As I’m starting to get back into training more (yay! I love being back at it) I feel old bad habits trying to creep their way back in (boo). For example – feeling like I have to do the same amount of intensity or exercise every day, and not wanting to give myself days with lighter loads.
That’s exactly how you get injured!
That’s exactly what I want to avoid!
Ugh, come on brain!
Today it rained most of the day, so we planned to run right before dinner. Even though all I have been wanting for months is a freaking chill day like this (where I sit and paint most of the day), I still felt on edge all day because I hadn’t worked out in the morning. My brain was like, “you should have walked, you’ve been sitting around all day.”
Come on, Kim. Come on. Just CHILL. This is what you WANT. My brain seriously disappoints me sometimes.
But you know what made me feel better? This great quote Val randomly set me from this Instagram post, not even know what was going on in my head (Thanks, Val!).
If you don’t schedule a break, your body will take one for you and it probably won’t be at a convenient time.
So much truth. That was exactly the reminder I needed, and it helped me get out of my head. I’m going to keep it in mind the next time I get all in my head about this again (so, next week).
We had a good run!
Yes to all of this! I told myself coming back from this back injury that I would be better about taking a rest day every single week. Have I done it? No. Do I feel better when I do? Yes. Our minds are crazy in the way they convince us of things we know aren’t true .
I had a feeling you would get this! So when are you going to start taking a rest day or lighter day?!
Well I should immediately because my right knee is starting to get wonky after all these months of compensation for my messed up left hip. Will I actually do it? TBD…
Please do!
I used to feel this way too. For me, I think I was worried that if I lessened the intensity a little I’d slide and just stop exercising all together (and any weight I might have been keeping off would come right back). But right around the time I turned 40 my body gave me all kinds of really loud messages that I needed to stop overdoing it, pretty much in line with that quote from your friend Val. It was hard to cut back at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly and noticed that I felt much better by doing less. All this to say, build in those rest days!
I totally get that concern too! You get in the mindset of “I have to keep doing ALL this for any change I made to keep place!” I’m glad you were able to cut back and have your mind accept it AND feel better! I was trying to reason with myself yesterday that there are many days I don’t move much and am fine with it, but I think it’s because I am doing other things. I am definitely always a work in progress.
Oh, but it was SO cold. And spitting cold rain. It was definitely a day worth taking a break!
It was! It’s still cold today! I should NOT have worn a dress to work, LOL.
It’s going to take some time to retrain your brain to not want to be go, go, go all the time! Just as you are training your body to be able to handle a half-marathon (you don’t expect to be able to run the half-marathon TODAY, do you?) – you are training your brain in the same way. But just the fact that you ALLOWED yourself to have a chill day is AMAZING. That’s progress!
Wow, this is such a great perspective Stephany, thank you so much for that comparison. It makes me feel so hopeful!!!! Thanks for always cheering me on and providing such great insight!
We’re creatures of habit. Of course, we do best if every day “looks” the same because then there’s nothing to get worked up about. Deviating from a routine always causes me slight alarm, too, but I tell myself that as long as I am not doing things multiple days in a row, I won’t fall off the bandwagon 😉
That is a great mindset! Thank you for sharing it!
Kim, this is so totally me. I never take a full rest day – well, unless I am sick – because the idea of “doing nothing” is so anxiety-inducing for me. And yet… I know this is not healthy! You’re a good example for me – I hope you do realize how much you do, and give your body the break it deserves! <3
Aww, I am glad me sharing this is seen as a good example! It’s really hard to do, but I am trying and hope you do too!