Podcast 187: How a Strength Training Regimen Can Improve Performance and Health

This week on the WHOOP podcast, Kristen Holmes, WHOOP VP of Performance, is joined by Cedric Unholz, WHOOP Senior Performance Scientist, and Chris Chapman, WHOOP Sr. Sports Scientist, for a conversation on the physiological benefits of a strength training regimen, and how to adopt one to get stronger, faster, and healthier.

Kristen Holmes, WHOOP VP of Performance, is joined on this week's podcast by Cedric Unholz, WHOOP Senior Performance Scientist and Strength & Conditioning Coach for Olympic Windsurfers, and Chris Chapman, WHOOP Sr. Sports Scientist and Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for Freestyle Ski Canada’s Slopestyle and Big Air National Team to share the physiological benefits of a strength training regimen. Kristen, Cedric, and Chris share the differences between strength training, resistance training, and conditioning - and why rest is just as important as the actual work. The team also covers how to think about cardiovascular training and weightlifting, and how endurance athletes shouldn't eschew adding weightlifting to their programming. We have new ways to interact with the WHOOP Podcast! You can email us – Podcast@whoop.com – or you can call our new listener line (508-443-4952) and leave a question or comment, and your question might be answered on a future episode.  

STRENGTH TRAINING EPISODE CHAPTERS:

6:45 - The benefits of a strength training program

8:50 - The difference between traditional strength training and functional training 14:58 - Where most people go wrong when strength training 23:09 - The difference in training protocol between men and women 24:23 - How to plan for recovery after a hard training session 33:05 - What the interference effect is and how it can influence how and what you train 37:27 - How to evaluate your one-rep max 38:40 - The importance of rest in between sets, and in your training program   Additional Resources: Autonomic modulation in resistance-trained individuals after acute resistance exercise