WHY WE SQUAT

TESTOSTERONE
We tend to think of the back and front squat as simply a means to get strong but there is so much more going on behind the scene when it comes to the squat. The back squat and front squat stimulate a very potent hormonal and nervous system response. When you do heavy back squats the body's endocrine system is stimulated. The endocrine system is where glands produce hormones that are then released into the blood stream. One of the hormones produced is Testosterone. Why is this a good thing? Testosterone is a very powerful anabolic hormone. It aids in muscles and bone growth. Men and WOMEN need it.


CORTISOL
Cortisol, the stress hormone, works in direct contrast to testosterone and leads to a whole host of physical ailments. Folks with high levels of cortisol tend to carry their weight around the middle.

ESTROGEN

Some studies claim that men as young as thirty are presenting with the testosterone levels of a 60 year old. The evidence suggests that this decrease in testosterone is related to the large number of estrogen mimicking qualities that are circulating in our environment and that we are breathing in and also consuming. See the article below for a list of the toxins that can affect the body's endocrine system.

http://qiintegratedhealth.com/blog/?cat=4&paged=2

You might also want to check out the book Detoxify or Die by Sherry Rogers M.D.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Muscle growth is stimulated when we stimulate the Central Nervous System. Doing a bunch of squats at 50 % of your 1Rm does not elicit a central nervous system response, but 1-3 heavy reps will. The more motor units you recruit the heavier you lift.

Check out the article below by Mark Sisson.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/gain-weight-build-muscle/

WHY WE TEND TO STAY AWAY FROM LONG MET CONS at FLUX

I am constantly trying to dissuade folks from doing really long met cons? Why? Because they get in the way of building strength, power and speed. Too much of the long, slow duration stuff will hinder your muscle growth and your strength. More than that, long distance running will turn up the cortisol and decrease the testosterone. If you are one of those folks that is secretly running (outside of your Flux training) and you have lost fat everywhere but your belly, your cortisol levels might be the problem.

Strength training is absolutely vital to overall health and fitness and I would argue this becomes even more important as we get older. By following strength training protocols we create a favourable neuro-endocrinol response (testosterone is increased and the CNS is tapped into).