For a long time, I thought training hard meant pushing to the limit, every session.
But now I’m in my 40s, and after coaching people for over 20 years, I’ve learned that mindset doesn’t always work. Especially if you’re juggling work, family, stress, and a body that doesn’t bounce back like it used to.
Whether you’re training in a big gym, at home, or in a small group personal training setting like I run in Watford, the same truth applies: long-term results come from training smarter, not just harder.
Here’s how my own approach has changed, and why that shift might help you too.
There was a time when I thought a “proper” workout meant leaving the gym half-dead, drenched in sweat, and sore for three days.
That was the badge of honour, train hard, suffer more, earn your results.
But life looks different now.
I’m a dad. A husband. A business owner. And like a lot of you, being in my 40s, I’ve got a body that doesn’t bounce back like it did in my twenties.
A few years ago, I made a change.
I stopped chasing soreness, and started chasing consistency.
Because the truth is: you don’t need to destroy yourself in the gym to make progress.
In fact, the goal isn’t to “smash” every session… it’s to train in a way that supports your life, so you can show up again tomorrow, next week, and next year.
Just like a marathon runner doesn’t run marathons every day, real progress comes from repeatable, sustainable efforts, not maxing out every time.
So these days, I train with the long game in mind.
Less pain, more movement Less intensity, more consistency Less punishment, more purpose
I still train hard. But the goal now is to feel better, move better, and live better, not just hit a new PB.
