Middle Age Weight Training: Why Every Day is Leg Day
We’re answering the age-old MidStrong question: Why is every day leg day (and core day!)?
I was chatting with one of our middle age weight training clients the other day, and she had a great question about why we put so much emphasis on core and legs.
“Shouldn’t we add more upper body workouts to the schedule?” She asked, and then, sort of tongue in cheek, added, “Why is every day leg day?!"
That definitely gave me a chuckle! At MidStrong, when it comes to weight training for middle aged women and men, we don’t break up workouts by body parts.
For example, we don’t do "leg days” or upper body vs lower body. As a matter of fact, pretty much every day is “leg day,” and every day involves core training.
Our middle age weight training program has a total-body focus.
Each workout, whether a part of our online training classes or here in our Westborough gym, has a specific intended stimulus. Each workout likely involves the entire body.
In fact, most of the movements we progress through involve multiple major joints, and require the recruitment of muscles from our nose to our toes. Think about Goblet Squats, Thrusters, Curl to Press, and RDLs. All of those involve multiple joints moving around a stable core. And all of these are great for your overall balance.
Now think about the core movements that are so common in our programming: various planks, bird dogs, dead bugs, etc. Those are the cornerstones that become a solid and stable core, which is the foundation of all human movement, athletic or just day-to-day.
Our purpose with middle age weight training is to develop the most functional fitness, in order to achieve your maximal healthspan.
To train for functional fitness, we adopt an approach that uses movements that mimic how we use our bodies.
If it appears that we disproportionately focus on the core and legs, well, that’s where we need the majority of our functional strength. This is true in life as well as sports.
Think about it for a moment… how often do you walk around on your hands? How often are you lifting heavy things above your waist in your job, sport, or day-to-day lives? Yeah, it’s actually kinda infrequent.
So, when you see all those beautiful people at other gyms working in front of the mirror on their chests and biceps (beach muscles) or doing hundreds of crunches on the floor, you can chuckle a bit to yourself and be confident that the investment you’re making in your training will result in something truly meaningful… real fitness that is truly functional.
That’s why, with MidStrong, "every day is leg day”! And core day.
If you know anybody who might need some guidance developing a strong and durable foundation of leg and core strength, please pass this note along. We’d love to speak with them! We are truly grateful to everyone who helps us spread the good word.
MidStrong is for life.
At MidStrong, we train for real life, not vacation. Our weight training for middle aged women and men is designed to help you feel your best, extend your healthspan, and boost your confidence—for the many great years ahead.
Explore our online functional fitness classes + nutrition coaching, or take a look at our small group personal training sessions, held right here in Westborough.