Practical Programming

What are we taking about?

Practical Programming for Strength Training

What does this product claim?

Quote:

Practical Programming offers a different approach to exercise programming than that typically found in other exercise texts. Based on a combined 60+ years of academic expertise, elite-level coaching experience, and the observation of thousands of novice trainees, the authors present a chronological analysis of the response to exercise as it varies through the training history of the athlete, one that reflects the realities of human physiology, sports psychology, and common sense. Contrary to the one-size-fits-all models of periodization offered elsewhere, Practical Programming explains the differences in response to exercise commonly observed between athletes at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels, explains these differences in the context of the relevant exercise science, and presents new training models that actually work for athletes at all levels of experience. Complete with new, innovative graphical representations of cutting-edge concepts in exercise programming, Practical Programming is sure to become a standard reference in the field of exercise and human performance. Contributor: Glenn Pendlay

Where can I get it and how much does it cost?

$22.00

Review:

The book is softbound with sturdy paper and easy to read print. It starts off with 5 chapters discussing the basic theory behind exercise science. How your body functions. What stress is, and how you respond to it. It goes over recovery and timing of exercise in regards to adaptations and what you should be looking for and getting through your training program.

The next section(s) discuss training in regards to ability as defined by a novice\intermediate\advanced trainee. Through each section a generic format is laid out in regards to recommended training cycles including the “why” you should be training in this method and “why” if you train that way you’ll advance more quickly than if you’d chosen a different approach. Each section introduces more complex variations on the previous section but it’s never overwhelming and each section is laid out in an easy to read and comprehend way that naturally builds on itself.

Commentary:

It’s easy to see why this is recommended as one of the first books that an individual would buy in regards to strength training. It gives insight into basic and not so basic physiology and programming why maintaining a great level of accessibility to the reader. If you’re ever at a point in your training life where you find yourself asking the questions “What should I be doing?”…well look in here…it’ll give you a pretty darn good idea.

For $20(ish) dollars it’s hard NOT to recommend this book to 99% of the population. As an entry level introduction to strength training, you’re probably not going to find many better. The book supplies a tremendous amount of information that is applicable to a huge range of readers. It really is excellent.