When to Push, When to Pull Back: The Skill of Autoregulation

Episode 35 of the Past Your Prime podcast, hosted by Craig Smith - Pain Expert; Alex Keicher - Athlete; Smith Performance Center, titled "When to Push, When to Pull Back: The Skill of Autoregulation" was published on August 19, 2025 and runs 40 minutes.

August 19, 2025 ·40m · Past Your Prime

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Summary

“Ever pushed through a workout just because it was on the plan—only to pay for it later?Most athletes and lifters know the trap: the program says one thing, your body says another. That’s where autoregulation comes in.In Episode 35 of Past Your Prime, Alex and Craig break down how to adjust a structured program in real time without losing progress. Alex shares what he’s been hearing about “intuitive exercise,” Craig explains why skill and measurement matter, and together they walk through the tools you can actually use to autoregulate training—so you know when to regress, lateralize, or progress.In this episode:– Why rigidly sticking to a plan often backfire– The difference between intuitive exercise and autoregulation– Key autoregulation tools: RPE, reps in reserve, fatigue response levels, and key signs– How to use tissue, energy, and exercise capacity to guide decisions– Regression, lateralization, and progression explained– Real-world examples from Alex’s training and injuries____________________________________Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:📲 Alex – ⁠@spikerkeicher⁠📲 Craig – ⁠@craigsmithPT

Episode Description

“Ever pushed through a workout just because it was on the plan—only to pay for it later?
Most athletes and lifters know the trap: the program says one thing, your body says another. That’s where autoregulation comes in.

In Episode 35 of Past Your Prime, Alex and Craig break down how to adjust a structured program in real time without losing progress. Alex shares what he’s been hearing about “intuitive exercise,” Craig explains why skill and measurement matter, and together they walk through the tools you can actually use to autoregulate training—so you know when to regress, lateralize, or progress.

In this episode:
– Why rigidly sticking to a plan often backfire– The difference between intuitive exercise and autoregulation– Key autoregulation tools: RPE, reps in reserve, fatigue response levels, and key signs– How to use tissue, energy, and exercise capacity to guide decisions– Regression, lateralization, and progression explained– Real-world examples from Alex’s training and injuries

____________________________________

Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.

Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.

💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠

⁠

Follow us on Instagram:

📲 Alex – ⁠@spikerkeicher⁠

📲 Craig – ⁠@craigsmithPT