Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights_ - Alex Hutchinson [109]
With these principles in mind, you have the tools you need to develop and follow a well-rounded exercise plan. Be patient, consistent, and (with the help of endorphins, perhaps) enjoy it!
Acknowledgments
In February 2008, I was discussing the possibility of writing a regular column on the science of exercise with Kevin Siu, then the deputy editor of the Globe and Mail’s Life section. “Do you think you’d be able to find enough material to keep a column going for a year or two?” Kevin asked. No problem, I replied. There’s enough to fill a book. Since then, Kevin and his successor as handling editor of the column, Cliff Lee, have played crucial roles in guiding my research, generating new ideas, and focusing my writing. Without them and their colleagues at the Globe—particularly the eagle-eyed and indefatigable copy editors—this book wouldn’t exist.
One of the best parts about working with the Globe was the illustrator assigned to the column, Trish McAlaster. With a degree in phys ed and past experience as both a personal trainer and a medical illustrator, Trish couldn’t have been a more ideal partner to help express complex training exercises and scientific concepts in an accessible way. I was thrilled when she agreed to illustrate the book and am even more thrilled with the result.
The book itself began to take shape under the expert guidance of my agent, Rick Broadhead. Its current scope and format owe a lot to Rick’s insights, and I appreciate how patient and responsive he was throughout the process. The fact that I ended up with McClelland & Stewart wasn’t just a business decision: I’m proud to be associated with such an august Canadian institution, and I appreciate the faith that Jenny Bradshaw, my editor there, showed in me even before she saw my proposal. Jenny and Stephanie Meyers, her counterpart at HarperCollins in the United States, formed a dynamic editing duo who made the book unequivocally better. I’m grateful for all their suggestions, from changing a comma to adding a chapter.
My biggest debt is to the hundreds of scientists whose work is described in these pages—not only for their research, but for sharing their time and in some cases welcoming me into their labs. Some, like Trent Stellingwerff, Bradley Young, Stuart Phillips, Martin Gibala, and Carl Foster, have helped me on multiple occasions. Trent, in particular, has been an exceptional resource in the area of sports nutrition and agreed to read an early draft of the manuscript for me.
I’d also like to thank Michal Kapral and the staff at Canadian Running, as well as my editors at The Walrus and Runner’s World, where I first wrote about some of the research presented here.
Finally, I’d like to thank my family. It’s not possible to express here the debt of gratitude I owe my parents, Moira and Roger, for all their support; suffice to say that housing and feeding me—as they did for several extended stints while I was writing this book—was the least of their contributions. My brother, Tim, was the first beta-tester of the book’s content during his inspirational and highly successful journey to fitness after a serious bike accident. And my wife, Lauren, has been a constant partner in this process, asking new questions and answering other ones by drawing on her experiences as an athlete, kinesiologist, and medical student. I’m lucky to have someone who shares my passions in life and also makes sure that I eat my vegetables and do some push-ups.
Index
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.
abdominal fat, 185, 189, 197, 198
abdominal muscles, 71, 109, 133, 134
Achilles tendinopathy, 156
adaptation principle. See SAID
adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 3-4, 60
aerobic exercise, 4,