Yahoo Lifestyle The 1 Common Fitness Tip Jennifer Aniston Is Begging People to Ignore In 2025
If you vowed to make fitness a focus in 2025, you're not alone. According to a Forbes survey, 48 percent of people said “fitness” was their top priority last year. They may spend more time in the gym, aim to get more “hot girl walks” in or stretch to become more flexible, for example.
In the midst of that, Jennifer Aniston shared a fitness mantra she wants people to ignore—and it may not be what you expect.
Ignore This Common Fitness Mantra, Jennifer Aniston Says
In an exclusive interview for People, Aniston urged people not to believe “no pain, no gain.”
“You can actually have gain with no pain,” she continues. “My biggest takeaway is, ‘Boy, you didn’t have to hurt your body so much back then. You didn’t need to beat yourself up.’”
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Experts agree that pain is not the goal or something to push through. “Pain doesn’t inherently equal gain; in fact, it can offer the opposite,” says Tami Smith, a certified personal trainer. “While the sentiment behind this idea is to push through the discomfort of working out and that it is OK and normal to feel some ‘pain,’ it can unfortunately lead to injury, especially for beginners.”
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Ahead, she and a sports neurologist further explain why this fitness tip can go straight into the trash.
How That Mantra Is Harmful (and Just Plain Wrong)
It’s not an accurate measure
Determining what constitutes an “effective” workout is not so simple.
“We can’t judge the effectiveness or the quality of a workout by whether or not it was painful or if we are sore the next day as these are not true indicators of an effective workout,” Smith says.
Better measures might include the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale or assessing if you feel better mentally. But of course, it depends on the person and their individual health goals.
Pain is a sign of a present or incoming injury
Pain is a warning sign that what you’re about to gain might be—to put it bluntly—a trip to the hospital.
“While ‘soreness’ or ‘discomfort’ may be part of pushing yourself and/or aggressive exertion, acute pain (particularly if it is new and has a sudden onset) should be avoided,” says Dr. Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles.
Related: ‘Price Is Right’ Contestant Sustains Painful Injury While Celebrating Big Win
Recovery is necessary
The idea that a person needs rest and recovery time to reap the benefits of a workout may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. It allows the body to heal, Dr. Wiilliams says, and contributes to restoration. Rest days also promote better physical and mental health, contribute to stronger muscles and lead to less soreness.
It could set you back
To emphasize those earlier points further, consider this: Exercising through pain can stop you from reaching your full potential and set you back for days, weeks or months, according to Dr. Williams.
Smith says the same. “Pushing through pain can actually cause potentially serious injuries that can completely derail your plans, which will most certainly guarantee ‘no gain.’”
Even injury-free, grueling workouts can set you back if they make it hard to move your body.
“[Heeding ‘no pain, no gain’] not only creates excessive soreness, but it means that your body will need extra recovery days and you’ll be far less likely to stick with your routine,” Smith says.
How Much Discomfort Is 'Normal' and Okay During Exercise?
As mentioned above, some discomfort is normal (and perhaps to some degree, good) during exercise. Dr. Williams says some mild soreness is expected and could be a sign of lactate increasing, which may indicate muscle growth and repair.
Smith points out how beginners or people adapting to a new kind of workout may also feel some discomfort—and props to them for trying something different!
If and when the discomfort stops is a key factor to pay attention to, though. “[The soreness or discomfort] is usually a gradually progressive process, and the soreness/”pain” decreases when the activity (rep, set, etc.) is over,” Dr. Williams says.
Other ways to maintain a safe, effective workout include using proper form and respecting your limits, Smith adds.
Related: If You’re Struggling to Hit Your Fitness Goals, It’s Time To Try ‘Cozy Cardio’
When To Stop or Pause Your Workout
The type of pain is a major consideration. If the pain is sharp, shooting, causing you to feel ill or lightheaded, or making you stop dead in your tracks, you need to stop the workout immediately, Smith says.
From that point, keeping an eye on it can be helpful. If it recedes or resolves over the day, you’re probably fine. If it persists or recurs, Dr. Williams urges you to see a healthcare provider.
Remember: Workouts are supposed to be enjoyable ways to keep your body in good shape—not a way to hurt it.
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Sources
Tami Smith, a certified personal trainer
Dr. Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist
How often should you take a rest day?, UCLA Health
