116: Working OUT vs. Working IN

Are you burning the candle at both ends in your workouts? In this episode, Justin and Janell dive into the essential concept of Working Out versus Working In—and why both are critical for your physical, mental, and emotional health. You’ll discover how active recovery, rest, and intentional movement not only prevent burnout but also supercharge your results. It’s not about “doing nothing” but about balancing your body, reducing stress, and setting yourself up for long-term success.

• The Difference Between Working OUT and Working IN: What “working in” actually means and why it’s just as important as intense workouts.
• The Role of Recovery: How rest, bodywork, and active recovery facilitate transformation and prevent injury.
• Nervous System Balance: Why understanding your sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous systems is key to thriving.
• Signs You Need to Work IN: How to recognize if you’re overtraining or not recovering properly.
• Limiting Beliefs Around Rest: Why you won’t “lose your gains” by taking time to focus on recovery—and why you might actually make more progress.

1. Training Hard ≠ Training Smart: Constantly “going hard” doesn’t equal results. The real transformation happens when you give your body the chance to recover.
2. Active Recovery is Powerful: Activities like foam rolling, yoga, walking, massage, and stretching improve mobility, prevent injury, and enhance performance.
3. Your Nervous System Needs Balance: Spending too much time in a stressed, sympathetic state can sabotage your progress. Working in brings you back to balance.
4. Know the Signs of Overtraining: Loss of motivation, persistent fatigue, aches, or plateaus are indicators that your body needs more rest and recovery.
5. Holistic Health is the Goal: Combine “working out” and “working in” for a smarter, sustainable fitness routine that delivers results year-round.

• Foam rolling and mobility work
• Gentle or restorative yoga
• Long walks or leisure biking
• Massage, chiropractic, or bodywork
• Reducing workout loads and intensity
• Breathing exercises and stress management practices

• Assess Your Routine: Are you balancing workouts with recovery? Identify opportunities to add “working in” activities into your schedule.
• Listen to Your Body: Watch for signs of overtraining and consider tools like recovery trackers (Whoop, Oura Ring) to monitor your readiness.
• Shift Your Mindset: Remember, recovery is not “lazy”—it’s strategic and essential for progress.

• Janell

• Justin

Final Thought: If you’ve ever felt like taking a break would derail your progress, this episode will reframe how you see recovery. “Working in” doesn’t mean slowing down—it means creating space for real transformation to happen.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might be stuck in the “go hard or go home” mentality. Take care of your body—it’s the only one you’ve got! 🎧✨