Misguided Fitness Trends: Functional Training vs. Strength Training

Functional training is often promoted by the media as the go-to fitness approach, but it often misses the mark. While visually impressive, functional training fails to provide the necessary stress for physiological adaptation. It focuses on inventing new ways to make exercises look dynamic and balance-oriented, rather than emphasizing strength production. The videos showcased in this episode feature talented athletes who are already genetically gifted and naturally athletic. The activities they demonstrate only serve to display their existing abilities, not to further develop them. In contrast, true strength training involves planned and recorded sessions that progressively increase difficulty to drive physical adaptation. It's essential to recognize the disconnect between media-promoted fitness trends and the principles of effective strength training.