In order to communicate strength training concepts, sometimes it is necessary to come up with a term that communicates an idea. Even Level Strength Training is one of those terms. It refers to the idea of training in a manner where you maintain a fairly even level of strength throughout a workout, as well as in between workouts.
Up and Down Strength
A common concept that I finally learned to discard from my own training is the idea of doing a workout where strength substantially drops by the end of the workout. Then I would have to recover for 48-72 hours to fully regain my strength before working out again (some lifters train hard enough to need even longer than this to recover). I don’t doubt that there are lifters and bodybuilders who quickly use up their strength at the start of a workout and end up doing the majority of their workout in a weakened state. Then they remain in a weakened between workouts until their scheduled workout day comes again. I trained in this manner where my strength would constantly fluctuate up and down for years.
Constant Fluctuation
The type of training that causes strength to constantly fluctuating up and down forces the body to operate within a high degree of physiological variation. It’s the opposite of physiological stability where the body can settle into more of a homeostatic state where change is minimized. We are all different, but it is likely that the fluctuating state of dramatic physiological variance is probably difficult for some people’s body to manage.
Even Level Strength Training
I believe there is an approach that helps the body stay in a more stable condition rather to constantly fluctuate up and down. I have already eluded to it as Even Level Strength Training. The idea is not new. When the Bulgarians were dominating the weight lifting world in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the Americans were shocked to find out that it wasn’t unusual for them to train the Olympic lifts three or more times per day. The only way they could do a workout and still have a decent amount of strength left for their next workouts on the same day, was to do brief workouts that allowed their strength level to stay high during a workout, as well as in between workouts.
Programming Your Body to Stay at a Given Strength Level
Training in a manner that allows your strength to stay at an even level both during and between workouts provides an easier way for your body to manage a workout stress. You can virtually program your body to continuously function at a given strength level until it becomes comfortable with that strength level. When your body grows comfortable with that strength level, you can slightly increase it by adding a little weight. Your body will then grow comfortable with the new strength level. The process can be repeated again and again by programing and reprogramming your body in a gradual manner for successive increases in strength. By training in this manner, you can gain strength without greatly disturbing the even homeostatic level of strength that your body has learned to maintain.
Many people will find that stopping a workout before strength decreases will result in a fairly brief workout that is not overly strenuous. It may not feel like enough work has been done for a decent workout if the workout is stopped before strength starts to decrease. This is one reason that using a higher training frequency in conjunction with this type of training is common. The workouts are not severe, but they may need to be done frequently to provide enough stimulation to be effective.
Your Body Knows What’s Best
I want to acknowledge that there is more than one way to train effectively. If your strength level constantly fluctuates up and down due to very hard training, then at this point in time, it’s a good training strategy. However, if it’s not working, you have the option training so that you maintain a fairly even strength level during your workouts, as well as between your workouts. Your body will be the best judge as to which type of training is best for you. Best of training to you.