I RARELY recommend “follow along” training products. In fact, the only one I can think of that I ever supported was Eric Cressey’s “Show and Go”, and that was only after our staff used the program for several months ourselves and saw how well-designed it was. While I can appreciate why people flock to done-for-you training programs, in general I think almost all of them, by their very nature, undermine the uniqueness of the individual using them. In other words, there is no semblance of individualization in the program, which is especially important in terms of recognizing the individual’s training history, training goals, and movement tendencies.
It’s for these reasons, as you read a few days ago, that I am so impressed with Mike Robertson’s “The Bulletproof Athlete Project” (BAP). On the surface it’s just another done-for-you program (although designed by a hell of a coach!), but when you get a copy in your hands you see immediately that it’s much more than that. Below are my Top 5 favorite things about BAP, and the reasons why I know you’ll not only love it, but you’ll get great results using it.
Check it out now >>> The Bulletproof Athlete Project
1) It’s actually THREE programs! It’s sold as one package, but BAP actually includes three programs: The Fat Burner, The Weekend Warrior, and The Monster. Which program you want to follow, as Mike describes inside, depends on your training goals, the time you have available for each training session, and the frequency you want to train. To me, this is a huge step in helping you stick with the program. If a program has too much, people tend to cherry pick what they like doing, which is rarely what they need. Using the program that is most appropriate for your needs and situation is the best way to ensure you get the results you’re after.
2) Complex topics made simple. Mike is a brilliant guy and diligent about keeping up with his continuing education. He’s been an outstanding resource for me for the last 7 years and I continue to learn from him today as he continues to evolve his knowledge. That said, in many cases, the more someone knows, the harder it is for them to relay that information in terms that normal people can understand. There are some pretty advanced concepts integrated into BAP, but everything is explained clearly, succinctly, and simply, in terms that are almost impossible not to understand. You’ll know exactly why you’re doing everything in the program, which is important in making sure that you do it all! I haven’t talked to Mike about this, but the entire layout of the program seems like it was designed by a “behavior change” expert, which is a topic that comprised a significant portion of my undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware. Part of making complex things simple is making adopting positive behaviors as easy as possible. Lowering the barrier to entry is key; Mike rolls out new behaviors/focuses in a strategic manner that makes it difficult to not adopt! Which leads me to…
3) Integrated nutrition advice. Nutrition can literally make or break a training program, especially if body composition changes are desired (e.g. gaining muscle or losing fat), and/or if the training frequency is high. I remember two Summers ago we had a hockey player that was going to be a freshman at a D1 school, and another that was returning for his sophomore year at another D1 school. Though they trained on the same program, the player that was going to be a freshman put on 15-20 pounds and was absolutely shredded at the end of the Summer. In somewhat of a contrast, the second player was ~10 lbs overweight at 205lbs and was ~12% body fat at the beginning of the off-season; he was told by his team that he needed to work on his body comp if he wanted the play the next year. He finished the Summer ~12lbs lighter and at 7% body fat using the SAME program as the first player. While the players had different corrective work, all the main training stimuli were the same. The only difference was the approach we took with their nutrition. Powerful stuff! BAP slow drips nutrition habits throughout the program, which both keeps things interesting AND helps you achieve better results with the program.
4) An emphasis on recovery. Recovery is the key to adaptation. The training, which is also an important piece of the puzzle, is simply the stimulus to adapt. Recovery efforts are both instrumental in ensuring your body has the time and resources it needs to adapt, but also ensures that you’re able to KEEP training at a high level. One difficult training session that buries you for the week won’t get you nearly as far as 3-4 (or more) training sessions that strategically balance stressors. Recovery comes in many forms some of which may fall under different names (e.g. nutrition), but BAP incorporates a variety of strategies that helps keep you physically and psychologically fresh.
5) Exercise videos and coaching cues! This is HUGE in my mind. The biggest problem with done-for-you programs is there’s no coaching involved, and almost everyone, at one point or another, will need a reminder on how to perform an exercise the right way. BAP includes videos of all the exercises and a “Comments” section for every exercise in the entire program, so you get access to the simple, effective coaching cues that Mike uses with the athletes at his facility. It’s the closest thing to having a great coach with you as you can possibly get without actually hiring someone, and it’s a lot cheaper!
This is really just the tip of the iceberg, as there is a lot to be appreciated with Mike’s The Bulletproof Athlete Project. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself!
Check it out now >>> The Bulletproof Athlete Project
To your success,
Kevin Neeld
UltimateHockeyTraining.com
P.S. Don’t forget that BAP is on sale for $50 off for this week only. Grab a copy now before the sale ends! The Bulletproof Athlete Project
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