SHOW vs. GO: Incorporate Function into your Workout

You need to ask yourself... Are my workouts for SHOW or do my workouts help me to GO? Most popular programs are based on "bodybuilding" principles that serve the purpose of creating over-sized muscles. Words like Isolation, Pump, and Burn all fit into SHOW style of training. If you are a GO person, you are incorporating more dynamic and coordinated movements into your workouts. SHOW workouts are scheduled around isolating specific muscles groups such as chest, back, shoulder, arms, legs. GO workouts are based on a variety of movements and directions which coordinate all of the different muscle groups.



Left: Bodybuilder, Right: Gerard Butler from the Movie 300 trained 100% GO!

We here at West Loop Gym strongly believe in GO training. This has been the way athletes have trained since the beginning of time and is the best way to avoid injury and build a lean attractive physique. The nature of GO training helps improve mobility and core strength which in turn undoes the typical aches and pains created by our seated/sedentary culture. Below is a sample full-body workout for you to try that incorporates more GO:


Warm-up: Functional Dumbbell Matrix (2x)

1. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press (12 reps)

• Standing Single Arm Cable Row with Rotation (10 reps each arm)
• Stability Ball Crunch (20 reps)

2. Lunges (12 reps each leg)

• Split Stance Standing Band Press (20 reps)
• Seated Medicine Ball Twists (20 reps)

3. Recline Bodyweight Row (12 reps)

• Single Leg Squat (8 reps on each leg)
• Abdominal Bridge (:45sec)

Perform each numbered group of exercises as a circuit (ie. DB Chest Press --> Cable Row --> SB Crunch). Perform each circuit 3x through before moving on to the next circuit. Because this a GO workout, you should move from one exercise to the next with as little rest as possible. Remember, "form follows function". The better you move, the better you'll look!

If you have any questions about GO training or the workout, feel free to email coaching@westloopgym.net.