Buzz
While pushing your limits at the gym might make you feel unstoppable and earn you some serious bragging rights, if it leaves you dreading your next session, you’ve likely undermined your fitness routine.
Not every workout needs to be grueling. Take marathon runners, for instance—they don’t run 20-mile or even 10-mile distances daily. Instead, they focus on lighter runs to maintain consistency, reserving intense efforts for just once a week. Alex Viada, a strength coach known for running a 4:15 mile and squatting 700 pounds, emphasizes to Women’s Health that a mindset fixated on pain can be counterproductive:
While training can be demanding, it shouldn’t be painful. Cranking up the intensity beyond what’s necessary might look impressive on social media, but at what cost? For most people, fitness isn’t their profession—it’s a means to improve mental and physical well-being. If achieving that requires self-destruction, something’s wrong.
If your workouts leave you needing multiple recovery days, they’re not helping you progress consistently—they’re holding you back. Remember, a healthy lifestyle extends beyond the gym. Sometimes, spending less time working out can yield better results.
Image captured by Luke Lawreszuk.
