(Mostly) Written on Monday
Today, I decided to take a day off of the gym. I did a seriously intense leg workout on Friday & I'm still kinda sore. The workout was nothing I hadn't done before, but I FINALLY was able to get some time on the squat rack for the first time in a LONG time. (I always am on a fairly set time table when I go to the gym and that's not always conducive to waiting for the meathead guys to finish using it). ANYWAY. Finally reuniting with the squat rack made me really miss it. There's something that makes me feel like a superwoman when I squat with the 65#. I've done A LOT more than that but since it's been so long, I decided to go a little lighter and holy crap, I am so glad i did. I feel like an old lady when walking up & down stairs, but if you want a great ass, heavy squatting is awesome.
ANYWAY. The point of this is that I took the day off of the gym. This is big for 2 reasons: 1) i didn't work out yesterday (i was at the pride parade...i am hilariously red. who forgets sunscreen on a day she's gonna be outside for 7 hours? THIS GIRL.) & I hate taking 2 days off in a row. 2) I almost never skip a Monday. Monday workouts are typically my favorites b/c they set the tone for the week & I've found if I skip a Monday, it's easier to get lackadaisical & skip other days.
Today, I decided to take a day off of the gym. I did a seriously intense leg workout on Friday & I'm still kinda sore. The workout was nothing I hadn't done before, but I FINALLY was able to get some time on the squat rack for the first time in a LONG time. (I always am on a fairly set time table when I go to the gym and that's not always conducive to waiting for the meathead guys to finish using it). ANYWAY. Finally reuniting with the squat rack made me really miss it. There's something that makes me feel like a superwoman when I squat with the 65#. I've done A LOT more than that but since it's been so long, I decided to go a little lighter and holy crap, I am so glad i did. I feel like an old lady when walking up & down stairs, but if you want a great ass, heavy squatting is awesome.
ANYWAY. The point of this is that I took the day off of the gym. This is big for 2 reasons: 1) i didn't work out yesterday (i was at the pride parade...i am hilariously red. who forgets sunscreen on a day she's gonna be outside for 7 hours? THIS GIRL.) & I hate taking 2 days off in a row. 2) I almost never skip a Monday. Monday workouts are typically my favorites b/c they set the tone for the week & I've found if I skip a Monday, it's easier to get lackadaisical & skip other days.
However, when I woke up this morning I was feeling a little nauseous...as previously stated, I was outside for 7 hours yesterday. Plus a fabulous margarita in the sunshine. So this morning, I was just bleh. I knew that if I got up and ate a bowl of cereal or something, I'd feel better, but I checked in with my body (such a weird thing to say, but something that feels so completely natural to me since I've started working out so regularly) & realized my body was just tired. I spent the majority of the day yesterday standing and/or walking (when did a 2 mile walk become a breeze?) & my legs were still kinda sore. Since the last thing I want to do is overtrain or burnout on the gym, I decided it was okay to take the day.
Up until as recent as probably 5 months ago, Cognitively, I understood the purpose & importance of rest days, but it wouldn't stop me from feeling guilty, lazy, and gross. BUT, on the flip side, too frequently, I would find myself going too hard and having to take several days off in a row or going super sporadically for two weeks in a row...and my fitness level and health suffered accordingly.
Nowadays, I embrace my rest days...not because I'm excited to sleep in or whatever, but b/c as Gina states, "I think it’s so important to take time for YOU. For weight training, it’s pretty common knowledge that results happen during rest. The same thing holds true for LIFE." Rest days are so important for training. Giving myself & my body a break isn't a bad thing, it's needed, it's necessary, it's safe and it's effective. Last week, on my mid-week rest day, my metabolism was so revved up it was ridiculous. I at practically non-stop for almost 12 hours...I was rationing my food while I worked to ensure I wouldn't be starving by the time my shift ended. Rest days are honoring my body, not insulting it.
I've been determined lately to honor my body, my self, my mind, and my heart. I'm trying to "eat clean" more (I love food-healthy or unhealthy, so I do not feel at all guilty about the fact I just ate an cookie ice cream sandwich from Trader Joe's right before I finished typing this up), I'm trying to get more sleep, I started seeing a new therapist, I'm reaching out to friends, I am being wise about dating (which is why I am not dating anyone right now...I've had several guys suggest "going out.")
Since my life has picked up speed so quickly the past month or so, rest days-from the gym, from work, from life-have become something of a hot commodity. I'm the type of person who prefers to ALWAYS be doing something. I am bad at relaxing for more than an hour or two at a time. I feel like I need to be moving in some way,shape or form. Frequently on rest days from the gym, I'll take walks. I can take in my glorious city, relax, and enjoy being outside...without trying to break a sweat or lift a higher weight.
Taking time to just...be...is something that I am still getting comfortable with. That's what this whole post is about: resting. I say I do well being single, being on my own...but also, I'm constantly on the go. I'm constantly texting, calling, emailing...does that really constitute as being alone? I rarely just take time for myself and just exist. I've been doing it more lately, but it's still something I'm working on. It's so funny to me how being introspective about my rest day lead me to consider how important rest is every facet of my life. Learning how to slow down will continue to be something to work on...and likely will be a slow process itself b/c well...sometimes it takes me a time or two or ten to finally get something.
Nowadays, I embrace my rest days...not because I'm excited to sleep in or whatever, but b/c as Gina states, "I think it’s so important to take time for YOU. For weight training, it’s pretty common knowledge that results happen during rest. The same thing holds true for LIFE." Rest days are so important for training. Giving myself & my body a break isn't a bad thing, it's needed, it's necessary, it's safe and it's effective. Last week, on my mid-week rest day, my metabolism was so revved up it was ridiculous. I at practically non-stop for almost 12 hours...I was rationing my food while I worked to ensure I wouldn't be starving by the time my shift ended. Rest days are honoring my body, not insulting it.
I've been determined lately to honor my body, my self, my mind, and my heart. I'm trying to "eat clean" more (I love food-healthy or unhealthy, so I do not feel at all guilty about the fact I just ate an cookie ice cream sandwich from Trader Joe's right before I finished typing this up), I'm trying to get more sleep, I started seeing a new therapist, I'm reaching out to friends, I am being wise about dating (which is why I am not dating anyone right now...I've had several guys suggest "going out.")
Since my life has picked up speed so quickly the past month or so, rest days-from the gym, from work, from life-have become something of a hot commodity. I'm the type of person who prefers to ALWAYS be doing something. I am bad at relaxing for more than an hour or two at a time. I feel like I need to be moving in some way,shape or form. Frequently on rest days from the gym, I'll take walks. I can take in my glorious city, relax, and enjoy being outside...without trying to break a sweat or lift a higher weight.
Taking time to just...be...is something that I am still getting comfortable with. That's what this whole post is about: resting. I say I do well being single, being on my own...but also, I'm constantly on the go. I'm constantly texting, calling, emailing...does that really constitute as being alone? I rarely just take time for myself and just exist. I've been doing it more lately, but it's still something I'm working on. It's so funny to me how being introspective about my rest day lead me to consider how important rest is every facet of my life. Learning how to slow down will continue to be something to work on...and likely will be a slow process itself b/c well...sometimes it takes me a time or two or ten to finally get something.
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