Written by Adam Whitlach
WRRFC Head Trainer

Since WRRFC's adoption of the MyZone device, the overall response has been profound. Many of our members have found motivation, not only from tracking their own progress but also from comparing their workouts to others. The device was designed to help you improve your training and create a community at the same time, and this is where I would say the device has been a success. However, there are still many who have struggled to use the device to its fullest potential.

While MyZone is a great example of how to measure workout intensity, it is not the only measurement that counts. Consider using the weight scale as your only means of measuring body fat loss. We all know, or we all should know, that you can still lose inches without the scale revealing success. Conversely, you can sit in the sauna to lose weight without losing any fat at all. With this in mind, MyZone should be used as a means of measuring progress; not the means.

With that being said, I'd like you to take a look at a couple of my training sessions with the understanding that my goals are to acquire as much strength as possible while maintaining the lowest body weight as I can. As you can see, my current body weight is around 205 lbs. Compare what you see on November 13 (1h 18m, 125M, 771C) with what you see on Tuesday, March 12 (1h 4m, 115M, 715C).

At first glance, you might think that my training session in March is inferior to the session in November. What you can’t see though is that I'm 10 lbs lighter and stronger in March; my body weight was significantly higher in November due to a powerlifting competition.

While it’s true that the MyZone device tracks your progress, some context is still necessary, as the device is not designed to be your end-all tool for measuring progress. For this reason, I encourage everyone to track their training, in addition to using MyZone. Keep a log. Jot down notes. Whatever you need to do. There is not a single workout that I've done in the past 2 years that was not written down. Simply put, the years I spent not tracking my progress are the years I spent not making any. The MyZone is another tool for your arsenal. It should not, and was not designed to be, your only gauge for success.

The device has been wonderful for sparking peoples’ desires to work harder than ever before in order to compete with one another and in helping some understand that they were not working as hard as they thought. But if you find that you are training for the sole purpose of chasing MEPs—while that's not necessarily a bad thing—you still need to ask yourself: what are my goals? Getting leaner, stronger, and improving condition are not goals that can be achieved exclusively by chasing points.

In the end, it’s up to YOU to identify your specific goals and how you plan to achieve them!

Questions or comments? Write them below