Someone asked me why I always look like I’m struggling when I workout. Why do I look out of breath and like I’m having a hard time, even though I train so often?

Shouldn’t your body be used to it by now? You must be really out of shape.

Well, yes, my body should be used to it by now, and no, I’m not out of shape at all. Let me paint the picture of how I train.

Let’s say I started running, and I could run 2 miles in 20 minutes. Okay? I’m using even numbers for simplicity’s sake. Maybe the first week or two, I’ll continue to run at that pace, and eventually my body will get used to it and it will feel easy.

Does that mean I’m done? I can now easily run 2 miles in 20 minutes, and it doesn’t drain me anymore. Have I accomplished my goal? Will I simply continue to run 2 miles at 20 minutes? For me, the answer is a firm no!

Soon after, I’ll try to improve on that time. Instead of running 2 miles in 20 minutes, as my endurance gets better, I aim to run it in 18 minutes. I’ll do that for some time, and then keep pushing for a better time.

Eventually, two miles won’t be enough, then I’ll increase the distance to 3 miles. Meanwhile, I try to keep the same pace. However, with the longer distance, maintaining the same pace means my current endurance won’t be enough, and I’ll start feeling winded and struggling again. It’s almost like starting over.

3 miles in 30 minutes. Then I repeat the cycle. I try to get faster, then add distance. This is a continual process of improvement for me. Because of this, I may appear tired, winded, or exhausted during and at the end of workouts.

Make no mistake, this has no bearing on my level of fitness. It simply means I don’t let my body fully adapt. Once things become even somewhat easy, I increase the challenge significantly. Whether it’s longer distance, faster pace, hills, intervals, etc., I’m always looking for ways to keep workouts challenging. Even cutting calories can have a big impact on endurance. That’s how I’ve broken through many plateaus, and when I reduce food intake, I definitely feel it!

There was a time I could only train 2 days a week, for 30 minutes to an hour. Now I train 6 to 7 days a week, anywhere from 1 to 4 hours a day. I don’t take it lightly. Whatever I’m doing, it’s with intent and intensity. Anyone who sees me train knows I push very hard, and that’s why I always look like I’m about to drop at the gym.

Beast mode!