Why You Shouldn’t Be Rx’ing Every Workout - Monday, May 12th, 2025
Why You Shouldn’t Be Rx’ing Every Workout
We know how tempting it is to chase that “RX” and want it next to your name on the whiteboard. It feels like a badge of honour, proof that you did the workout as prescribed. And yes, hitting an RX WOD feels great when you’ve earned it.
But here’s something every athlete, new or experienced, needs to hear:
you’re not supposed to RX every workout, everyday.
That might surprise you, but stick with us.
RX Isn’t the Goal, It’s a Tool
The goal of any workout isn’t to check a box beside your name. It’s to train with intensity and intention. It’s to train to better yourself for tomorrow, not to bury yourself today. RX is just one version of the workout, it’s the ceiling of what we want to see. If it doesn’t match your ability, experience level, or recovery state, forcing yourself to do it can actually move you further away from your goals.
CrossFit is about stimulus. Every WOD is designed to challenge your body in a specific way, speed, volume, loading, skill, or a combination of all four. If you RX a workout but take twice as long as intended, or move with poor form, you’re no longer getting the intended benefit. You’re just grinding, and possibly doing more harm than good.
Rx Should Reflect Your Consistent Capacity, Not Your Maximum
Let’s be clear: RX doesn’t mean “I can do it,” it means “I can do it well, repeatedly.”
If a workout like Grace comes up (30 Clean + Jerks for time at 135/95), and your one rep max Clean + Jerk is 105, that’s not an RX weight for you. It’s nearly your max. You’re not going to be moving fast, and you’ll likely spend more time resting than working. That’s not the Grace stimulus, and you won’t get the intended training effect.
Same thing with a workout like Fran. Just because you finally got a pull up doesn’t mean you should RX a workout that includes 45 of them at high speed and volume. You’ll be staring at the bar more than you’ll actually be doing a pull up on it, and again, the stimulus is lost.
Why You Shouldn’t RX Every Day
It Leads to Burnout
Going heavy or high skill every day crushes your central nervous system, slows recovery, and increases the risk of injury. You won’t feel it immediately, but give it a few weeks, or a few months, and you’ll start to notice nagging soreness, poor sleep, and inconsistent performance.You Miss the Bigger Picture
Training is about progress over time, not peaking every day. If you’re constantly scraping the edge of your limits, you’re not building a base. You’re surviving workouts, not thriving in them.It’s Not Sustainable
Even elite athletes periodize their training. They don’t go 100% RX every single day. They train in waves: some days are heavy, some light, some fast, some technical. That’s how you make long term gains without wearing your body down.
So What Should You Do?
Chase the stimulus, not the RX.
Each day, ask yourself and the coach: What is this workout trying to accomplish? Then choose a version that lets you move well, stay intense, and finish strong.Listen to your body.
Fatigued? Sore? Low energy? Scale it back. Training through exhaustion doesn’t make you tougher, it makes you less effective.Trust the process.
Progress comes from consistent effort, smart scaling, and long term commitment, not from pushing to RX at all costs.Celebrate smart decisions.
Scaling is not a fallback. It’s a sign that you understand training, respect your body, and are here for the long haul.
Remember: RX is a guideline, it’s our ceiling. Some days you’ll hit it, some days you’ll scale, but the days you show up, move with purpose, and train smart, those are the days that truly count.
Train for longevity.
Train for growth.
Train for the version of you that keeps showing up, year after year.
Monday, May 12th, 2025
Focus:
Push Press
5 -5 -5 -5
Find workout weight
WOD:
2 Rounds For Time:
21 Cal Row
15 Push Press 135/95
9 Lat Burpees over Bar
Check back each night at 8pm for the next days WOD .
Contact us: Address: 200 Mountain Rd #3, Collingwood, ON L9Y 4V5 Phone: (705) 444-0006 Follow us on Instagram @crossfit_indestri