Too Much or Not Enough? Get Your Workout Just Right
By Sara Butler
When it comes to workouts, there’s a spectrum. At one end, you have the people who attack each workout as if their life depends on it, upping the intensity at every opportunity. At the other end, you have exercisers who just go through the motions, completing their workouts in a perfunctory way to just get them done.
When it comes to workout intensity, being on either end of the spectrum won’t get you where you need to go. But how do you know where you fall? Here are a few ways you can tell whether you’re doing too much, not enough, or just enough during your next workout.
Can You Talk?
One of the best, and easiest, ways to gauge the intensity of your workout is the talk test. When you’re doing something steady, such as riding a bike, walking on the treadmill, or jogging, you should move at a pace that allows you to talk to someone a sentence or two at a time. If you can only manage a couple of words between breaths, you may be doing too much.
During higher intensity workouts, when you’re near your maximum effort, you should only be able to say a couple words at a time (or groan, whichever comes naturally). If you can have a conversation during these workouts, then you’re not doing enough.
Muscle Exertion
Part of the point of exercise is to push your muscles so you can strengthen them. If you’re not doing enough during your workouts, chances are you won’t feel sore -- ever. You shouldn’t be so sore that you can’t go about your regular routine, though.
No Physical Changes
Believe it or not, plateauing can be a sign that you’re not doing enough or that you’re doing too much. If you’re not getting the results you want from your workout, then it’s time to take a look at the intensity. You may need to take it up a notch or lower it, depending on where you’re at.
How You Feel
One of the best indicators of how much you’re pushing yourself is simply how you feel. Could you be doing more? If you think so, then it might be time to ramp up the intensity slowly over time until you really feel like you’re working out.
When it comes to working out, you need to channel your inner Goldilocks -- make it just right!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Roswell, Ga.