⚠️ 3 Signs Your Workouts Are Too Easy

PLUS: Build Your Meals Around Protein First

Author

Ryan Engel
January 22, 2026

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TODAY’S LEVEL UP:

  • Coach’s Corner: 3 signs your workouts are too easy

  • Pro Tip: Build your meals around protein first

  • Question from Our Readers: “Is fasted cardio better for fat loss?”

  • Fit Trivia: Which former wrestler turned actor is known for eating 5,000+ calories per day while filming?

3 Signs Your Workouts Are Too Easy

Pushing your limits doesn’t mean breaking yourself. But if your workouts feel more like a warm-up, your results will reflect that.

Here are 3 signs your workouts need a serious upgrade:

  • You’re never sore or tired: Not every session should destroy you, but never feeling challenged is a red flag.

  • No progressive overload: Same weight, same reps, same exercises = no growth.

  • You’re not tracking anything: Without data, you're guessing. Track your lifts, sets, and rest periods.

You don’t need to go harder every day, just smarter and more intentional.

Add more weight, reduce rest, increase reps, or change tempo. Small tweaks = big results.

FROM RYAN’S DESK

Your standards decide your outcomes. Low standards create excuses; high standards create structure. Hold yourself to the line, especially when no one is watching. Standards guide you; discipline enforces them. Be the guy who lives by his code. That’s how respect is earned.

Pro Tip: Build Your Meals Around Protein First

When planning your meals, start with the protein source:

  • Breakfast? Eggs, protein shake, or Greek yogurt

  • Lunch? Grilled chicken, lean beef, or tuna

  • Dinner? Salmon, steak, or turkey

Then fill in the fiber (veggies) and fuel (carbs or fats) around that.

Starting with protein ensures you're hitting your targets and staying full longer.

This is a simple mindset shift that makes fat loss way easier.

Question from Our Readers:

“I’ve heard that doing cardio on an empty stomach burns more fat. Is that true?”

— Alex, 46, from Tampa

Yes… and no.

Fasted cardio can slightly increase fat utilization during the workout itself, but total fat loss depends on your overall daily calorie and macro intake.

The pros of fasted cardio:

  • Can be convenient (no digestion issues)

  • Slight increase in fat oxidation for some

The cons:

  • May reduce performance

  • Risk of muscle breakdown if done too long or too intensely

Verdict:

If you like it, do it. If not, don’t force it. The best cardio is the kind you’ll actually stick with.

Fit Trivia: Which former wrestler turned actor is known for eating 5,000+ calories per day while filming action roles?

Answer: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. From pancakes to cod to “cheat day mountains,” The Rock’s daily intake is legendary. His fueling strategy supports massive muscle and nonstop energy on set.

Ryan Engel, Intl. Fat Loss Coach

Ryan is a leading fitness coach and one of the most known professionals in the space.

He specializes in Body Recomposition and visual body aesthetics and has reached millions worldwide with his powerful messaging. He brings a unique, non-nonsense, yet sophisticated approach to body change.

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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