Spiciest chip challenge and choosing the wrong one

What does “no pain, no gain” mean in American English?

No pain, no gain is one of the most famous American English phrases. It means “to get something good, you have to work hard or suffer a little.” The phrase is older than most Americans realize, but it became famous in the 1980s through Jane Fonda’s workout videos. Today people use it in gyms, sports, school, and everyday life: any time something is tough but worth it.

In this clip, a young woman plays a game where she has to pick one chip from a tray, and one is super spicy. Before she picks, she says “no pain, no gain” to give herself courage. American gym culture, sports talk, and motivational social media use the phrase every day.