If you’re constantly training at an intensity of 9 or 10 out of 10, thinking it will bring faster results, you might actually be slowing yourself down AND keeping yourself injured.
Many gym-goers I see in Taunton fall into this trap.
And the result?
Plateaus
Recurring injuries
Burnout
Frustration with lack of progress
- Colds and Flu
Here’s why:
Now it’s important to articulate what I mean by training hard.
It’s got nothing to do with training less.
It’s got nothing to do with training intensity (ie not lifting heavy) although you should keep one or 2 reps in the bank.
Training Hard in this context is more to do within the cardio or endurance mode of training.
Training above an RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) 8 too often sends your body into a constant state of stress and survival. That means your nervous system never gets the chance to recover, reset, or allow the muscles to truly adapt.
It also suppesses your immune system for significant periods of time so colds and flu are very common.
This Boom and Bust kind of training is so common nowadays especially with the rise of Crossfit and Hyrox (which are 2 communities I respect in many ways) but the problem with that kind of training is that no one is abe to sustain that kind of volume and frequency of training for the periods needed to see signifcant progress whether that be losing weight, bodyfat or bulding strength or muscle.
Training Hard (ie high on the RPE) is essentially short term thinking.
You’re trying to get the most out of each session not realising that the point f training is gradually edge your fitness up at a rate that your body can recover from
As a sports massage therapist in Taunton, I see this pattern daily. Clients come in with tight hips, sore backs, or stiff shoulders. They’ve been foam rolling, stretching, and trying harder — but the real issue isn’t a lack of effort. It’s too much of it, at the wrong time.
Instead of smashing every session, try this:
- Train at a level no higher than an 7 or 8 RPE.
Train smart, not just hard
Learn to cycle your intensity across the week
Prioritize nervous system recovery
Get regular activation and release work done
Listen to your body before it breaks
💡 Want to Know If You’re Overtraining?
Book in for a FREE 30-minute Taster Session — we’ll assess how your body is functioning and give you clear direction to move forward without injury.
The cost is just a small amount of time for valuable treatment that could be life-changing.
