The trainer in my ear during my elliptical workout this morning used the phrase “execute with power and precision” to motivate me to use good form and bump up my resistance at least one point. If I raised the resistance, and stood up straight, pushed my heels into the pedals, I would have the power to execute the workout with precision. This means I was able to get the full benefit of the workout.
After the workout, the phrase stayed with me as I went about my day. I thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could apply that phrase to everything I did today? What would that mean? I concluded that would mean that in everything I did, I should use the proper form, rule, protocol, etc. to execute the task. I admit I felt like somewhat of a superhero. I pictured myself slicing through my workday, sword in hand, knocking off one task after another. It was highly exhilarating.
Later in the day I was helping someone with an exercise. It was the Downward Power Twist:
Notice the model in the pic. Her hands twist down and end at her hip. My person was pulling very hard and twisting her arms out way beyond her hip. After I demonstrated and she was doing it correctly, I found myself saying, “You had the power, now you have the precision – execute with power and precision. By adding the precision, you are now targeting the correct muscle group.”
Then when I did my own workout, I applied the strategy.
On the Smartrainer, as you move through each exercise, the blue box paces you. I am the green line and I must move with the box through each rep. That pace box adds the precision to my power. It assures that I keep each muscle under the right amount of tension for all the exercises in order to get the desired result from the movement.
I have come to conclude that while power is good, it is the precision with which we execute it that counts the most. Sometimes we wield a lot of power around haphazardly and waste a lot of energy. Then we feel defeated because no matter how hard we tried, not much got accomplished. How many times have I heard “No matter how good I eat, or how much I work out, my body doesn’t change.” A person is expending a lot of energy, but not achieving their goals because the precision is missing. To sculpt a body and drop pounds your exercises and eating plan must be precise – especially in the beginning – until you are ready to turn it into a lifestyle. You have to make sure you are doing your exercises correctly and are tracking your food. Adding this precision piece will quickly show in your progress that all your effort is not in vain.
And so, as another day goes by, let us try to execute with power and precision in everything we do.
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