Your heart is pounding. You're breathing hard. Your legs are burning.
And your brain is shouting:
“STOP.”
But does feeling uncomfortable during exercise mean you're unfit, or are you simply experiencing what hard physical effort feels like?
In this episode of The Fundamentals of Fitness, Alison explores what actually happens when exercise gets difficult, why lactate isn't the villain it's often made out to be, why soreness two days later isn't “lactic acid”, and how your brain influences your perception of effort.
We'll also tackle an important distinction:
When is exercise discomfort normal, and when is your body telling you to stop?
Because getting fitter isn't about learning to ignore your body.
It's about learning to understand it.
Being uncomfortable doesn't automatically mean you're incapable. Sometimes it simply means you're doing something difficult.
CONNECT WITH ALISON
For no-nonsense fitness, training, and mindset support, you can find me here:
Instagram: @abperformancetraining
TikTok: @abperformancetraining
Facebook: AB Performance Training & Coaching
Website: abperformance.training
DISCLAIMER
The information shared on The Fundamentals of Fitness podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your training, nutrition, or health routines.
References:
Marcora, S.M., Staiano, W. and Manning, V. (2009) ‘Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans’, Journal of Applied Physiology, 106(3), pp. 857–864. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.91324.2008.
Brooks, G.A. (2018) ‘The science and translation of lactate shuttle theory’, Cell Metabolism, 27(4), pp. 757–785. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2018.03.008.
Cheung, K., Hume, P. and Maxwell, L. (2003) ‘Delayed onset muscle soreness: Treatment strategies and performance factors’, Sports Medicine, 33(2), pp. 145–164. doi:10.2165/00007256-200333020-00005.
Cairns, S.P. (2006) ‘Lactic acid and exercise performance: Culprit or friend?’, Sports Medicine, 36(4), pp. 279–291. doi:10.2165/00007256-200636040-00001.
Allen, D.G., Lamb, G.D. and Westerblad, H. (2008) ‘Skeletal muscle fatigue: Cellular mechanisms’, Physiological Reviews, 88(1), pp. 287–332. doi:10.1152/physrev.00015.2007.
Pageaux, B. (2014) ‘The psychobiological model of endurance performance: An effort-based decision-making theory to explain self-paced endurance performance’, Sports Medicine, 44(9), pp. 1319–1320. doi:10.1007/s40279-014-0198-2.
Smirmaul, B.P.C. (2012) ‘Sense of effort and other unpleasant sensations during exercise: Clarifying concepts and mechanisms’, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(5), pp. 308–311. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2010.071407.
