No pain, no gain?

In terms of challenging your body, you cannot get new and better results without pushing yourself through some discomfort. The level of difficulty you put yourself through should depend on what your goals are and your current fitness level.

If you are not a competitive or an professional athlete, then you do not need to push yourself to the edge. Training at 70-80 percent intensity should give you all the benefits of exercise, helping you lose weight and build muscle.

Regardless of your training level, fatigue will kick in at the end of a set, run or a workout in general. As you are pushing yourself through this and embracing the challenge, you must be able to tell the difference between good and bad pain or otherwise risk injuring yourself. Here are some tips;

• Good Pain: A feeling that you worked the intended muscles hard. I always tell my clients that they should be “uncomfortable,” and therefore challenged while lifting or during cardio but not in pain. Thus uncomfortable in this sense is a sign of a good pain.
• Bad Pain: Any shooting or sharp pain and any spasms. If any of these signs occur, stop immediately and evaluate what the situation.

Although I stress the importance of listening to your body and being safe, remember that in order for change to take place e.g weight loss, muscular strength, you must continue to challenge yourself. If you are unsure how to progress your workouts or your fitness levels, consult with a professional trainer.