Even "Bad" Workouts Are Hugely Beneficial—Here's Why
We all have them: those workouts that feel like you accomplished nothing. Maybe you didn't sleep well the night before, you couldn't get your mind off work, or you tried something new that felt too challenging. Or maybe you were just cozy in your pjs, and Hulu seemed like a way better move (or, well, lack thereof) than exercise, and your workout felt not worth it. It's frustrating to feel unmotivated, just as it is to feel like we didn't accomplish what we wanted to in our workouts... and when we're tired and sweaty and sad, it's all too easy to forget that even bad workouts are hugely beneficial.
While it's always important to rest when our bodies tell us to, lack of motivation is something else entirely—and it's worth conquering because even the worst of our workouts come with great gains. Ahead, with the help of sports medicine physician Oluseun Olufade, we learn about what those benefits are, and how to motivate yourself to move when all you want to do is channel your inner couch potato.
MEET THE EXPERT
Oluseun Olufade, MD, is an orthopedics and interventional sports medicine physician. He's a medical provider for U.S. Soccer and the Atlanta Hawkes.
The Benefits Don't Change
The best possible news is that whether you had a lousy workout where you felt like you wasted your time or an amazing one that left you feeling capable of world domination, the benefits are the same—really. Feeling lazy or tired or just generally blah doesn't mean your body actually got any less out of your movement experience.
Olufade tells us that "exercise, whether one is motivated to do it or not, has been shown to improve the immune system and treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It has also been shown to increase the number of growth hormones, especially after resistance exercises. Growth hormones help in building muscle mass." Let's look at these a little more in-depth look into these, as well as the emotional benefits. Read More...
