KNOW YOUR BODY – HOW TO LET YOUR BODY RECOVER

By Kevin Jones

A couple of years ago, I made a pretty big mistake as I worked to lose a little extra weight. I had only just gotten really serious about lifting weights over my usual cardio heavy regimen and may have become overexcited. I started going to the gym every day, alternating between sections of my body, so I didn’t injure myself.

After reading some advice from some self-described “bodybuilders” on the internet, however, I started to do full body workouts. I would rest one day in between and do some cardio instead. Usually, that would be mountain biking or hiking up steep paths. There was no day off from physical activity for me.

Pushing My Body Too Hard

Needless to say, my body didn’t respond well to this. It started with fatigue and just feeling generally lethargic. Then I started to notice my soreness was getting worse and not going away for a single moment, regardless of how hard I had pushed myself.

Finally, it happened. I was at the gym, in a deep squat with an Olympic bar carrying more weight than I was ready for and I heard a pop. That pop was followed by some of the most intense pain I have ever felt.

The Crucial Need for Rest

Damaging a disk in my back was a wake-up call. I had fallen into the trap as so many of us do, pushing ourselves too hard and ignoring breaks. But resting is important and actually helps you see results!

Three Types of Rest

1. Immediate – This is the rest between sets or activities you do during the course of your exercise.

2.  Short – This is the day or two between your activities that allow your body to heal the mild tearing done to tissue and muscle during physical activity.

3.  Long – This is a longer form of rest that lasts between several days to a week. Sometimes it can be more if the situation requires, such as during an illness.

Why Long-Term Rest Is Good For Everyone

You might think it is counter-productive to take a long rest, especially if you are losing weight, but it isn’t. Your body is under the stresses of everything in its environment, from exercise too long commutes spent sitting in a car. Sometimes, our bodies just need to relax a bit.

Does that mean you should just sit on your couch and marathon Netflix for hours at a time? Of course not. But there is nothing wrong with taking a week you are particular sore or tired, and switching a ten-mile run for a two-mile walk.

Rest is as necessary for the body as hydration, food or sleep. So, start giving yourself a break and don’t do what I did, or you will be sorry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kevin Jones is a health and fitness blogger and a regular contributor to a number of fitness websites. He writes for NordicTrack. During his free time, he likes to be very active and spend time with his wife and two children shredding the slopes of Park City, Utah or chasing down the Salt Lake City Korean food trucks. Connect with him online; LinkedIn– Twitter

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