Is a bad workout really better than none at all?

flabbybunker
flabbybunker Posts: 57 Member
in Motivation and Support
I see this online a lot , but whenever I ahve a workout that I just dont feel I gave it my all in I just feel bad for the rest of the day.

DO you believe that a bad workout day is better than none ?

Replies

  • 2dare2dream
    2dare2dream Posts: 104 Member
    no we all have off days when we dont reach our full workout capability, however it still counts, its still burning energy, it still raises the heart and works those muscle groups .
  • sunnyfleur2014
    sunnyfleur2014 Posts: 3
    I mean, technically it probably is better than nothing physically... but if you don't feel good after, mentally it didn't do anything. :( I had one of these cruddy workouts yesterday. I just was NOT feeling it.
  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
    I do think it's better than nothing. Not every workout is going to be amazing and perfect. It's like eating - there are good days and bad. But at least you got out there and got the job done. Tomorrow is another day.
  • liekewheeless
    liekewheeless Posts: 416 Member
    Some is always better than non. I would keep in mind that you may not have burned as many calories as with a "great" work out.
  • kaaaaylee
    kaaaaylee Posts: 398
    As long as you're not hurt, yes.

    Better for your body, not necessarily your mood.
  • FitMe758
    FitMe758 Posts: 177 Member
    Yes, I believe a bad workout is better than none at all. Because even if you just burn 50 calories than had you done nothing at all, tt least that little bit will bring you closer to your goal.

    Plus, a lot of times it is just a matter of getting "out there" and doing something before you start feeling motivated again...it can keep the routine/good habits.

    With that said, if your workout requires a lot of intensity/skill and you are likely to get hurt if you are not at 100%, then maybe you should skip it. I mean, maybe skip that particular activity, but at least do "something".

    As far as feeling bad for the rest of the day: Life is too short for regretting something that you can't change. No regrets. Just try harder next time.
  • Mario_Az
    Mario_Az Posts: 1,331 Member
    better than not doing anything almost like a deload day
  • HikeCyclist
    HikeCyclist Posts: 153 Member
    This was me yesterday. I was NOT feeling it. I was very tired. But I forced myself. And honestly? I realized that I hadn't put much effort into it, and probably didn't get as much out of the workout as I would normally get. In retrospect, I feel that I would have been better off not working out and giving my body the break and rest that it was blatantly telling me that I needed. But that's just me and my own experience.

    If you MUST work out, maybe do a half of the work out. Or do a different workout that's a bit less taxing on your body.
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    Yes I definitely do. I'm currently trying to work on my running as it's a really bad area for me. I always leave my time on the treadmill till the end of my cardio sesh as I know I'm not in a position to "give it my all" YET! But I also know if I keep chipping away at it & give it time I will improve. Totally worth it in my mind.
  • UnicornAmanda
    UnicornAmanda Posts: 294 Member
    Yeah, I think its better than not working out at all, but at the same time it sucks because when it happens to me I just have a lousy day for the rest of the day. I had one of those workouts today... I didn't give it my all at the gym, I was so hungry and irritable and felt so crappy about my workout that I ended up being a little more lenient with what I ate for dinner.
  • SomeNights246
    SomeNights246 Posts: 807 Member
    I honestly think that encouraging people to work out even when they don't want to can encourage unhealthy behavior (See: Not all bulimics purge with vomit, some use exercise). I'm assuming, because you said that if you don't feel a work out it makes you feel bad, that you mean working out even if you don't want to.

    I should point out, that I think it might help people who are sedentary. As if you sit on your butt 24/7, exercise IS going to sound like a chore. And they need the motivation to get off their butt. However, I think too often people who do exercise make it sound like it IS a chore. And encouraging people to do it when they don't want to do it makes it feel like the only reason they're doing it is so they can eat X,Y,Z or burn off X,Y,Z. And that is how eating disorders form.

    If you mean just a 'bad' workout as in not burning much or bad form or just doing nothing but yoga for just ten minutes, then yeah, I'd say that's better than nothing at all.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,344 Member
    Any moving is better than sitting on the couch!
  • flabbybunker
    flabbybunker Posts: 57 Member
    I have agree with the folks who said some movement is better than none. I had a much better workout today han yesterday. I guess some days are gonna be great and other not so great gotta stick to the path consistantly though :)
  • kgeiger141
    kgeiger141 Posts: 78 Member
    Even if you didn't do as much as you would have hoped for, you still have to give yourself a pat on the back for working out at all rather than not doing anything!! The hardest thing to do is get on your workout shoes and actually start the workout when you first start working out (thats what I'm going through now! lol)

    But just think of it as you will do better next time!!!
  • Becoming_A_Butterfly
    Becoming_A_Butterfly Posts: 2,534 Member
    Most of the time, a bad workout is still at least a workout and better than nothing. If a bad workout means I got hurt, though (like when I twisted my ankle being a klutz in step aerobics), then I'd have to vote for no workout being better!

    Don't let it put you into a bad mood if you have one of those just-not-feeling-it workouts. It happens. Give yourself credit for working out anyway, and be proud.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    Yes.
    Even when I'm not feeling a run, I'm still glad I did it when it's over.
    Because that means I get some extra calories, so I can soothe the pain with some ice cream later ;)
  • lawkat
    lawkat Posts: 538 Member
    I have my days where my runs don't go well. I try to assess why they were bad and learn from it. It happens. You have learn from it and then move forward with the thought that the next workout will be better. You will regret not working out more than a bad workout.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I say no, for one main reason, recovery... recovery is just as if not more important than the work. A lot of times if you have a bad workout it could be due to insufficient recovery, if that is the case, no workout would have been better.
  • Vincisomethng
    Vincisomethng Posts: 149 Member
    Do you mean bad as in stopping a lot of times or bad as in not doing some of the forms correctly? Because doing some kind of workout is better than non at all, but doing the latter could result in injury.
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    a bad workout is better than no workout atleast you did it :D
  • MelanieMamaof5
    MelanieMamaof5 Posts: 75 Member
    Bad days are going to happen. And that's okay. If anything, a bad workout is still a workout. It's helping to keep you in a good habit. Some days you will "feel it" some days you wont. Just keep on trucking. Don't feel bad about a crappy workout. Give yourself kudos for getting it done.
  • Kekibird
    Kekibird Posts: 1,122 Member
    Yes. I have good runs and bad runs. Runs where I stop a lot and feel tired and just not up to speed but in the end I get it done and I'm pleased. A bad run is better than sitting on the couch any day.
  • dawnmitchell6766
    dawnmitchell6766 Posts: 370 Member
    Yes, a bad workout is better than none at all. You're keeping the habit of working out current, maybe you didn't burn as many calories as you could have or lifted as much as you could, or ran as far or as fast as you could - but you stayed true to your goal and did the workout.

    Stop beating yourself up, it was better than sitting around doing nothing.
  • DeterminedFee201426
    DeterminedFee201426 Posts: 859 Member
    i've been sick for 3 days so.... but i've still been working out i have'nt been able to give it my all because of lack of energy but i still did it .. it still burn calories :D
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    yes.

    i read something once, about how to get out there when "you're not feeling like it." basically, just go out for 10 minutes, and warm up. if after that, you're still not feeling like working out, go home.

    another thing i read was from jim wendler, about 5/3/1. the program is built around the four main barbell lifts- squats, dead lifts,overhead press, and bench press. you do 3 warm up sets, and then 3 main sets. then you do assistance exercises as needed or desired. wendler says that it's perfectly okay to go in, warm up, do your main sets, and get going. sometimes you're having a crappy day, or you've just got a lot of things to do. but at least you did the main part of your work out.
  • Hondo_Man
    Hondo_Man Posts: 114 Member
    but whenever I ahve a workout that I just dont feel I gave it my all in I just feel bad for the rest of the day.

    Bunker, I agree fully with what's been said.

    You said you didn't feel like you gave it your all. What do you think was the cause?

    Reason I ask. Many years ago, I would experience the same thing. I followed some suggestions and today I can't recall the last time I felt that way.

    Go in focused and pumped. Mentally prepare yourself for your workout. Today you're gonna make some good gains and add plates or increase a level on the cross trainer. What ever you do for that day. Get mentally into it.

    Next, everyone's a bit different on this and it also depends on your programme, but eat. I used to not eat before, but only had a coffee. I eat carbs, fats and protein before and a coffee too, but that has changed everything for me. Maybe you too, perhaps.

    Music. Everyone's different on that one too,but it has really helped me for focus and mood. Plus I don't care for the German pop music my gym tends to play for everyone. Does nothing for me.

    Hope that helps you somehow. I also wish you success on never feeling that way again. But a workout still does the body good.
  • rsoice
    rsoice Posts: 212 Member
    Agree with all that said that a bad workout is better than none. You got something out of it even though you may not appreciate/realize it. Compared to sitting on the couch though? you're a superhero.
  • bc2ct
    bc2ct Posts: 222 Member
    Sometimes a "bad workout" that you really had to struggle through is worth more in terms of ego boost -- "I made it through that!!" than a "good workout" that you breeze through.
  • rsoice
    rsoice Posts: 212 Member
    Agree with all that said that a bad workout is better than none. You got something out of it even though you may not appreciate/realize it. Compared to sitting on the couch though? you're a superhero.

    Let's not stereotype, now.
    superhero_couch.jpg

    I've never seen that dude in the gym

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