Book Review: 4/5 Impact On Me (Book By Alex Hutchinson)
Read more about the book here
I appreciated the author's efforts to consolidate frequently asked questions about exercise and fitness. The book provides clear answers and practical advice. For instance, when deciding between cardio and weights, do the activity that aligns more closely with your fitness goals first.
The author explains that static stretching before a workout doesn't help; it might even worsen your performance. Instead, focus on dynamic stretching to warm up your muscles. The best way to do that is by doing sets with low weights. Static stretching won't prevent injury (because injury doesn't happen because of low range of motion) or DOMS. But, stretching can increase your range of motion.
I learned about the benefits of eccentric exercises and the importance of perceived effort over objective measures of tiredness. I used to think objective metrics were always best, but this was an eye-opener. It builds on the author's book Endure.
The book also discusses the differences between using an elliptical trainer and a treadmill and emphasizes the value of core strength and deep abdominal muscles over superficial abs. It was surprising to learn about the large amount of carbohydrates needed for carb loading.
I rated this book 4/5 because, while it offered many tips, I have already implemented them in my life. However, I'm not sure how long the book's advice will stay, but I'll need to change my decisions based on new research.