3 Unnecessary Dangers of High-Intensity Exercise and High-Impact Workouts

When it comes to proper exercise – there is a sea of confusion surrounding us.

Man or woman, no matter your age, you know you need proper fitness training for all the health and wellness benefits it brings you, and the results you truly desire.

But you have no idea what is best for you. Between the TV “reality” shows, the newsstand magazines, and this endless rabbit hole we call the internet, it feels like you know less and less when it’s time to ‘figure out what to do’…

In a world filled with Fitness Folklore and Metabolism Mythology – we have to sift through the nonsensical concepts such as “muscle confusion” and “starvation mode”… And while this is an easy task for a fitness veteran like me, it is usually a mind-masher for most people on the consumer side of the fitness counter…

So today, I will share some of my hard-earned, time-tested fitness wisdom, so you can benefit from knowing some more truths and be able to take proper action on them…

High-Intensity, High-Impact Workouts are all the rage. Countless fitness sources are touting; “they are the fastest way to get in shape”, the mass media spreads the message, and “everyone” thinks this is the truth… While it might be “a truth” for some people, it is not “the truth” for all people.

“No Pain, No Gain”, Beast-Mode, Kill It, Go Hard or Go Home… That’s all fine and dandy if you like the feeling of torture and the high risk of injury.

But it presents 3 harmful dangers that are counter-productive to proper wellness, and usually backfire making things even worse. Here are those dangers to be mindful of so you can avoid them:

Danger #1 – High Risk of Injury

The more intense and the higher the impact, the more risk of injury there is in any given workout method. We don’t even need to turn to the research studies to back this up, it’s just plain common sense.

You might even have a friend or two who have proven this correlation to be correct.

I hear stories every month, during private phone/skype consults and from my team reporting on new clients joining The SCULPTAFIT studio, of people’s past tribulations of trying some mainstream form of hardcore fitness training – only to fall victim to some sort of injury, such as shoulder, hip, neck, knee, back, ankle or wrist.

It makes zero sense. It totally defeats the purpose. But teachers can only teach what they know, they can’t teach what they don’t know.

Danger #2 – Emotional Aversion

Let’s make believe I decide to sign up for a traditional sweat-box bootcamp fitness program. (Seriously, just make believe – because I would never actually do it.) And we’re pushed and prodded to do the battle-ropes, odd kettle-bell swings, all-out sprints, grueling burpees, box jumps, etc…

How long before we develop a hate for showing up to that kind of punishment? Not long (unless we get hurt first), because we develop an emotional aversion toward it. It’s human nature; we grow to dislike things that do not feel good to us. It’s really simple.

So we quit that program, and rightfully so, but now we are back at square one still looking for a sustainable fitness and wellness option that we do enjoy…

This psychological aspect of exercise is one of the subtle factors that causes bad relationships to fitness training and one’s body. This is a topic for full article of it’s own, to be written at a later date, for sure.

Danger #3 – Metabolic Dysfunction

Notice, I’m not using the word “damage” here. For today’s purposes we’ll just keep this in the “dysfunction” zone. We can explore damage in a future post…

High-Intensity, High-Impact workouts have a direct effect on metabolism and appetite. This is true for both male and females… Quite often, people feel as if their appetites are through the roof and their energy levels are all over the place.

Odd peaks, and sluggish valleys make for getting through the day an unpredictable task. And when we add the heightened appetite factor into the equation, food intake becomes a struggle of another sort.

Most people fight the food battle normally, and adding fuel to the fire by jacking up appetite levels makes managing nutrition intake even more of a challenge for regular, busy people with full lives, family, work, etc…

While hardcore fitness fanatics and dedicated athletes are more likely to have the time and discipline to eat accordingly – most people who fall outside that smaller realm are faced with a challenge that doesn’t jibe with a common, modern life schedule. Hence the dysfunction.

Isn’t a fitness program supposed to make us feel better, more stable, more “in control”?

So what’s the deal then?

Here’s the deal – For most people, High-Intensity, High-Impact exercise methods are not the right choice, nor are they necessary.

Situational reality must be considered here. What I mean is, the hardcore approach will always have teachers, supporters, students and followers. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone and it doesn’t mean it’s the only way to achieve and maintain success when it comes to optimum wellness for a high quality of life.

At 47 it surely isn’t for me. I’ve been there and done the hardcore gym routines, back in the day… Crazy thing is I look and feel better than I did 20 years ago, DESPITE shifting to my “gentle” approach to fitness training and a ‘sane’ approach to eating (I’ll cover my ‘intuitive nutrition’ story in a future post as well)

For the non-hardcore people (and there are many more of these types, for sure) I can totally empathize and relate to what your needs are, because I’m in the same boat – just a bit more advanced, and educated in the field – and that’s why I write this blog, do the videos and the podcast – to help share what I’ve learned, with YOU.

Truth is, there are wildly effective ways to enhance wellness, longevity and fitness, while doing it in a gentle, enjoyable and safer way – regardless of age… ways that can be sustained for life. And isn’t that the whole point in the first place?

Most people just want a method that enhances our bodies, our minds and our emotions. We want and need something we not only enjoy doing, but LOVE doing. While this might sound too good to be true – it’s not…

It’s just not something you see in the mass-market offerings of common fitness & wellness programs.

The good news is that there are unique, progressive, innovative fitness approaches starting to emerge as more independent thinkers, visionaries and action takers realize there are massive voids desperately needing to be filled when it comes to improving the well-being of society as a whole.

So, you do see it here, and you’ll continue to see more and more of it as I add more Candid Cam videos, articles similar to this one, and podcast episodes…

If you found this article helpful in any way, or have any thoughts, comments or questions – I’d love to hear from you. So just post in the box below, that space is for YOU 🙂

And, as always, don’t forget to share this one with anyone you know who can use this kind of helpful and useful info. Friends, family co-workers – whoever needs it, send it to them, post it on your social media, make it go viral…

Thanks for reading,
Joey