The Weekend Warrioress trend has gained momentum over the past 10 years, especially among us Baby Boomer women. These women work themselves too hard in their fitness and consequently end up injured, inexplicably burnt-out and even gaining weight--in spite of how hard they push themselves. Equally, I know some of you think flipping thorough magazines and chatting on the phone while on the elliptical trainer is a workout, but, it's not, and this blog post it not for you.
If you are the Weekend Warrioress, my hope is, this blog post will leave an indelible impression on you. The general rule-of-thumb is that you move your body (be it a 20-minute walk, yard work etc.) 6-days a week with one full day of rest, each week, and take a 1-2 week break every 6-12 weeks of training. Below are signs that YOU could be OVER TRAINING.
8-Significant Signs that you need to take a 'break' from your fitness regime:
1. You're depressed .
2. You're irritable .
3. You find yourself not looking forward to, or even, dreading your workout .
4. You're sleeping poorly.
5. You're extremely low in energy .
6. You feel yourself on the verge of a cold/sore throat .
7. Your heart rate reaches a high rate and 'sticks' i.e. HR recovery is very slow .
8. (If you are still watching the scale) ... the scale starts to show weight gain.
When we take a break our bodies, on a cellular level are connecting the dots. These dots are every single one of our great, and sometimes not-so-great workouts. A break is a platform to sit back and let our hard-earned efforts resonate deep within our body, mind and spirit. When we connect-the-dots during a break, our body continues to be 'reactive' on a cellular level. And one of the dots that make the connection is the continuum of weight loss, weight maintenance and superb health.
When you come back from your break, you will experience faster runs, stronger weight training, deeper yoga, and, the list goes. Atheletes train with built-in breaks, called 'tapering'. It's a sound way to train that will not only get you fit, but keep you fit and enjoying your workouts, injury free.
Do you need to take a break from your fitness today?
