The Importance of Individualisation in Fitness
We're bombarded with general training and nutrition advice. But the truth is, we're all different, and the way we train should reflect that. What works for someone else might not work for you, leaving you to feel like a failure because you haven’t seen results from someone else’s routine. This is why individualisation is essential if you want to achieve any level of success.
What is Individualisation?
Individualisation is the idea of training in a way that is specifically suited to an individual’s needs, experience, and everything else in between.
Scroll through social media for 10 minutes and you’ll find endless workouts that promise great results. Does “six-pack abs in 30 minutes” sound familiar? If you’ve ever found one of these workouts and changed it to work better for you, you’ve already applied individualisation.
It doesn’t need to be a complicated word to understand, Individualisation is simply about designing a training programme for you, considering the following factors:
Age: Training requirements differ vastly between a teenager who is still growing and an experienced athlete whose body has adapted to years of training.
Gender: Males and females often have different hormonal profiles and body compositions, influencing how they respond to training and use energy sources.
Experience: A beginner requires a training programme that builds the basic foundations of fitness and performance, focusing on proper technique and gradually increasing intensity. An experienced athlete, on the other hand, can push their limits with more advanced training methods.
Genetics: We all have unique genetic predispositions that influence how we respond to training and nutrition.
Lifestyle: Your sleep schedule, stress levels, and daily activities all impact your training needs. For example, someone working a physically demanding job will have different requirements than someone with a sedentary desk job.
Goals: Perhaps the most obvious factor, your training should directly help you get further towards your goals, whatever they are. Are you aiming for strength gains, endurance, or sport-specific goals? Each goal requires a different vehicle to achieve it.
Why Individualisation is important
Blindly following someone else's training programme is a recipe for wasted time and frustration. Individualisation should be common sense.
By creating your training programme to suit you, you'll get the results that matter most. These can include preventing injuries, increasing muscular strength, and achieving your goals faster.
However, the two reasons individualisation is important that I have found most helpful are:
Targeted weaknesses: No athlete is perfect. Individualisation supports you in identifying areas that need improvement and addressing them.
Improved motivation: A personalised approach keeps things interesting and engaging. There is nothing worse than knowing you have to follow someone else’s programme just because they told you to. When your training programme caters to your specific needs and goals, you're more likely to stay motivated and adherent over the long term.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to fitness
“To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail”.
Unfortunately, every problem can’t be solved with a hammer. In fact, if you tried to, you’d probably end up in prison…
So let’s not adopt the one-size-fits-all approach to fitness - it’s counterproductive.
Instead, do this…
How to Individualise Your Training
Work with a coach: A qualified coach can assess your strengths, weaknesses, and goals through various tests and evaluations. They can then design a programme specifically for you, taking into account all the individual factors mentioned above.
Track your progress: Monitor your performance and how you respond to training. Keep a detailed log of your workouts, including sets, reps, weights, and how you felt during and after each session. This data helps you and your coach refine your programme over time to ensure continuous progress.
Listen to your body: Pain isn’t a badge of honour. Individualisation means you adjust the intensity or exercises to avoid overtraining and injury. If you experience persistent pain, don't hesitate to modify your programme or consult a healthcare professional.
Individualisation is a journey
Remember, individualisation is a journey, not a destination. As you progress, your needs will change. Regularly reassess your training with your coach and adapt it accordingly.
