Performing difficult tasks (can be rewarding!), by Matthew Romans

Most of us are familiar with the phrase "nothing worthwhile is easy." Think about anything of value you have accomplished in your life: None of it could be classified as easy, but it was probably worth the effort that you put into it. There are many things in life that are difficult, but rewarding, such as learning to play an instrument, saving up to buy your first home, raising children, starting and running your own business, and learning to speak a foreign language. All of these endeavors require sacrifice, patience, a willingness to learn, and attention to detail. We certainly want the best possible outcomes when engaging in these pursuits, but accomplishing these things is not easy. Ask any serious musician, and they will tell you that putting in the practice time necessary to achieve proficiency can be tedious, mentally and physically taxing, and not particularly fun. The fun occurs when your goal has been achieved.

Completing a workout at Total Results is difficult; it is both mentally and physically challenging. Like the previously mentioned tasks, it requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn. Pushing to and beyond momentary muscular fatigue/failure on every exercise is uncomfortable and unpleasant (unless you're a masochist). The body is very resistant to change, so a fairly severe stimulus is required to induce the body to make physiological improvements in muscular size, strength, and metabolic/cardiovascular conditioning.

The good news is that our workouts are far less time-consuming than most traditional fitness routines. Because our workouts are so intense, it is essential that they be relatively infrequent (no more than twice per week) and of short duration (twenty minutes or less). This is not just something we can get away with; it is a biological necessity to avoid overtraining. There is a "narrow therapeutic window" to exercise, much like with medication. Too much exercise can compromise your immune system and lead to injury; not enough exercise provides little benefit. We want the minimum dose necessary to achieve the desired effect. After that, we want to get out of the way and let the body make the necessary improvements that we have stimulated. It's a simple but very important concept to understand.

Yes, Total Results workouts are difficult, but completing your workout with your best effort and focus is a tremendous accomplishment. When that happens, you have done everything necessary to stimulate positive change. The reward comes when you see and feel the physical changes that are taking place. Your hard work is paying off. That's where the fun begins.