Since I got a new Fitbit in December, I've been trying to make it to the gym more often. Usually that only means once or twice a week, but at least it's something, right? All this new physical activity has got me thinking about human limits.
We have all heard the stories about amazing people who made it beyond what others thought was humanly possible. These are the people who break world records, come back from the brink of death, or survive against impossible odds. In fact, I have heard of many people who believe most humans don't know their own limits. They believe that when you say you can't possibly do another push-up, you probably can do many more. They believe you just don't want to go through the physical pain, or maybe you are just lazy, or maybe it is just your own mind tricking you into believing that.
I am not one of those people. I believe people who say they are at their limit, and let me tell you why - it's not worth the risk. I think that when you feel you are at your limit, that is a warning. A signal that if you try to go farther you may end up seriously disabled or dead. Some people seem obsessed with finding their limits. I can't understand this because why risk death just to see if you can run for five more minutes? Let me tell you when you find your limit - WHEN YOU DIE. That is the only limit that matters to me, and I would think it would be common sense. Yet time and again I hear of people pushing themselves just a bit further every time. I hear about trainers telling people to keep going when they feel they need to stop. I just don't get it.
I'm sure there is some benefit to pushing yourself once in a while. Anything hard it going to require pushing past more than a few mental boundaries. But when it comes to physical limits, I am not willing to risk my future for one moment of glory. I think the further your try to go past your limits, the higher the chance you won't make it out the same, or even at all. Limits my be an obsession for some people, but as for me I will stop when my body tells me to, and I won't tempt fate.
