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No Pain, No Gain



On the wall at my gym there is a disclaimer sign, warning members to “cease activity and consult a physician if you experience any pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, light headedness or nausea.” In addition to those symptoms, I also get hot and sweaty. I can only assume I am allergic to working out and I should quit any and all activities related to exercise immediately!

Now, I understand the gym has that sign to reduce their liability, but if I actually followed those directives, my workouts would be cut drastically short. I would be constantly interrupting my training with frequent doctor visits, asking about the strange sensations of rapid heart rate and sweating, and I would never accomplish anything.

I go to the gym to stay in shape, not to be comfortable. In fact, it’s the very act of pushing the body out of its comfort zone, stretching its limits, that triggers the adaptations leading to better health and fitness. Muhammad Ali once said, “I don’t count my sit ups. I only start counting sit ups when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that matter.” When your muscles start burning and your heart starts pounding, that’s when progress is made.

This needs to be the attitude you have for life, not just in the gym. The “reps” count most when they start to hurt. Unfortunately, people have been conditioned to “cease activity” when things become difficult and they experience pain and discomfort. This is why so many people get stuck. Breaking through to new and better life can rarely be done without some pain and hardship. And that discomfort must be embraced, not avoided. After all, it’s the work and sacrifice that hurts the most that typically produces the biggest impact.

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