I've seen many posters online with saying such as "No pain, no gain," and "I'd rather suffer the pain of a workout than the pain of humiliation and regret from not working out." I've read a lot of comments along the same lines from trainers on the Internet. Don't buy it.
Sure, if you're sore after your workout--even a couple days after--that's okay. You've been working your muscles; some soreness can be expected. But never, ever work out through sharp, throbbing pain. It's not safe, it's not worth the damage it could cause, and it's just not smart.
It's difficult to stop when you're on a roll. I get that. You're getting into your workout, you're psyched, you're energized and feeling pretty good about yourself. But then, it happens. You feel something snap, feel a sharp pain run though your body. Aw, come on! You think maybe you'll be fine. You just need to shake it out. But that doesn't work.
It's time to stop.
If you experience pain, stop immediately and seek medical attention. The longer you work out with an injury, the worse it can get. Take the time you need to rest and recover.
Have you worked out with an injury? Let me know what happened as a result. I'd love to hear from you.
You don't have to be the strongest, fittest, most confident person on the planet, but you can work on improving your fitness level with regular exercise and healthful eating. It can be intimidating going to a gym full of jocks, muscle men and women, and co-eds with 2% body fat. I know. That happened to me. In my 40s and out of shape, I walked into the gym wondering what I was thinking. I'd never make it. My mega-muscular trainer would throw me around and end up killing me. It makes me laugh to think of it now, but at the time those were real fears. The important thing to realize is that the gym is a place where you can become stronger, faster, more confident, and so on. Your goals can be met at the gym. But you have to be willing to put the effort into your workouts and diet. Trainers, gym staff, and fellow patrons can encourage, educate and support you, but they can't do the work for you. Nobody can. You have to take the first step, give yourself time, get moving and believe that you can get into better shape, lose weight--whatever your goal is. And remember--make fitness fun!
What are your reasons for not joining a gym or working out? Let me know. Take care.
