:

 Today I’m going to talk about why you shouldn’t be afraid to subtract exercises from your training program to make it more effective.

Most people think “more is more” when it comes to training volume (amount), but this can be detrimental rather than helpful.

If you take on too much volume, you can experience:

• Overtraining and negative mindset towards exercise
• Plateaus in strength and physique
• Fatigue and low energy

So, this week I HALVED the exercises in one of my client’s programs.

Here's my simple reasoning as to why I did this:

1. The full session plan (approx. 7-8 exercises) was taking her a lot of time in an already-busy schedule
2. The session is unlikely to even be started if it feels too overwhelming, let alone completed to its full potential.
3. Four weeks of a reduced-volume program means the client will still progress, engage in sessions, and support her healthy lifestyle rather than overwhelming her.

The takeaways?

Now that you know why long sessions can impede your progress rather than enhancing it, you’ll be able to detect this before you reach the point of burnout.

Opting for reduced volume sessions instead of skipping your sessions allows you to maintain your healthy habits and continue progressing.

Modify your plan to suit your lifestyle, rather than the other way around (or ask your coach to!)