A few years back "Beast Mode" became the new mantra for most gym-goers. All of a sudden memes were popping up promoting a new way of working out. One that required you to give your all Every. Single. Time. you hit the gym. It was the latest craze and many adopted this way of thinking. Even yours truly has a vinyl decal on the back of my car that says "look like a beauty train like a beast".
For most athletes, there is nothing wrong with giving it your all. Great progress can be achieved this way. However, there are a few people and times when performing at a moderate pace is perfectly okay.
For first-timers, just starting out or even getting back into a program, now is not the time to go beast mode. If you try to do too much too soon you'll burn yourself out very quickly or increase your chances for injury. Instead, build or have a professional build a simple workout with about 2-3 sets of 6-8 reps. Utilizing about 5-7 different exercises will still give you a great workout. Stay away from any workout that have names like insanity, unless you really enjoy them. To achieve good results this level of exertion is simply not needed.
If you're not looking to compete in a body, bikini or any other type of fitness contest you don't have to go beast mode. Even the best athletes cannot perform HIIT for long periods of time and cycle off in their next season. So why should the typical mom, dad or student try to? Remember, bodies are built in the kitchen and sculpted in the gym. It's more important to eat well than to beat your body up in the gym. You can learn more about the importance of quality food in next month's blog post: You can't out train a bad diet.
How often do you go "beast mode" let me know in the comments below!