E589: Modulating Intensity: The Most Important Skill You're Ignoring

Mar 26, 2025

Explore the often overlooked skill of modulating intensity in training. Discover how balancing effort and technique can prevent injuries and improve performance. The conversation highlights the importance of mental toughness and strategic training to achieve long-term goals. Find out why effort should be refined, not just ramped up, and learn how effective communication can enhance coach-athlete relationships. Get ready for a mindset shift that could revolutionize your approach to strength, hypertrophy, and longevity!

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INSIGHT

Modulating Intensity

Modulating intensity is crucial for progress, focusing on the right effort at the right time.
It's about refining what hard work means, not just pushing harder.

ANECDOTE

Overexertion Leading to Injury

A D1 athlete, strong but with poor body mechanics, overexerted herself on a leg press.
This led to a hamstring spasm that hindered her training for two weeks.

ADVICE

Tempo Training for Intensity

Use tempo and time under tension to modulate intensity without increasing load excessively.
This allows for a more controlled breakdown and reduces injury risk.

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Jiunta dives deep into one of the most overlooked aspects of performance training: modulating intensity. From injury recovery to high-level competitors in fat loss phases, Jiunta unpacks real conversations he's had this week about training smarter—not just harder. Learn how pushing for progress can actually set you back, why effort needs to be refined (not just ramped up), and how to communicate the nuance of RPE with clients and athletes alike. Whether you're chasing strength, hypertrophy, or longevity, this is a mindset shift you need to hear.

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Why Every Athlete Needs This Conversation (00:05:05) Effort vs. Effectiveness in Training (00:07:11) Case 1: Overachieving Client and Misapplied RPE (00:14:03) How Tempo Reveals True Effort (00:20:09) Training Without Increasing Load (00:25:23) Case 2: Pro Bodybuilder in a Cut (00:27:19) How Cardio Can Hurt Your Muscle Retention (00:34:00) Optimizing Heart Rate Zones for Fat Loss (00:38:11) Making Cardio Work With Your Lifting (00:41:05) Case 3: Olympic Lifters Addicted to Maxing Out (00:45:24) Why “Trying Hard” Can Hold You Back (00:53:13) Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect—It Makes Permanent (00:54:44) Train Smart, Not Just Hard (00:55:55)