I recently learned a very important lesson in my own training that I would like to share with you. I have been strength training for about 5 years now, spending most of that time researching the best training routines, practices, and programs. I was looking for an optimized training plan, the very best, most efficient way to gain strength. My lifts showed great improvement as I progressed quickly. A few weeks ago, I switched to a program that I thought would be even better for me than the one I had been running. My lifts exploded. In just a few weeks, I saw more improvement in weeks than I had in months before. I had found an optimized program. This lifting program started to take a toll on me physically but more importantly, mentally. I wasn’t enjoying my time in the gym and I was beginning to dread my scheduled 2 hour workouts. I decided to take a break to let my mind and body recover. One week off turned into two, turned into three. I needed the time off to reignite my desire to workout and lift heavy. When I returned this past week, I found that nearly all the progress I made on the optimized program had gone away due to my time out of the gym. I am sure I will get back to that point but I learned an important lesson.
Optimized is not always optimal. It may seem like a semantic difference, but I assure you there is real value in discussing the difference. When something is optimized, it implies an absolute. This is absolutely the best, most efficient way to complete a task. Optimal on the other hand, infers a subjective experience. This is the best way to achieve a given goal in this specific situation for this specific person. A theoretically optimized training program, as I learned, took a toll on me mentally causing me to need time off. This time off led to me losing months’ worth of progress. What was optimized, was not optimal for me. I would have benefited greatly from less theoretically perfect training, and simply done what I had wanted to do in the gym.
Too often athletes burn out of sport due to this dilemma. They are either pushed too hard by coaches, parents, or even themselves. They seek out the optimized diet, training, and recovery often at a detriment to their enjoyment of their sport. Optimal training requires an athlete to train the hardest and best they can, while still enjoying the process. When pushed too hard, many choose simply to stop participating and competing in their chosen sport. In the world of Olympic weightlifting, it is easy to see this difference. One program, used primarily by the Bulgarian weightlifting team in the 70’s called the Bulgarian method, was optimized training for Olympic weightlifting. It was a brutally difficult program that led to extremely high rates of burnout. While it was an optimized program, it was not optimal for a huge swath of athletes. Only a select few outliers were even able to survive a career using this method. This method has largely been dismissed in western weightlifting because of its high rate of burnout. Coaches understand that while it is theoretically effective, it succeeds at great risk to the athletes.
Burnout is the greatest killer of athletic careers. When an athlete seeks the most optimized training and competition methods, it often leads to burnout and loss of interest. Dialing back the scale a few notches to retain a high level of enjoyment can be the most effective way to avoid overuse and burnout. The greatest predictor of a successful athlete is simply sticking with it long enough to find success. A Quarterback will never make it to the NFL if they quit during high school football. A swimmer will never make the Olympics if they don’t compete past age group. Retaining fun and enjoyment while still pushing for improvement is critical for an athlete to find success in their sport.
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