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Why You Should Train Like A Hybrid Athlete (Running and Weightlifting)

Cardio + strength training is the way to go!

This is why you should train like a hybrid athlete!

A hybrid athlete has the strength of a weightlifter, the aesthetics of a bodybuilder, and the endurance of a runner. A jack of all trades, if you will. Sounds awesome, no? And who better to talk about becoming a hybrid athlete than Nick Bare?

Nick Bare is the founder and CEO of Bare Performance Nutrition. He shaped the idea of a hybrid athlete with hard-training sessions and constant self-experimentation first in the military and then in civilian tests like ultra-marathons.

See all his insights of why you should train like a hybrid athlete incorporating running and weightlifting to create the perfect combo for your body.

HYROX world championships event with athlete runnningSource: HYROX

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Why You Should Train Like A Hybrid Athlete (Running and Weightlifting)

Of course, you can still train like a bodybuilder, a weightlifter, or a runner, but why not try to combine the best of all three and make yourself the ultimate athlete you can be?

So why should you train like a hybrid athlete? Nick Bare gives three arguments:

  1. Body composition – if you only run or only do weightlifting, you will be much better at the thing you are currently doing by challenging your body to new things. This, in turn, will make you leaner and stronger.
  2. Longevity – increase your lifespan (number of years you will live) and healthspan (quality of your life)
  3. Flexibility, promoting sustainability – when you change your focus, from weightlifting to running or vice-versa, you likely won’t get bored. This makes working out sustainable as it makes you want to keep training in the future

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Watch the full video below for Nick Bare’s full explanation of why you should train like a hybrid athlete.

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Every human is unique in their own way. The same can be said about a person’s goals, genetics, stimulus, motivations, likes and dislikes. Of course, that translates to working out.

One exercise can be perfect for one person while terrible or even painful for another. Does that mean they should both do that exercise, even if their goal is the same? The answer is no.

As each individual is different, so should their training approach. While it is easy to go online and find a workout program that fits your needs, eventually you will need to branch out and find something different to keep making progress in the gym. That process can be demotivating, which is the last thing you want when trying to be fitter and healthier.

The best thing would be to have a nutritionist develop a diet for your needs, do medical tests to understand what part of your body is lagging and how much you can push, and have a personal fitness coach to assist you through your body transformation. Of course that is the best thing. It is also the most expensive one and, frankly, something a vast majority simply don’t have time to.

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Source: Anya Juárez Tenorio on Pexels

The process of body recomposition (losing fat while gaining muscle) typically involves the following key components:

  • Resistance Training: Engaging in regular strength training exercises helps stimulate muscle growth and development. It involves performing exercises using weights, resistance bands, or bodyweight to challenge and overload the muscles, leading to hypertrophy (muscle growth) over time.
  • Caloric Balance: Body recomposition requires paying attention to calorie intake and expenditure. To lose body fat while gaining muscle, you generally need to maintain a slight caloric deficit (consuming fewer calories than you burn) while ensuring an adequate intake of nutrients to support muscle growth and recovery.
  • Protein Intake: Sufficient protein consumption is crucial for muscle building and repair. A higher protein intake helps support muscle protein synthesis and can aid in preserving lean muscle mass during the fat-loss phase.
  • Cardiovascular Exercise: Incorporating cardio exercises, such as running, cycling, or swimming, can help increase calorie expenditure and support overall fat loss. However, it’s important to balance cardiovascular exercise with resistance training to ensure muscle preservation and growth.
  • Progressive Overload: To continue making progress during body recomposition, it’s essential to progressively increase the intensity, volume, or resistance of your workouts over time. This progressive overload principle challenges your muscles and stimulates further growth.

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It’s important to note that body recomposition is a gradual process that requires consistency, patience, and individual adjustments based on your body’s response. It may not happen as quickly as solely focusing on fat loss or muscle gain, but it can lead to long-term changes in body composition, overall strength, and aesthetics. Consulting with a qualified fitness professional or nutritionist can provide personalized guidance to help you achieve your body recomposition goals safely and effectively.

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