This week, I managed to strain my hamstring, and believe me, there’s a lesson in this for all of us.
Recently, I’ve been diving into hybrid training, and my legs have been feeling the effects. Wednesday was my usual heavy leg day, and after a solid warm-up, I hit my second rep and suddenly felt a sharp, pulsating pain.
At first, I thought someone had stabbed me (I’ve certainly been guilty of squatting too long in the rack), but it quickly became clear—my hamstring was the problem.
And it’s a bad one. Every movement is a challenge now, and sitting? That’s practically an art form at this point. Even my 16-month-old daughter finds my struggle amusing.
Looking back, though, I realize I probably had it coming.
For one, I’m in a calorie deficit (trying to get that summer body, you know how it goes).
Second, my training program is intense, with weekly increases in weight, volume, and intensity—not exactly the best match for a reduced-calorie diet.
And third, my Smartwatch showed barely 4 hours of sleep the night before.
Toddlers don't care if you’re exhausted—they’ll wake you up bright and early, no matter what. (And, no, I wasn’t out partying).
When I factor all this in, the injury makes a lot more sense.
It’s a good reminder that just assuming “I’m sure it’ll be fine” doesn’t always work out. Training intensity and volume need to match where you are in life—things like sleep, hydration, and diet play a huge role.
Sometimes, blindly following a program just isn’t the best approach.