Here’s What Not To Do

Have you ever gotten injured during a gym workout?

It’s happened to all of us at one time or another.

What’s important is to understand why.

And the reason behind the achy back, stiff hips, or fragile knees is rarely what happened in the gym … but what happened outside the gym leading up to the workout.

Let me give you an example that I’m guessing will ring true.

Have you ever gotten injured doing an exercise and heard your doctor say, "Well, don't do that exercise anymore?"

There's a better answer ... and for coaches like me, it's important to ask the right questions in order to get the right answer.

Instead of focusing on the exercise you were doing when you felt a pull in your back or hip, ask yourself the following:

What was your stress level leading up to the workout?

How has your nutrition been? Lots of protein and veggies ... or chips, dips and crap?

Have you been sleeping closer to 8 hours a night ... or 4 hours a night?

Are there certain positions that are difficult or painful for you to get into, but the instructor at your boot camp class just tells you if you keep forcing yourself, it'll get better?

Every human being has a limited capacity for how much stress they can endure in a given day. And when we overdo it and exceed our capacity, that's when bad things happen -- like injuries and illness.

Usually, it wasn't the kettlebell swing that hurt your back.

It was all the other stuff that pushed you past your capacity before you even picked up the kettlebell.

The good news? All the other stuff is controllable.