The Most Effective Way To Workout For the Busy Guy
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There is no doubt that most of us are short on time these days. From the demands of our jobs to being there for family and friends, to the many distractions around us. At the same time, with all of these stressors, it has never been more important to take care of ourselves through exercise, diet, hydration and rest.
The good news is, that with advancements in research and methods, a workout no longer needs to take an hour. We spoke to a couple of experts, all of whom are business owners and dads, on the most effective ways for a busy guy to work out and get results.
Hybrid Training
Cameron Falloon is the founder of BFT, a fitness franchise that has taken the world by storm. Before founding his business, Cam was the strength and conditioning coach for several international soccer teams and some of Australia’s best AFL teams.
“There isn’t a one size fits all approach with fitness, otherwise we’d all be walking around with six packs! I do recommend taking a holistic approach to your workouts to get more bang for your buck,” says Falloon.
“Within the elite athlete space, it has long been known that creating a well-rounded athlete will create a stronger and more efficient athlete. Having a holistic approach that incorporates strength, cardio, mobility, balance work and functional exercises concurrently enhances both strength qualities and cardiovascular energy system development. That’s why we have 14 different training styles at BFT, to help our members work on every aspect of their fitness” says Falloon.
“Using multiple training modalities combined with the ability to develop multiple energy systems and move in various ranges of motion can lead to better overall physical development and – it’s more fun!”Utilise technology and effective methods such as eccentric training
Jon Gregory is the founder of a fitness technology company that utilises AI to make strength training more effective. His invention, Vitruvian, which hails from Perth, is an innovative machine that has changed the game when it comes to strength training attracting the likes of The Liver King, Bear Grylls and Thor Bjornsson. “Strength training always has and always will be the most effective way to train,” says Jon.
“Building up your muscle mass will speed up your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories even at rest. Furthermore, having strong muscles, joints and bones is important for ageing and preventing falls as you age, for posture, your skeletal system and so much more.”
“Vitruvian however has taken things up a notch, as not only do you have access to a bank of thousands of exercises, but the machine will as as your “spotter’, meaning you don’t need to wait for your gym buddy to train. The machine responds to the way you move, it also records what you have lifted so you can keep track and know when it is time to try to go heavier.”
But one thing it does that changes the game is that it allows you to train eccentrically. Eccentric training is when you focus on the “down phase” of a rep. For example, you may be holding a heavy weight, and then slowly lowering it down to work your muscle eccentrically. This is a training method that is used a lot by strength and conditioning coaches with elite athletes, however before Vitruvian, you couldn’t do every exercise without a spotter, as you would need someone to lift the heavy weight into your hands so you can lower it down.
Another thing the Vitruvian can do is set the exercises to both work your muscles concentrically and eccentrically at the same time. But by working twice as hard, you can get results twice as fast. Therefore you can get away with a 15-20-minute workout which is brilliant for someone short on time.
Go for a run
Ben Lucas is the founder of Flow Athletic, a boutique fitness and yoga studio in Paddington. He is a dad of two and a busy business owner, so despite owning a gym, fitting in his own workouts can be tough.
“While I do agree that strength training is the most effective way to train, as it benefits all aspects of wellbeing, I also love running, not just for my physical health but my mental health.”
“Getting out of the office at lunchtime to do a quick 5 km run really makes my day. It allows me to pump up the endorphins. It gives me time to think, and gets me into the fresh air, and running is one of those sports where there are lots of events that you can train for, from the Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10k/5k to the Sydney Marathon. I just completed my 44th marathon earlier this year which was a huge achievement for me, and now I am training for my 45th.”
“I think running is great for a time-poor guy, as you can do it anytime, all you need is a pair of joggers. And it also doubles by getting you outdoors and into the fresh air for a bit.”
Want more? Click here for 4 Training Secrets of Elite ALF Players That You Can Apply to Your Workouts or here for Why More Men Should Be Doing Yoga
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
