Inquisitive.me

Most people think working out is always good for them.

I disagree.

Sometimes, going to the gym is the healthiest thing you can do.

And sometimes, skipping a workout is the smarter choice — for both your body and your mind.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I emphasize physical health. I do it online, and I do it even more in my practice — because, quite frankly, most of my patients lack physical fitness.

But physical health is only half the story.

Mental health matters just as much.

And sometimes, the way we pursue physical health can quietly sabotage our mental health — especially when we expect too much from our bodies while life is already demanding everything else.

We often think of training as stress relief. A way to “blow off steam.”

But physiologically speaking, working out is stress.

Your body temperature rises.

Blood flow increases.

Energy stores are depleted.

Muscle tissue gets damaged so it can rebuild stronger.

That’s not bad — it’s actually the whole point.

But it’s still stress.

And when that training stress is added on top of a full workday, sick kids, a partner who had a rough day, a dog that needs walking, a messy apartment, dinner that still has to be cooked, and a presentation that isn’t magically finishing itself… that “healthy habit” can push your system right to its limit.

Suddenly, the gym isn’t recovery anymore.

It’s just another demand.

This is why I keep saying: sometimes, skipping a workout is the healthier choice.

Of course, influencers and fitness coaches will tell you that you have to train three times a week or you’re wasting your time. And technically, they’re not wrong. If you want progress, your body needs stress to adapt.

But here’s the part that rarely gets mentioned:

We don’t get paid for looking good.

They do.

I more or less do get paid to look healthy — and I’m still not shredded. I could be leaner, sure. But I never wanted to be one of those walking contradictions. You know the type: doctors who lecture you about smoking and then light up a cigarette an hour later, or healthcare workers who shame patients for their weight while ignoring their own health.

Don’t get me wrong — everyone can do whatever they want with their body. I’m not judging.

I’m criticizing the double standard.

Yes, I want a certain physique so people take what I say seriously.

But I also like candy.

I skip workouts.

I have weeks where training just doesn’t fit — and I don’t force it.

Sometimes my physical health takes a small hit so my mental health doesn’t completely collapse.

And that’s okay.

Because balance is where the magic happens.

I’ve met plenty of people who trained brutally hard in their 20s and can barely touch a weight in their 50s — either because their bodies are wrecked or because their brains associate training with pain, pressure, and guilt.

I don’t want that future.

I want to enjoy training at 55. At 75. Maybe even later.

And to do that, training has to stay fun.

That’s why I allow myself to skip workouts when I’m not feeling it.

This isn’t a “get out of jail free” card. It’s not an excuse to avoid effort forever.

But haven’t you ever wished you could stay home for a day — not because you’re sick, but because everything just feels heavy for no clear reason?

You can’t do that with work.

But you can do it with workouts.

There are days when motivation is low — and days when your nervous system is simply overloaded. Those two are not the same thing.

Learning to tell the difference is a skill.

I finished a 12-week training plan two weeks ago. My marathon prep starts in about two weeks. That three-week gap in between? That’s my limbo.

Right now, I’m doing whatever feels right.

Not in the mood to train? Fine — Disney+ and the couch.

Feel like running? Cool. How far? Surprise me.

New exercises? Sure.

Leg day? Upper body? Both? Why not — I’ll recover tomorrow.

I’m not ruining a plan. There is no plan right now.

And here’s the funny part:

Even with all that freedom, I’m still training three days a week.

Not because I have to.

But because I want to.

That’s how I know I’ve found a healthy balance.

And honestly?

That’s the real goal.

🧪 Let’s Experiment

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Training should reduce stress — not add another layer of pressure.

Most of us don’t quit working out because we’re lazy. We quit because training becomes one more thing we have to do instead of something we get to do.

🎯 Try This:

If you notice that something feels off — you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, short on patience, or your workout feels like a burden, choose one option — without guilt:

• Allow yourself to skip a workout — with a rule.
  Skipping once can be smart. Skipping forever isn’t.
  My rule: never skip two workouts in a row.
• Reduce the intensity instead of forcing the session.
  Show up, move your body, then leave some energy in the tank.
  You still train. Your conscience is calm. And you’re not wrecked the next day.
• Remind yourself that you’re not a professional athlete.
  You don’t need to add weight every session.
  You don’t need a new PR every week.
  You don’t need to run faster, train harder, or look like a movie star.
• Train to feel good — even if that “ruins” your plan.
  Try a new exercise.
  Play with movements you’ve never done before.
  Use a piece of equipment you usually ignore.
  Do yoga. Stretch. Move — just for the sake of it.

Working out should improve your physical health — without quietly draining your mental health in the process.

🧠 Final Thought:

If your training makes life harder instead of better, it’s not discipline you’re lacking — it’s balance. Long-term fitness isn’t built by crushing workouts — it’s built by making sure you still want to train years from now.

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Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learning—you’ve got this.

Take care,

Carina 🦊