🏃‍♂️ Are You Training Hard Enough or Just Staying Busy?

PLUS: Your Heart Benefits from Strength Training Too

AuthorAuthor

Ryan Engel & Michael Pender
May 29, 2025

Welcome to your modern fitness daily news report! Every weekday, we break down the trending fitness news, tips, and insider scoops to keep you informed. Each read will be under 3 minutes so that you can stay shredded and thumb through no-nonsense fit-quips. Thanks for reading!

TODAY’S LEVEL UP:

  • Coach’s Corner: Are You Training Hard Enough or Just Staying Busy?

  • Did You Know?: Your heart benefits just as much from lifting as it does from cardio

  • Question from Our Readers: How do I balance lifting and cardio?

  • Fit Trivia: Which 80s cartoon hero inspired a generation of kids to lift toy dumbbells and yell “I have the power!”?

Are You Training Hard Enough or Just Staying Busy?

Not all workouts are created equal. If you’ve been putting in the time but not seeing results, ask yourself:

Am I actually challenging my body—or just checking the box?

Here’s what real training effort looks like:

  • Last 2–3 reps are tough but doable with good form

  • You’re progressively increasing weight, reps, or intensity week to week

  • Your rest periods are controlled—not half the workout

Showing up is half the battle. But training with intent and intensity is how you win the war.

FROM RYAN’S DESK

Progress doesn’t always get applause. Most of the grind happens alone, unseen, uncelebrated. Be the man who puts in the work when no one’s watching. That silent effort? It’s what sets champions apart.

Did You Know?:

Your Heart Benefits from Strength Training Too

Cardio isn’t the only way to improve heart health. Lifting helps, too:

  • Lowers blood pressure and improves circulation

  • Increases insulin sensitivity and metabolic health

  • Boosts VO2 max when done with shorter rest periods or circuits

So if you dread the treadmill—good news. Smart lifting routines protect your heart while building muscle.

Question from Our Readers:

“How do I balance lifting and cardio?”

– Sam, 45, from Raleigh

Great question, and super common.

Here’s a simple approach:

  • Goal is fat loss? Do cardio 2–3x per week after lifting or on off days.

  • Goal is strength/muscle? Focus on lifting 3–5x per week and keep cardio short (like incline walks or bike sprints).

  • Busy schedule? Combine the two with metabolic circuits (dumbbells + movement = sweat + strength).

Just don’t overdo it. Recovery matters more than double sessions.

Fit Trivia: Which 80s cartoon hero inspired a generation of kids to lift toy dumbbells and yell “I have the power!” in their bedrooms?

Answer: He-Man! With his ripped physique, sword-powered transformation, and muscle-flexing battle poses, He-Man became the OG fitness icon for kids in the 80s—proving you didn’t need a cape to look like a superhero, just some biceps and a battle cry.

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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