EveryBODY Needs A Break

Feeling tired, worked over, constantly sore?  Or maybe you’re just feeling completely unmotivated and dreading your workouts?  I know the thought of taking workout rest days is terrifying to you but sometimes you have to listen to your body and take the break it needs to heal and repair.

I stress this because when I was younger, I did NOT listen to my body and I kept pushing it past the soreness, fatigue, pain and injuries.  Heck, I was young and invincible and was in such good shape that I never thought I’d end up overdoing it.  After all, we’re often led to believe that “more is better”.  Because of overuse, I have now had 4 shoulder surgeries, two level disc replacement surgery in my neck and my knees are too painful to run.  Had I listened to my body when I was younger there is a good chance I could have prevented some of the agony I’m enduring today.  Lesson learned, and now I want to pass my tough lesson on to you!

When it comes to your body, you have to pay attention and when you start noticing pains that won’t go away or you’re just tired all the time and not making any progress, you might think about “purposefully” taking some time off.  This could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days, but it has to be long enough for your body to be fully rested and the key is to listen to your body to determine how long this might be.  Some elite athletes even have a regularly scheduled week off for every 8 – 12 weeks they train.

I’ve heard it again and again in my coaching that people think they are going to lose muscle, strength, endurance, etc. if they take time off but after I convince them to take a week, they are always amazed when they come back even stronger.

How do you know if you need a break you ask?

Are you tired and fatigued?
Do you have insomnia?
Do you have soreness that just won’t go away?
Has your performance declined in your workouts and activities?
Have you made no progress in awhile?
Do you get sick more frequently?
Do you have general aches and pains in your joints and body?
Do you dread your workouts and despise the thought of exercising?

Of course, if you have any of these signs of over-training, you might want to visit your Dr. first to make sure nothing more serious is going on.  Once you’ve been cleared medically, I highly suggest taking a week off to give your body the time it needs to heal and rejuvenate.

Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you have to be a couch potato for a week.  Feel free to go for walks, try a little yoga, continue your stretching, playing with your kids or dogs or even doing some leisure gardening, yard work or housework.  And of course, remember to keep your nutrition in check!

Try it, you won’t regret it.