Coaches Corner – How Much Does Exercise Selection Matter?

The internet and social media provide a wealth of information about health and fitness. But, of course, there's a lot of useless information out there. There's never a shortage of fitness celebrities and influencers that post their workouts and morning routines, saying that if you do what they do, you'll look like they do. This isn't a new phenomenon. Just before, it was isolated to the cover's of Men's Health magazine in the grocery checkout aisle, featuring the workout routine of the Sexiest Man Alive.

But if you look at any of these routines offered by fitness icons or celebrities preparing for their next superhero film role, they typically aren't anything special. If you follow the exact 3x10 on squats format of Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman workout, you aren't necessarily going to end up looking like her. If you do her exact routine exercise for exercise, it's not going to guarantee progress or success.

The truth is, there's no magic formula in a workout routine or a set of exercises. Exercise selection matters, but it is not the be all end all.

While exercise selection matters, intensity is always going to be king in terms of growing muscle and gaining strength.

Here is where exercise selection does matter. Choosing exercises should be based on the goal for that workout. For example, squats, leg press, lunges, etc, for a leg day. Your exercise selection should also be based on movements that you can perform well, with good form, and that provide you a stimulus in the muscle you are trying to target. Then take those exercises, and prioritize good form and intense effort.

Copying what someone else does isn't going to get you their results. Choose the exercises that work for you, and work hard at them. You'll make more progress doing that with consistency, then going from one internet inspired workout to another.