This week’s Weekly Workouts post is going to be a little different.
I’ll start first by recapping last week’s workouts:
Sunday
15 minute 3-2-1 circuit from my April Arms Challenge
Monday
40 minute elliptical workout (format from Best Body Bootcamp) + pyramid pushups from April Arms
Tuesday
Took Liz’s Kickboxing class, then “taught” my Interval class. We did a lot of across the floor work and I split the class into two groups, so I did not do the entire workout. I honestly felt like my body physically couldn’t do it.
Wednesday
Rest Day
Thursday
Taught this workout in my 6am class:
Friday
Did a 30 minute at home jump rope workout, with a real rope.
Saturday
45 minute walk outside
So why is this week’s post a little different? It’s different because I have decided to take a full week off from my usual exercise routine. If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you are already aware of this decision. You may be sick of me talking about it, but in order for me to actually follow through with my decision, I need to blog about it and hold myself accountable.
Basically my body feels like it’s revolting against me, if that makes any sense. All my problem areas (problem areas meaning past injury areas, not problem weight areas) have been acting up. My right shoulder and right hip feel extremely tender, almost as if they are “on the brink” of re-injury. I have a massive knot in my right neck/shoulder area that even the sports massage I treated myself to on Saturday couldn’t fully work out. And to be honest, I haven’t really had the desire to push myself as hard as I usually do. Last week’s workouts weren’t even fun to me because of how fatigued my muscles felt. I got frustrated with myself for not being able to do what I know my body is capable of.
When I stopped to really think about it, I realized that although I normally take 2 rest days a week, I only take a couple of rest days in a row every so often. And I can’t remember the last time I took a full week off from exercise. Honestly, it’s been years! So I have resolved to do it. It’s going to be really challenging for me, because as you know, I love my workouts and I love being at the gym in my happy place. But I think it’s going to be harder mentally than anything else. Exercise is my stress relief, my release from anxiety and worrying, and without it I tend to get a bit cranky.
But the smart me knows that you can actually damage muscle growth and fitness efforts by over-training your body.
I know that with too much exercise, my body will rely on muscle tissue for fuel instead. I know that a week off is not going to make me gain weight. I know that I’ve been doing too much between teaching my classes, Best Body Bootcamp, the April Arms Challenge, and all my own stuff thrown in. And I really know that the last thing I want is to be injured again.
So a week of rest it is.
I will allow myself walks and stretching to stay moving, but that’s it. I am lining up subs for my Tuesday and Thursday classes this week so I am not tempted to give in (sorry guys!). I have a personal training client on Wednesday, but I will only demonstrate the exercises. I think this week will go by quickly since I have today off and will be away next weekend, but we’ll see. And if next week I am still feeling fatigued and my problem areas are still bothering me, I will add some easy cardio back in and hold off on strength training again for another week.
I’ll let you guys know how it goes for me!
Let’s chat: How often do you rest? Have you ever taken a full week of rest on purpose?
Good luck to any F&F readers running the Boston Marathon today. I’ll be cheering you on from Cleveland Circle!
I am proud of you for making this decision and doing what you always tell us readers to do…LISTEN to your body! I know it will be hard for you, but just try to enjoy having some extra time on your hands…maybe you can get to cleaning something at your house or do a little shopping or just watch some tv! I think the week will fly by faster than you think!
Thank you, friend! Yes, I always say that, huh? I’m glad I am finally taking my own advice!
I am proud of you for making this decision and doing what you always tell us readers to do…LISTEN to your body! I know it will be hard for you, but just try to enjoy having some extra time on your hands…maybe you can get to cleaning something at your house or do a little shopping or just watch some tv! I think the week will fly by faster than you think!
Thank you, friend! Yes, I always say that, huh? I’m glad I am finally taking my own advice!
I think taking days off is hard but often a good choice. This morning while I struggled through my workout I thought maybe I need a break. (I’m trying to hold out until next week because I have a forced break coming up.)
Good luck this week – hopefully a week of rest will have you ready to hit it hard again the following week!
Thanks, Kim! Hopefully your forced break will help you too!
I think taking days off is hard but often a good choice. This morning while I struggled through my workout I thought maybe I need a break. (I’m trying to hold out until next week because I have a forced break coming up.)
Good luck this week – hopefully a week of rest will have you ready to hit it hard again the following week!
Thanks, Kim! Hopefully your forced break will help you too!
Listening to our bodies is always important!! You can do it! Maybe discover new recipes, or what are your favorite books? You can still work on being the best you, just in a different way.
Thank you! So far, so good
Listening to our bodies is always important!! You can do it! Maybe discover new recipes, or what are your favorite books? You can still work on being the best you, just in a different way.
Thank you! So far, so good
YEA! I think this is such an important aspect of fitness that we as trainers & enthusiasts skip over! I can normally tell when I need a full on REST day, very rarely do I take a few in a row & I’m thinking I need to get better about it. I too agree the most difficult part for me will be the “mental” aspect of it. Think of how strong & bada$$ you’ll feel when you return!
I can’t wait for the first return workout for that very reason!
YEA! I think this is such an important aspect of fitness that we as trainers & enthusiasts skip over! I can normally tell when I need a full on REST day, very rarely do I take a few in a row & I’m thinking I need to get better about it. I too agree the most difficult part for me will be the “mental” aspect of it. Think of how strong & bada$$ you’ll feel when you return!
I can’t wait for the first return workout for that very reason!
I often have to force a day or two of rest because of just plain fatigue from life or totally sore body. I think it is great that you are giving this gift of healing to yourself, without it being forced on you due to circumstances. The time you are giving to taking care of yourself will benefit you in many different ways. Enjoy a good book, the fresh air, and time with friends!
Thanks, Mom! Will try!
I often have to force a day or two of rest because of just plain fatigue from life or totally sore body. I think it is great that you are giving this gift of healing to yourself, without it being forced on you due to circumstances. The time you are giving to taking care of yourself will benefit you in many different ways. Enjoy a good book, the fresh air, and time with friends!
Thanks, Mom! Will try!
I am SO proud of you for this. It’s actually making me ponder the thought of doing the same as I am physically overtired and overworked, too. I am trying to get through April and then I may do an extended rest in May. I would need to do it during a time where I had a lot of stuff going on so that I would be distracted, too. I think the hardest part for me is the mental stuff. workouts are my “me” time and thinking time and, as funny as it may seem, relaxing (for my mind, not my body, obvi). I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
We are the same person! I seriously was home from the Y (had a meeting, no class) by 6:45 and have been wandering around my apartment. But I’m doing okay!
I am SO proud of you for this. It’s actually making me ponder the thought of doing the same as I am physically overtired and overworked, too. I am trying to get through April and then I may do an extended rest in May. I would need to do it during a time where I had a lot of stuff going on so that I would be distracted, too. I think the hardest part for me is the mental stuff. workouts are my “me” time and thinking time and, as funny as it may seem, relaxing (for my mind, not my body, obvi). I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
We are the same person! I seriously was home from the Y (had a meeting, no class) by 6:45 and have been wandering around my apartment. But I’m doing okay!
Good for you! My body has been sluggish this week during my workouts, thinking I need an easy week as well, maybe skip my runs (gasp!) for a week
Good for you! My body has been sluggish this week during my workouts, thinking I need an easy week as well, maybe skip my runs (gasp!) for a week