system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: the notion that our physical strength is held within safe limits by pain. Are we really that much stronger than we experience in our daily lives?
gpt
To put it simply, yes, your body is capable of lifting much more than you realized. However, it can't do it without serious damage. 

The stories of mothers on adrenaline lifting cars are true; what they don't tell you, however, is the aftermath, where she has a number of torn muscles and had to lie in bed for a week recovering. 

Pain is protecting you from damage. It warns you when you're hitting your muscles' breaking point. Sure you can push past that, but you're going to do lasting damage in the process. Evolution isn't dumb; being stronger is a big advantage, so if your body is deliberately holding you back it's for a good reason.