Few things are as fun as starting a new exercise program. Well, that’s not entirely true. The initial soreness can be a real bear to get over, but once you’ve put in enough time so that you’re not moaning the morning after your workout as you roll out of bed, you’ll know what I mean. This seem to hold true for men and women both, but I’ve seen it a lot more in the guys I have trained. Particularly when they are young, want to lift heavy, and have more testosterone than brains.
There are a couple of problems with training too hard, too often. There is a cost for every rep. Every time you bench press a bar, it takes a toll on your body. Yes, it’s fun, and yes, when you start to see changes in your body, you may want to start living in the gym. This is one of the worst things you could do.
Strength training longevity should always be the goal. The “No pain no gain” mentality might work for a while, but it can’t be sustained indefinitely. The key is to keep things fun. What is more fun than progress? Nothing. And what is the best way to keep making progress? To keep it fun and keep yourself injury free.
I have a couple of pointers that will indicate when you should back off of your heavy lifting. First, and most importantly: when it hurts, don’t do it. I’m not talking about muscle soreness, I’m talking about pain and damage. If it hurts more than normal, get some ice and rest up.
Second, if you don’t want to train, that’s probably a clue. Take a week off, eat a lot of good food, and recharge. After seven days off, I usually find I’m itching to get back in there and start throwing the dumbbells and kettlebells around again. You will too!
Give it a try. Lift heavy and enjoy it.