The simplest workout formula
For the past 6 years, I have always wanted to do some kind of physical exercise. I have tried a few things, but I would mostly go back to the familiar, lifting weights at the gym.
I was not the biggest fan of that, but in my mind, this would be the fastest way to muscle up. I was relatively active with my visits to the gym, having periods where I was going daily, and other times that I'd repeatedly skip more than the leg days. My problem, as with most people, is that I never remained consistent. The moment I saw progress in my body, I allowed myself to relax, and therefore fall back to skipping workout days, and eating unhealthy.
The cycle broke when I decided to give calisthenics a chance. I heard about it from a friend, I googled it, and a few influencers later I was sold on the idea of building muscle and strength using only your body weight. Instead of gyms cramped with people, I would go to calisthenics parks where the space is open, and rarely do you get people camping on the machine that you need.
Like anything new, the learning curve was a bit steep. The first experience was brutal for my confidence. I found myself doing negative repetitions--the ones that you start from the end position, basically reversing the exercise to make it easier, and develop better strength and control--or using rubber bands. This changed quickly though, quicker than I anticipated. Soon I found myself doing most exercises without help, and with good form.
The best result though came with my body. This is the period in which I had the most prominent progress. Both in strength, but also visually. This goes not to say that Calisthenics is superior, and this is the reason that I saw this change. No, the most important factor is that Calisthenics was something new and exciting, and this is what kept me going consistently for a longer time than usual.
Eventually, the weather got bad, so I went back to the gym because I still falsely thought that weight-lifting equals the best way to muscle up. My progress reduced, and after months of lifting weights, now I look worse than a year ago--when I trained in the parks with my body weight. Today I tried Calisthenics training after so many months, and needless to say that it was brutal again. The reps I built back then, were nowhere to be found now, and I wheezed like a sea lion.
Message received. There is no training superior to another. Nor is one kind of training faster for a specific target for everybody. The best and the fastest is the one you find interesting because this is the one that you will keep doing more intensely and for a longer time. I decided to start with Calisthenics again, but trying to keep an open mind this time. Weightlifting will also exist in my training, as most athletes agree that combining different training practices can achieve the best results, keeping everything a bit more interesting.
That's all for now. Have a good one!
Some links about calisthenics or gym workouts to check out:
Calisthenics Family YouTube channel (beginner-friendly content)
https://www.youtube.com/@CalisthenicsFamily
Jeff Nippard's YouTube channel (many good videos on the science behind weightlifting and working out in general)
https://www.youtube.com/@JeffNippard
Hybrid Calisthenics’ YouTube channel (beginner-friendly content, plus amazing tips)
https://www.youtube.com/@HybridCalisthenics
Brandon William's YouTube channel (very entertaining creator, apart from being a beast)
https://www.youtube.com/@BrandonWilliamyt