Is “No Pain, No Gain” Actually True?
- riseupfitness
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
“No pain, no gain!”
How often have you heard that phrase from a trainer, coach, or even PE teacher? Probably tens, if not hundreds of times. But is it true?
Untangling the phrase actually involves untangling two very different sensations: pain and discomfort.
Discomfort can be felt physically, mentally, or emotionally, but for our purposes, we’re considering the physical sensation. It takes a few forms:
During a workout, when you feel your muscles working hard, feel yourself breathing hard, or find yourself having a difficult time holding onto a particular pace
After a workout, when you feel soreness in muscles that have worked hard
Both kinds of discomfort can bring about growth, both as you’re able to push through the challenges of a workout and get stronger, and as your muscle fibers repair themselves to get stronger, bigger, or longer.
Pain, on the other hand, is completely distinct from discomfort. It manifests in true “ouch!” form – when something feels wrong. It can be felt sharply after an injury, or dully in the longer term. It is your body’s signal that something is not right, and it does not lead to growth or gains.
So, the phrase should more accurately be: “no discomfort, no gain!” However, that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
The real kicker is that intentionally creating physical discomfort through structured workouts and recovery will actually give you a much better chance at avoiding many kinds of pain throughout your life (Back pain! Joint pain! Stiff muscles!).
Ready to get a little uncomfortable in order to get a lot stronger, healthier, and avert pain in your life? Try a free RiseUp workout here!
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