Are You Pushing Too Hard?

Intensity does not make a great workout. Harder is not better.

It is a common misconception that the harder you workout the better the results you will get. This is not true. All out, high-intensity, all the time is the path to lesser results and injury.

Work capacity is the true measure of cardiovascular endurance and fitness. This is the ability to perform activity at a high level overtime, without high levels of fatigue. Someone who can run a 1/2 marathon easily, but gets winded and tired quickly when carrying something heavy up a few flights of stairs has a low work capacity and a low fitness level.

If you use a heart rate monitor in your training your level of work capacity can be measured easily. If your heart rate stays below 80% for most of the workout, with only a few short blips above and you recover back down quickly, you have a high level of work capacity.

If your entire workout is above 80% you either have a low work capacity, which will improve over time. Or your workout is too hard, or you push yourself too hard, which will not get you as good of results and will lead to injury.

Rather building up the work capacity to push hard and not being able to leave the 70% range and feeling amped up afterwards is a sign of a great workout and a high level of conditioning. Simply put you should be energized, not exhausted.

Who are the people who always seem to be hurt? It is the ones who workout more than 3-4 times per week and always have to push as hard as possible. Despite the evidence of their injuries they do not believe it was a good workout unless it was as hard and intense as possible.

Increase your work capacity and you will see better results, less injuries, and more improvements in your daily activities and overall fitness.

Your workout should not leave you feeling like you fought a battle, it should leave you ready to go fight the battle.


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March Member Madness

Each day in March we will have a different promotion happening at PNF. Be sure to check our Facebook PNF Member's Page for weekly events and happenings - events will be posted on Sunday afternoon for the upcoming week.

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Burpees & Brews - 1 Workout, 10+Beers, 1 Great Cause

Join us to help raise $3,900 to grant a wish to a child with a life-threatening illness. *All proceeds donated to "Make-A-Wish"

When: Friday, March 4th, 2015 from 5pm to 7pm

Where: Pittsburgh North Fitness 16055 Perry Highway, Building 1 Wexford PA 15090

Cost: $35 per person

Featured Breweries: Voodoo Brewery and Hop Farm Brewing Company

For more information or to reserve a spot call 724-934-2000

www.PittsburghNorthFitness.com
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