Why Two People Can Follow the Same Workout and Get Opposite Results

Hello Ziddis! Do you have a habit of asking your gym buddies about their fitness routine because they have gotten the fitness game all aced, and then try to copy it for yourself to get the same results? If you do, then stop it right now. While one person would thrive on a cardio-packed workout, another could end up feeling simply exhausted or even stuck. How is it that the same workout works differently for different people? It isn’t about discipline or willpower, or not much about the technique either. It is about your biology, recovery and context while you copy. Let us understand why the same workouts have different outcomes for two people also learn about personalised workout plans.

Personalised Workout Plans

The biology of two people can never be the same. Just as genetics influence muscles fibre, hormones, joint health and even oxygen absorption, stress is also personal and has a different impact on different people. If you add the difference in age, efficiency, training history and injury background, the fitness program makes no sense if copied from someone you idealise and here’s why:

• Your muscles might be either faster or slower to respond to pressure and exposure
• One can handle high frequency and volume without needing as many recovery days per week as another one would.
• The same exercise may load muscles differently depending on limb length and mobility.

Starting with a template is great, but make sure to adjust the volume in sets, intensity in load and effort, as well as frequency, based on how your body feels, not on someone else’s results.

Fitness Plateaus

Plateaus often look like “the workout stopped working”. But the real issue is usually mismatched, and the common causes for it are:

• Accumulated fatigue without enough recovery
• Calories or protein no longer match training demands
• Repeating the same stimulus for too long
• Stress outside the gym

One person following a diet might be eating enough and getting enough sleep. while the other is under-fueled and stressed. Same workout, opposite outcome. Plateau is your body’s feedback.

Why Workouts Stop Working

Your body adapts fast. Some workouts challenge you initially, but eventually they become just maintenance. There are many reasons why workouts lose effectiveness. Here are the major ones:

• Intensity does not align with progress
• Too much intensity, too often, is a recipe for burnout
• No variation in rep ranges or movement patterns
• Recovery debt quietly piling up

One trainee might still be progressing because they recover well. Another hits a wall because their nervous system and muscles are already maxed out.

Workout Intensity vs Results

More effort does not automatically mean better results.

• Some people thrive on high intensity
• Others progress better with moderate loads and consistent volume
• Training too hard can take the edge off the results and instead only increase inflammation and reduce recovery
• If performance, sleep, mood and motivation are dropping, the reason might be that intensity is exceeding recovery

Read Also: Training Volume Is High. Output Is Low. Here’s Why

Takeaway

The same workout does not always guarantee the same results. This is normal, and here is how you can maximise your outcome.

• Track performance, not just sweat
• Adjust volume and intensity based on recovery
• Fuel training with enough calories and protein
• Prioritise sleep like it is part of the program
• Treat plateaus as signs from your body

Fitness is not about copying what worked out for someone else, but learning about your body’s needs in this fitness journey. Even with regards to protein shakes, not every deserves to be in your shakers. Just like your fitness accessories are supposed to be of your fitting, find a fitness regime that works best for you.