Not long ago at my gym I saw a guy, probably my age or older, doing alternating barbell bench presses. He put a 25 lb. plate on the left end, did some reps with his left arm, turned the bar around, and did reps with his right.
About a week later, I saw the same guy doing dumbbell bench presses – pretty heavy ones actually – using one of those big Swiss Balls as his bench.
First, outside of actual physical rehabilitation, there’s no special sauce in “stability training” unless you’re preparing for a tightrope-walking competition. Second, the first exercise is kind of dangerous, but the second one is potentially very dangerous. If you want proof, lie back on a Swiss Ball and roll off it. Now imagine that happening while holding 80 pounds of metal in each hand.
But my point is not to call out one guy at my gym (he seems nice enough anyway). In fact, I never take pics and vids of people doing crazy or dangerous stuff at the gym to post here or on social media. I don’t even correct them in person or offer any feedback unless they ask me. My point is that there is nothing to be gained by complicating basic exercises, but I’d wager that most of the fitness industry exists by complicating things – redesigning equipment that doesn’t need it, adding unnecessary doodads (Swiss Balls), and supplements? Forget it. There are very few that add any value to your workouts, and most of the ones that do you can get from food.
As further evidence for following the KISS rule, that guy in the image is Vince Gironda – aka The Iron Guru – in the 1950s, when there were no Swiss Balls, Crossfit Gyms, pre-workout drinks, or even protein powders. He actually lost bodybuilding competitions for being too defined.
Thanks for reading,
Dan
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