The hard truth about training (hint: it’s not about training “more”)

Ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels despite consistent training? You’re not alone.

I used to be that guy…

Double days, random WODs, and a firm belief that rest days were for the weak.

Sound familiar?

The funny thing is I thought I knew what I was doing. But like my 7-year old son thinks being an adult is “easy,” I had no clue about the complexities and nuances of what effective training looked like.

The Hard Truth

It took repeated injuries and frustrating plateaus for me to face facts: I didn’t know what I didn’t know about training.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:

• More workouts isn’t better: >2 hours in the gym and constant soreness isn’t a badge of honor — it’s often a sign of overtraining.
• Random workouts don’t cut it: Picking WODs based on mood might be fun, but it’s not a path to broad fitness.
• Skipping warm-ups and mobility is short-term thinking: It’s like brushing your teeth. Skip it, an you’ll regret it at some point.
• Rest isn’t weakness: Recovery is where the growth happens. Rest is as crucial as the workouts themselves.

Sure you might get reasonably fit doing a different hero WOD every day. But the wheels will fall off sooner or later, because that approach is not sustainable.

It’s Not About “Double Days”

Training effectively means avoiding over-training.

Regularly doing multiple workouts per day and spending 2+ hours in the gym?

Unless you’re a professional athlete, you want to think that strategy. You’re putting yourself at increased risk of injury and burn-out.

Think about the long game.

It’s Not About Upper Body vs. Leg Day

Effective training balances more variables than you can possibly consider in your head at one time: intensity, load, volume, duration, movement patterns, modalities, skill and load progression, recovery intervals, etc.

Read more: Why random workouts aren’t enough

Inside and Outside the Gym

Even with a perfectly balanced training program you can’t out-train a bad diet, a crap night’s sleep, dehydration, or excessive stress.

Effective training is actually a lifestyle commitment.

The Key to Lasting Fitness

I can still remember that old me, when we started WODwell 10 years ago.

But since then, I’ve learned from Coach Joe Masley and many other high-level trainers what world-class coaching and programming looks like.

What I learned has dramatically influenced my perspective, kept me healthier, and allowed me to keep finding PRs as I approach 50 years old.

I’m all about getting stronger, but not before moving well. I’m all for pushing hard, but not at the expense of recovery. Rx is cool and all, but only if you can hit the stimulus.

Smart training in about an hour a day leads to lasting fitness. Not injury. Not burn-out.

It’s the kind of training that’s fun again.

Remember, your fitness journey is unique. It’s not about comparing yourself to others or pushing until you break. It’s about bringing the intensity when it’s called for and telling your “more is better” mind that you’re smarter than that.

Stay smart, stay strong,

Jeremy
Co-Creator | WODwell

P.S. Come train with us.