All right, today we're going to talk about muscle memory and how it can actually affect you in a negative way. So one thing I hear quite often when people reach out to a trainer is they say, "Listen, I want to get in a little bit better shape before I come to see you."
One of the big issues with that is you will build up muscle memory from doing repetition after repetition. You train your brain to recognize certain motor skills and that's how it's going to perform the motion. So if you're trying to do stuff on your own and you're practicing with the wrong form, doing the wrong technique, you're going to build up muscle memory that's attached to the wrong form and the wrong technique you're going to be doing yourself a disservice.
So that's why I tell everybody like when we first start clients at the gym I tell them, "Listen, for the first month or so I don't want you doing workouts with weights or anything like that at home until we learn the proper form to ensure that you're practicing it the right way."
You have to understand something guys, your body does not understand what you're doing when you're in the gym. It doesn't get that you're trying to burn fat, build muscle, things like that. That's all that's going on, is you're putting your body under a lot of stress by lifting heavy weight, you're sweating, your heart rate is elevated, and your body is simply responding to that stress. And, with all the different muscles in your body the slightest things make the biggest difference. Thumbs under the bar versus thumbs over the bar. Wrist straight, wrists bent, shoulders forward, shoulders back, chin up, chin down, elbows out, elbows in, all these little cues are going to trigger different muscles.
So it's not as easy to just look at somebody's form on a video and then replicate it, think you're doing the exact same thing because you're not going to know all the little nuances and details that really go into perfecting that exercise.
My advice to anybody would be if you are new to fitness, it is in your best interest to seek out a trainer, and learn what you're doing first if you want to get in shape. It's not just about getting in shape, it's about staying in shape for the rest of your life, which means you have to exercise for the rest of your life. And if you're going to spend the next 30, 40, 50, or 60 years doing something, go seek out a professional.
Learn how to do it the right way; save yourself the time and aggravation. If you'd like us to help you, we would love an opportunity to be a part of your journey. Don't hesitate to reach out to Austin at Affronti Fitness, have a great day!
