"Order Lab Tests"

The first thing you notice when you walk through any gym is that there are mirrors everywhere. Where there’s a wall, there’s a mirror. What do you think this tells you? Most people that go to the gym are simply going to look good. Performance and function in the training world take a back seat to being ripped and looking good.

It’s easy to confuse the meaning of functional fitness. The true meaning of the term is the capability of people to improve their performance in their chosen activities and daily lives. Functional fitness allows improves endurance, strength, and the overall ability of people to move.

The fact of the matter is that if a person is training to improve their performance, improved looks will soon follow. Setting goals and breaking them will get you started. For example, test your limits of pull-ups and try to do more next time you try. This is the path of functional performance training.

Now, where does one start on their quest for a more performance-based training protocol? Here are a few things you can do:

1. Instead of traditional cardio machines, do hill sprints and jump rope intervals

2. Instead of normal gym exercises, do compound workouts like pull-ups and squats

3. Try new full-body training techniques, like kettlebell exercises

When you train to be stronger and improve your functionality, you will look better too. Having worthwhile goals to accomplish, beyond simply how you look, will make you feel better once you achieve them. Why look strong without being strong?

Most government entities, like the FBI and CIA, have performance test for their field personnel. For example, there is an assessment called the Secret Service Snatch Test. This involves taking a 53lb kettlebell and performing 200 Snatch reps with it in or under 10 minutes.

A kettlebell snatch, for those who don’t know, is an exercise where you swing the kettlebell through your legs and then in one motion, bring it overhead. I decided I wanted to try this out so I tested myself and hit 160. I had some work ahead of me. For the next few weeks I trained for this test and worked hard on beating my last score. After a solid month of kettlebell work, I tested myself again and after ten minutes I had done 209 snatches. The result of my training was a lower body fat, lower weight, and a feeling of pride that I had accomplished something, not to mention my strength gain was through the roof.

When it comes down to it, functional training is much more efficient than standard gym exercising. You not only look strong, you are strong.