Train for Muscular Strength, Not for Muscular Size

By: Eddie Lomax

Train Muscular Strength, Muscular Power and Muscular Endurance
for Functional Strength Performance... Not Muscular Size for
"Appearance".

Training for muscular strength, power and endurance will bring
about more functional improvements than training for muscular
size or appearance.

There is a big difference between training for muscle mass and
training for muscular strength, power and endurance.

Each type of muscular strength must be trained for optimum
performance under any circumstance.

Fitness is a compromise between the physical abilities of
cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, power, speed,
flexibility, balance, coordination, agility, accuracy and
toughness... and muscular strength is a compromise between
maximum strength, power and strength endurance.

Maximum Strength Maximum strength is how much force can be
generated by the muscles and skeletal system for one, all-out
effort.

You One-Rep Max is an indicator of this type of muscular
strength.

Power Power is strength per unit of time... I like to call this
Explosive Power.

This type of muscular strength is measured by the ability to
move a weight from one point to another with speed... therefore
it is often called Speed Strength.

Strength Endurance Strength endurance is the ability to be as
strong as possible... for as long as possible.

This type of muscular strength is characterized by the ability
to perform a strength movement repeatedly for an extended period
of time without giving into fatigue or sacrificing form.

An effective physical training program should address the
improvement of each type of muscular strength... Not just one
type of strength at the expense of the others.

Bodybuilding type training focuses on building muscle mass...
and improvement in performance and muscular strength is
secondary.

This leads me to an interesting question... will your muscles
get bigger by training all aspects of strength?

The answer is yes... they will get just as big as they need to
get to optimize performance!

Optimize muscular strength performance... don't Maximize muscle
mass.

After all, it is always better to be stronger than you appear...
than to appear stronger than you are!

One final note...

You must always keep in mind that muscular strength training is
only one of many components of a well balanced physical fitness
training program.

You should strive to optimize your muscular strength in
conjunction with the other physical abilities... Not maximize
your strength at the expense of them.

After all, meeting the challenges of sport, work and life with
excellence is done through the combination and seamless flow
from one physical ability to another... Not by relying on one
physical skill at the expense of all the others.

About the author:
Coach Lomax is a strength, conditioning and fitness coach
dedicated to building better humans for sport, work and life.
Learn more at Optimum
Physical Training or take his FREE Tabata Calisthenics
Workout Mini Course.