When to stop

It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes I have to stop a workout, mine or someone else’s.  This is because my very first responsibility as a trainer is to keep everyone safe.  (Surprise!  It’s not to make bad jokes or force people to do burpees!)

Here is how to tell when it is time to stop if I don’t happen to be there.

You are injured.  You hear something snap, something swells up, or you can’t bear weight.  This is not the same as the regular suffering that goes with working out.  This is Bad Pain, not the character-building kind.

You can’t breathe or you have chest pain.  Stop.  Now.  And you probably need to call 911.

You feel dizzy and faint, even after sitting down for a minute or so.

You throw up.

Working out is not a punishment.  We put up with some discomfort to get more awesome, but we are not going to keep going when it harms us.  Let’s be safe.