What Should You Do If You Don’t Think You’re Training Hard Enough? Is It Always A Case Of More, More, More?

Tiredness, no motivation, a lack of recovery, or simply having no time. There are many reason why you might think you’re not training hard enough. But are your perceptions real?

You might feel that daily life gets in the way of achieving your fitness goals.

Your energy is zapped by long and stressful hours at work. And home life is just as hectic.

Finding the time to train is difficult enough. And when you get there, your workouts feel lacklustre, and in your mind, almost pointless.

After all, if you’re not training hard, is there any benefit?

Soon, your motivation begins to dip further down. And you might even consider giving up altogether. But before you throw in the towel, keep reading. Because things might not be as bad as you first thought.

In this article, you’ll discover why even though you think you’re not training hard enough, the truth might be very different.

And if you’d prefer to listen to the audio version of “Not Training Hard Enough? Does It Really Matter?”, click the play button below.

“Training Hard Enough” Is A Very Subjective Term

Determining whether or not you’re training hard enough is difficult to quantify. In fact, it’s almost impossible to have anything other than a vague idea.

You see, no two people are exactly the same.

A pro bodybuilder has to train much harder than the average person in order to see a change in their physique. The training volume and intensity requirements would be wildly different. As a beginner or intermediate, you still need to push yourself, but to nowhere near the same degree.

So when you say you’re not training hard enough, make sure you’re not setting unrealistic and unnecessary expectations.

Are you seeing progress? Are you building muscle, getting stronger, and seeing other measurable changes? If you are, does it matter that you’re not training as hard as everyone around you.

Perhaps you’re training smarter?

Is Training As Hard As Possible Always The Right Answer?

Some of the language around training can be disempowering and lead you to believe that you’re not putting in the work. So let’s dissect a couple of concepts, so you can get your mindset in the right place when it comes to feeling as though you’re not training hard enough.

Progressive Overload

Undoubtedly, you’ll be familiar with the term Progressive Overload. The concept of incrementally increasing the amount of tension placed on your muscles. This can be created through a variety of methods. More reps, sets, and improvements in technique. However, more often than not, progressive overload is associated with adding more weight to the bar.

So when you don’t consistently add more load to your lifts, you can start feeling frustrated.

The weight should be going up, but it’s not. And the only reason you can put your finger on is the fact you’re not training hard enough.

But this may not be the case.

By losing the connection between more weight being the only method of progressive overload, you start to judge progress based on other factors. And remember, even if you don’t progress every week, the workout is not a waste. It’s still a beneficial session.

Training To Failure

“Failure” is a common terms with in the gym environment. But for a lot of people, maybe even you, the concept of failure being a good thing might seem strange. It necessitates NOT achieving a goal. And therefore could translate to negative feelings for the uninitiated.

And besides, for the first 18-24 months of training, you’re probably don’t need to train to failure, anyway. You can build muscle without pushing yourself to the limit with every set of a workout.

Nothing But The Gym Will Do

I’m a huge fan of the gym. Hell, it’s part of the reason I called my company, Iron Paradise Fitness. But you might not be able to make it to the gym on a regular basis. So does that mean home workouts are a waste of time?

No. Of course not.

In fact, some of my online coaching clients do home workouts using minimal equipment and get great results.

Done in the right way, home workouts can be very effective. There may naturally come a point where you outgrow a home setup, but until that point these workouts can build muscle and confidence. Using suspension trainers, such as TRX, or a basic dumbbell and bench setup can make for fun and challenging workouts at home or while travelling.

Are You Training Hard Enough? The Bottom Line On The Debate

Don’t think you have to emulate the training intensity of IFBB Pro Bodybuilders in order to positively change your physique. Training hard enough is all relative and specific to your individual circumstances.

Resist the temptation to judge the effectiveness of your training by comparing yourself to others. Your situation is unique. And so are your training needs and rate of progress.

Additionally, review your nutrition and lifestyle (particularly sleep) in case your recovery is sub-optimal. Maximise these aspects of your life, so you may optimise your performance in the gym.

And if you’re short on time, create workouts that maximise every second in the gym. And if you need help with that, you can check out how a great 30 minute workout, in the podcast below.

Here’s The Next Step In Achieving Your Fitness Goals

Figuring out the right approach to training is an important aspect of achieving your fitness goal. But what about the other pieces of the puzzle? Are you confident in managing all aspects of your training and nutrition? And can you keep yourself accountable to ensure you maintain consistency?

If you’re unsure, I might have something for you.

Through my online coaching programme, The Lean Life Method, I can help you lose fat, build muscle, and achieve the body you’ve been striving for. Ultimately, taking the guesswork out of training and nutrition, so you can live a leaner, healthier life for good. 

​With The Lean Life Method, you’ll learn a simple, stress-free way to achieve your fitness goals. And you’ll feel more confident than ever before.

And there’s no need to torture yourself in the gym, avoid wine and pizza, or kill your social life in the process.

I’m guessing you’ve spent thousands on pills, powders, and programmes that delivered nothing. So you might be wondering what’s different about me?

The simple truth is this… I get results. And I’ll teach you everything you need to know, so you can maintain those results.  So answer me this.

• How much precious time are you spending trying to figure out what’s right, instead of making progress?
• Are you sick and tired of never seeing the results your hard effort deserves?
• How much stress and frustration is your lack of progress adding to your life?

A lack of clarity might be holding you back from living the leaner, healthier life you deserve.

Schedule A Consultation Call

Click here find out more about the results, people just like you, are getting with The Lean Life Method.

And if you feel like my personal 1:1 coaching could be just what you’re looking for, schedule a free consultation call.

So, if you’re even the slightest bit interested, click here for more information.

But for now, all I’ll say is, thanks so much for reading, keep living the Lean Life. And I’ll see you soon.

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