that workout felt like too much rest

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say a strength workout felt like too much rest . . . I’d be writing this from my ocean front view 😂

Many people are used to non-stop movement in group fitness classes, where intensity is measured by how breathless and sweaty you get. But in a well-structured strength training session, rest is not just a break for the wimps. It’s an essential tool for building muscle, getting stronger, aging gracefully, and of course - looking better naked.

If you’re used to circuits, HIIT, or cardio classes incorrectly labeled as “strength” than YES you’re going to feel like it’s a lot more rest. Because it is. And it should be! True strength training isn’t about chasing exhaustion, it’s about progressively challenging your muscles. If every workout is a cardio session, you’re not giving your body the stimulus it needs to build real strength.

But why why WHY do I have to rest?!

Your final reps need to be as strong as your first.

If you’re not recovered before your next set, your form and performance will suffer. Your reps will get sloppier, your range of motion will decrease, and you won’t be able to push as much weight. Each set needs to be performed at maximal effort to see real strength gains.

Rest maximizes muscle recruitment.

Even if you feel ready to jump into your next set after a quick break - and of course you do because your cardio is outstanding! - your muscles aren’t fully recovered.

Strength training relies on recruiting the right muscle fibers, particularly high-threshold motor units (HTMUs.) These are the muscle fibers that generate the most force and contribute to strength and muscle size. Without ample rest, your body won’t be able to recruit them and will compensate by using the smaller, less powerful ones. At that point you’re lifting with suboptimal force, which will reduce the effectiveness of your workout. And what a bummer that would be.

Look, I get it. If you’ve associated that sweaty, exhausted feeling with a successful workout and you don’t get it after a strength training session - it can feel like a waste. But it’s not a waste - in fact, it’s the opposite. As you age, you NEED strength training. You can and should still do your beloved cardio! But you need to incorporate strength training too.

Embrace the rest. Lift heavy. Get strong. Be happy :)

love ya,

-Meg