Tip Train Between Extremes Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Tip Train Between Extremes There are two ways people like to think about their workouts Neither lead to progress Here' s the smart way to approach hard training by Ben Bruno July 17, 2017August 18, 2019 Tags Bodybuilding, Powerlifting & Strength, Tips, Training First Extreme – You should crush yourself every workout This is dumb. The idea that "if some is good, more must be better" pervades the meathead community. A lot of lifters feel the need to beat the shit out of themselves day in and day out. In fact, most strong people go through a phase in their first few years of training where they treat every workout like it's their last and they refuse to take time off out of fear that they'll lose all their progress. I've been there myself and I actually think that "overwork" phase of a lifter's career is invaluable for instilling a good work ethic. But sooner or later, all strong lifters realize – either due to injury, burnout, or just listening to the advice of more experienced lifters – that you can't go balls to the wall all the time or your progress will stall. Worse, you'll get hurt. Sometimes when life gets busy and stress is high, taking a break or at least a step back is the best choice you can make to keep the gains coming. Second Extreme – When you leave the gym you should feel better than when you came in This sentiment probably arose to combat the idea of people judging the efficacy of their workout based on how close they come to death. I get that, and the idea is well intentioned, but it's going to the opposite extreme. Unless you're just doing some stretching and foam rolling, you're not actually going to leave the gym feeling better than when you came in. If you do, then you need to be training harder. After all, it's a gym, not a spa where they heap hot stones on your tush. I understand the backlash against workout maniacs who habitually try to kill themselves, but you still have to train hard and push yourself... unless of course you're cool with being mediocre. A good workout should leave you temporarily gassed, but it shouldn't leave you crippled or crushed for days. Like most things in life, the answer lies somewhere between the extremes. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training 5 Proven Ways to Keep the Muscle Coming For 20 years, this coach has tested just about every muscle-building method out there. Here are his top five tips for gains. Bodybuilding, Training Michael Warren April 18 Training Tip The 1 5 Method for Squats Use this method to build your quads and improve the bottom position of your squat. Powerlifting & Strength, Squat, Tips, Training Christian Bosse October 5 Training Tip Soreness – Good or Bad It's a trickier subject than you think. Here's what you really need to know. Bodybuilding, Tips, Training Chris Shugart June 5 Training One Mile to Ripped - Part 1 Earlier this year, Dr. Lonnie Lowery wrote an article called 100 Workouts From Ripped City, which promoted light to moderate morning cardio for fat loss. It caused a stir amongst Testosterone contributors who'd been touting interval training as the supreme fat loss workout. Training Warren Scott Smith January 2