Many fitness enthusiasts believe the body is lazy and must be forced into action. But laziness is mental, not physical. When the body resists, it’s often signalling a need for rest.

You can push it beyond what it wants, but doing that too often will cost you in the long run. Pay attention to how your body feels—listen to it. The body knows best. Just be sure it’s your body speaking, not your mind making an excuse.

There may be moments when you must push yourself further than your body wants to go—that’s a survival response. But if you’re doing it for other reasons, like aesthetics, ego, or competition, understand that there’s a price you may regret paying.