I have more or less shared with you that when it comes to working out and competing with myself, I have an ego the size of Texas. I am constantly trying to jump higher, lift more, and push harder than I did in my last workout. Maintenance days? And rest days? ..... Who needs those when you're a machine?
Well, everyone. And you who that includes? Me.
I hate taking rest days. It makes me feel inefficient. Now, I'll be completely honest and admit that this goes back to some deep-seeded compulsions that I have buried in the past and try not to resurrect, but sometimes it happens. I do in fact have a pure love for exercise and working hard, but I do have to take a step back from time to time and ask myself - if my behavior was that of a client's, would I tell him/her to chill out, or push through that workout even though A, B, or C is hurting, and not in a good way? Pushing through "good" pain, is just that - good. But pushing through bad pain, nope, not okay.
For about a week, my right knee has been a little off, but off enough that I at least knew better than to push it any more than what I have. I can pretty much pinpoint this to the weekend before last. That Saturday, I had a great workout. I should have left it at that, but no, on Sunday, I decided I wanted to try to get back into running. That went fine, and would have been all well and good, except then Monday I went to BodyPump and did more weight on every muscle group than I have ever done, particularly in squats and lunges. I felt great, but then come Tuesday and Wednesday, I knew I had wayyyyyyy overdone it. So I finally got my head together and barely did anything yesterday (went a snail's pace on the elliptical while studying my ACE book), and that was it. For me, that is doing nothing. I felt a thousand times better today and allowed myself to go to BodyPump, but rarely lifted anything over my warm-up weight.
And you know what? I kept myself in check, and so far, no pain. So that's a good thing!
So, my point is, take a rest day people! (Right now, my husband is reading this and rolling his eyes, because he always knows when I am in need of a little recovery.... and he tells me to rest, and most of the time I don't listen.) Take it from me - I KNOW it is hard to force yourself not to go workout. Trust me, I KNOW. But you know what you could do in the meantime, like I did? Whip up a special treat for your husband (a peanut butter and chocolate dessert that I might feature soon), some oatmeal stout bread (yeah, you'll definitely see that one soon), or a special healthy-but-very-addicting snack that I think I'll share with you on Tuesday next week. I know its all a tease. I promise I have some great things coming your way.
Maybe today or tomorrow or Sunday is your "scheduled" rest day. Whatever day it is, I hope you get the rest you need (you know what was a BIG help for me - having my son FINALLY sleep through the night last night after a LONG stretch of being up every couple of hours), and I hope you have a GREAT weekend!
Well, everyone. And you who that includes? Me.
I hate taking rest days. It makes me feel inefficient. Now, I'll be completely honest and admit that this goes back to some deep-seeded compulsions that I have buried in the past and try not to resurrect, but sometimes it happens. I do in fact have a pure love for exercise and working hard, but I do have to take a step back from time to time and ask myself - if my behavior was that of a client's, would I tell him/her to chill out, or push through that workout even though A, B, or C is hurting, and not in a good way? Pushing through "good" pain, is just that - good. But pushing through bad pain, nope, not okay.
For about a week, my right knee has been a little off, but off enough that I at least knew better than to push it any more than what I have. I can pretty much pinpoint this to the weekend before last. That Saturday, I had a great workout. I should have left it at that, but no, on Sunday, I decided I wanted to try to get back into running. That went fine, and would have been all well and good, except then Monday I went to BodyPump and did more weight on every muscle group than I have ever done, particularly in squats and lunges. I felt great, but then come Tuesday and Wednesday, I knew I had wayyyyyyy overdone it. So I finally got my head together and barely did anything yesterday (went a snail's pace on the elliptical while studying my ACE book), and that was it. For me, that is doing nothing. I felt a thousand times better today and allowed myself to go to BodyPump, but rarely lifted anything over my warm-up weight.
And you know what? I kept myself in check, and so far, no pain. So that's a good thing!
So, my point is, take a rest day people! (Right now, my husband is reading this and rolling his eyes, because he always knows when I am in need of a little recovery.... and he tells me to rest, and most of the time I don't listen.) Take it from me - I KNOW it is hard to force yourself not to go workout. Trust me, I KNOW. But you know what you could do in the meantime, like I did? Whip up a special treat for your husband (a peanut butter and chocolate dessert that I might feature soon), some oatmeal stout bread (yeah, you'll definitely see that one soon), or a special healthy-but-very-addicting snack that I think I'll share with you on Tuesday next week. I know its all a tease. I promise I have some great things coming your way.
Maybe today or tomorrow or Sunday is your "scheduled" rest day. Whatever day it is, I hope you get the rest you need (you know what was a BIG help for me - having my son FINALLY sleep through the night last night after a LONG stretch of being up every couple of hours), and I hope you have a GREAT weekend!
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