Deadlifts, Calf Raises, Flyes Not Functional? Gimme A Break!

The word "Functional" has become trendy - certain groups of people think that only certain exercises apply to them.  Drives me crazy!!!  Some people with busy lives have trainers come to their houses to show them exercises using soup cans, and ten different ways to move with them.  This supposedly gives you "Functional Strength".  After an hour of this garbage, she/he drives away in the $50,000 car that you have just helped pay for.

Athletes, of course are not supposed to lift mind-boggling weights because they do not want to get too "bulky".  Because they are not ever going to need to do a deadlift on the ice, why bother doing them?  Instead, they need to be in "shape".  So everything is done at 50% intensity, and the weights are those that an 8-year-old would use.  But because these athletes turn these low intensity levels into a non-stop 20 minute circuit, rest a bit, then do it again, they sweat alot.  THAT'S WHAT ATHLETES NEED, RIGHT?  Ah yes, another soft athlete bailing out.

Have you ever tried to put 85% of your 1RM on the bar for your deadlift WORKING WEIGHT?  Do a set until failure, but real failure, no cheating yourself, rest 2:30-2:45, another set, another rest, and then one last set? See what happens.  In about 8 or 9 minutes, you will have the most complete single exercise workout ever, and you will take a long time to recover.

Whether you are an athlete, or that person who is scared of their "personal trainer", we are told that single joint exercises like shrugs, toe raises, and flyes are not needed because they are not "FUNCTIONAL". Because they don't involve as many muscles as a deadlift, lunge, or a bench press, they don't burn as many calories, or have that overall drain on your body... I agree.  But they are still necessary.  Have you ever grocery shopped, and had to carry your bags a long distance to the car?  Have you ever had to reach up to a high cabinet in your house? You hockey players...what does the last part of your skating stride involve when you extend that foot? You football guys...ever had your arm straight out from your body, parallel to the ground, and try to hold someone back? You 50-year-old gardeners...have you ever had to pull out trees, vegetables or shrubs out of the ground? The answer is, of course, yes to all of these I'm sure. Carrying bags is a shrug, reaching up high is a toe raise, extending your foot against the ice is a toe raise, the football analogy is a flye, and you gardeners, you are doing deadlifts.

The point is, all exercises are functional and have their place.  EVERYTHING is necessary.  It has all got to come together with a balance to get you strong.  EVERYTHING GOOD COMES FROM GETTING STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!