Pls convince me to take a day off! - JP Fitness Forums

Dogmama · 07-21-2006, 08:02 AM

I'm the one you see at the gym (or on the road bike) every day. I make Floyd Landis look like a whimp. I'm 51 years old, female and have been working out for over 20 years (what happens in Jazzercise STAYS in Jazzercise!)

These days, I have a lifting and cardio program. I eat clean. My doc says I have the physiology of a 30 year old. Great.

But, I'm 51 freakin' years old, starting with the nagging overuse injuries and general fatigue. I have a high stress job, my husband has had serious health problems and somehow I think I need to "put my head down & pedal" every day.

I know I need to recover. But taking one day off really bugs me. This morning, I'm tired. I do not want to lift or ride. I know my body is telling me to stop. But my mind won't shut up.

I'll take all advice. I need to hear about how important recovery is.

Thanks!

Kevin Larrabee · 07-21-2006, 08:09 AM

Take the day off, BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO!!

John Izzo · 07-21-2006, 08:18 AM

Tell you a story...
when I was 28 I was sufferieng from SERIOUS shoulder pain...every day.
Every day I ignored it....every day I pretended that a slight warm-up would make it go away...and it did for the time being.

At times I thought my shoulder was getting better...but it was me GETTING USED to the pain!

My bench press dropped....my shoulder press dropped...push-ups...stayed away from...taking a can off the shelf at the grocery store..painful...picking up my newphews...couldn't do it.

For 6 months I dealt with it and ignored the pain until I was convinced to see a doctor. You know what the doctor said? You need surgery or find another hobby instead of weight-lifting!!!

After my 1 of 3 MRIs, it was found that my supraspinatus was frayed and I had developed osteophytes on the end of my acromium process. This is after only about 10 years of lifting...every day. Doctor said I can elect a shot or just go in there and fix it. You bet your butt I had surgery and spent the next 6 months performing intense rehab.

Flash forward to today. I got my bench back and shoulder press back. Not as heavy as before, but stronger than before...figure it out.

Listen to your body...if you are 51 and have been working out constantly all these years, you SHOULD be more in tune with your body than the next guy.

...pain is not an unwelcome visitor...it is a messenger.

I laugh at some of the guys I meet that talk about being strongmen...because there is nothing more humbling than having to sit out becasue of an injury and start your training from scratch.

Take some time off and go on a vacation--take your mind off of it.

swiminto · 07-21-2006, 08:19 AM

I am no fitness guru, but all indications and most articles I have read, have stated, that REST must be incorporated into your workout program.

The body needs time to recover and rebuild, what you are tearing down during your workouts, and from the sounds of it, your body is screaming at you to rest, So rest....Instead of pedaling or lifting, do some gardening, read a book, go see a movie...completely let your mind and body relax.

You mentioned Landis...even the Tour de France has a rest day built into it. So if he can do it, so can you.

GG300 · 07-21-2006, 08:20 AM

Before I stumbled upon this forum I was doing cardio and lifting seven days a week and somedays I would do cardio again in the afternoon. Some of the trainers here told me that I should be more concerned about the quality of my workouts and what I was getting out of them. They convinced me to switch my workouts to Upper and lower body splits,cut back on the amount of cardio I was doing and to make sure I was taking a day off so that I could give my body adequate time to rest. I have been doing this for 3 or 4 months now and my progress is as good or better than when I was putting in all the extra time in the gym. Plus now I have some time to do other things in my life that I am interested in. So my suggestion to you would be "GIRL STEP AWAY FROM THE BIKE".

gobbla · 07-21-2006, 08:21 AM

you're aloud to be active every, just don't push yourself every day.

excersise is only as good as your ability to recover. if you can't recover then you're wearing yourself down (or hurting yourself without the ability to get better). If you want to do that then just shut your head in the car door a few times.

It'll get the same results but won't take nearly as long, leaving the rest of the day to enjoy the beautiful weather.

jruck37 · 07-21-2006, 08:23 AM

You make it sound like you haven't taken a day off in 20 years. If that's the case, I suggest taking a couple weeks off.

ryan122185 · 07-21-2006, 08:26 AM

How about going for a walk in the park or at the mall if you absolutely must do something.

EdChap · 07-21-2006, 08:27 AM

On my rest days I enjoy a completely vegetative state, what could be better? If I bust my ass in the gym I need to let it heal on the sofa.

Jimbo · 07-21-2006, 08:46 AM

Dogmama - I UNDERSTAND the need for the workouts. I want to workout every day too! Stressful life here too. BUT if I burn myself completely out I know that I wont be able to do what I enjoy. Your body is speaking. Listen. Take a day..or 2. I have found that the anticipation of getting to jump back into things in a few days helps to keep me from going nuts.

Your body needs REGULAR rest days built into your program. You consider skipping a workout unforgivable...you should set up the rest days and feel the same about skipping those. Rest days should be as big a part of the program as the workout days. Takes a bit to get into this mind set but it is necessary.

Rest.

Lisa~ · 07-21-2006, 12:03 PM

While I agree with what everyone else has said, I also sympathize with your internal argument. Over the past 20 years you've built a great habit of regular exercise and you don't want to sabotage that dedication and commitment by doing something that seems like slacking to you. So, what is first needed is a change in the way you think about recovery.

Jimbo is getting close to it when he suggests that you build rest days into your program and adhear as religiously to that part of the program as you do to the exercise portions of your program. But in addition to at least one full, don't-go-to-the-gym-at-all rest day, consider building recovery workouts into your program.

Take some time to think about what your body needs as far as recovery is concerned. Where are you feeling those nagging overuse injuries? Create a rehab/prehab program that IS your workout two or three times a week. Articles like Eric Cressey's Shoulder Savers series, Mike Robertson's knee articles, and Eric's Cardio Confusion article will give you ideas about how to set up such a program.

Now you can go to the gym six days a week without tearing yourself up in the process. Keep the strength of your commitment and dedication, your routine of "being there," but be smarter about what you're doing while you're there.

Lisa

Dogmama · 07-22-2006, 06:26 PM

Thanks everybody for your input. I actually took Friday off, ate normally, had a fairly good night's sleep and I was awesome on the bike today.

So...if I take a week off do you think I could ride Tour de France? :p

Jimbo · 07-24-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogmama

Thanks everybody for your input. I actually took Friday off, ate normally, had a fairly good night's sleep and I was awesome on the bike today.

So...if I take a week off do you think I could ride Tour de France? :p

You might just very well be surprised what you can do after a week off. Go for it. I'll watch for you!