It is ok to take a break from exercise
The other day when I was at the gym, I stopped to say hello to a lady that I see at the gym frequently. She usually arrives at the gym as I am finishing up
my workout. I always ask her how she is doing. Usually, she justs gives me the usual small talk and say's things are good. Well, on this day, my gym friend was honest and said: "I am feeling bad as I did not go to the gym at all last week." I told her that it is ok that we take breaks from fitness as our bodies need rest. My friend went on to say that she felt guilty as she also ate tons of junk food, like chips and cookies, last week.
I love that the gym that I am a member at is small so I get to know people
After I gave her the advice about not having junk food in the house, my friend told me that her husband had bought the junk food. So I talked some more with my friend and tried to encourage her that it was perfectly fine to take a week off from the gym. My friend felt better and said, "you should be a motivational speaker." That made me feel awesome as this is the reason I write about health and fitness so I can encourage others. I told my friend about my website and how I write about
fitness tips.
I love observing people at the gym
When I am at the gym, I am listening to people talk about fitness and observing what the do. This inspires me and helps me to select what I write about. The one thing that I really notice while I am working out is most people tend to do the same workout routine day after day. I also notice that most people are not happy when they are working out. Call me crazy but I working out makes me happy. So friends always buy me
fitness-related gifts for the holidays. When I workout, I listen to great music and move fast. This gives me that runners high that people talk about. Most people on the cardio machines are not moving fast enough to get that happy feeling. They are usually checking their phone. I want to tell these people to put away their phones and just get the exercise done.
Exercise Burnout is real
Just like we need a vacation from work, our bodies need a break from exercise. I usually only exercise five days a week as I like to give my body rest. I work from home so I can be flexible with my workout routine. I usually run five days a week and visit the gym for three days for my
weightlifting. I plan my workout schedule around the days my husband can get to the gym. My husband is doing a great job with exercise and meets me at the gym when he gets off of work. Sometimes I just don't feel like working out for the day and I will take the day off or do a different exercise like biking or walking. When I take the day off from working out, I don't feel one bit guilty as I know that I will make up for that day another time. There are even times I take the whole week off from exercise, like when I am traveling, except when I am attending a
fitness conference. and that is ok because I know that after taking a week off I will want to get back to my exercise. It may be just me but my body craves movement as fitness is my time that makes my body feel good.
How to avoid exercise burnout
I think fitness burnout comes from when we do the same exercises day after day or we make our fitness schedule to strict. It is good for our bodies to do different exercises as that means more muscles are being used. So I think it is a great idea to change up your fitness routine with
different forms of exercises. You might find that even switching the time you exercise might help. There are so many ways to get that daily exercise, so switch it up. One day you can go for a walk and another day you can put on some fast music at home and dance. You can even get the exercise by
biking for errands or by swimming. If you belong to a gym, try a fitness class like Spin Cycle or
Pound Fit. Working out with a friend can also help so skip the gym and meet up with your friend for a walk around the neighborhood. You can even use your walking time to chat with your mom on the phone. As a mom, I enjoy when my boys join me on their scooters while I am running. If you are a stay at home mom you need to check out these
workout tips for moms.
Do less
You may feel like skipping a workout because you are short on time. Then just do 15 minutes of exercise instead of 30 minutes. Every little bit counts. That short workout is better than sitting on the couch eating the whole pint of ice cream. You don't have to go hardcore to benefit from exercise even a short walk with a friend, a yoga session on Youtube, or some dancing while doing housework is good for your body. When I am short on time and have to clean, I will incorporate a couple times up and down the stairs to get some fitness in. I even walk fast when I am shopping to squeeze in some exercise. Check out some other
ways to sneak in exercise into your day.
Seek help
Sometimes you just may need a bit of help to motivate yourself to exercise. You may feel tired in the morning or after a long day at work so you just don't feel like exercising. Sometimes you just might need a bit of energy and drinking a
natural energy drink 20 minutes before exercising is what I do it the morning when I wake up before I go running or in the afternoon before I head to the gym. I find that 50-115 mg of natural caffeine gives me the energy I need to get an intense workout in. By the time the workout is over, my body has burned up the caffeine so I don't feel jittery. I don't recommend coffee as it may cause stomach problems.
Challenge yourself or set goals
Another way to avoid workout burnout is to challenge yourself or set goals. I was getting tired of using the weightlifting machines at the gym so I challenged myself to try free weights and core exercises. I started out with two 10-pound weights, one in each hand and just lifted them in ways that made my muscles feel a slight burn. I also did different sets of situps and pushups. I set a goal of 2 months to do my new routine to see if I could get stronger and to see if it would tone my muscles. So knowing that I only had to do this for 2 months help me focus better. After 2 months, I was able to do 10 pushups in a row! So that made me feel good!
Reward yourself
Sometimes the best way to get the workout done is with a reward. This reward can be something to look forward to. When I am running, I run knowing that I can have a
Salted Caramel Cold Brew Coffee Latte or a piece of chocolate when I get home. Another reward that I love is soaking in the tub with new bath salts or giving myself a spa treatment in the shower. After my
sweat session at the gym, I love to take a long soak in the shower or tub. I use this long soak time to wash away the sweat odor and exfoliate my body. I love using a scented plant-based body wash and a
Purifying Charcoal Mesh Bath Sponge. This bath poof is infused with charcoal and does a great job of exfoliating my skin. The mesh sponge is supposed to draw out the impurities in my skin and my skin feels so much softer after I use it.
Since I am spending extra time in the tub soaking, I use this time to pamper my feet. My feet are always dry so this
4 in 1 Foot Buffer & Brush helps me get the dead skin off my heels. This amazing foot brush also cleans the rest of my feet. I can remember to use this brush, I may just have pretty feet by summertime. This brush also gives my feet a mini massage. Did you know that a foot massage can help the overall well-being of your body? Different spots on your feet lead to different parts of your body. Head over here to see a
foot reflexology diagram and see how to touch your feet for a healthy body.
Buy some new workout clothes
Sometimes a
new cute running skirt may be a motivator to get some exercise in. Think about how a new outfit makes you feel and how it lifts your mood. So treat yourself to a new pair of exercise clothes or even a pair of new socks. My favorite place for workout clothes is SkirtSports as they have cute clothes for all sizes!
Don't feel guilty
If you miss a couple days of working out or even a week, throw away the guilt and don't beat yourself up over it. You will be able to get right back to your workout routine on maybe this is a good time to start fresh with a new exercise routine. Just remember that exercise is good for your body and will help it feel good. My motivation for working out is to keep away diseases like heart disease, arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. Exercise has helped me to be able to manage my asthma symptoms, keep my muscles from getting weak as I age, and also helps with menopause. I have gone through the change and have yet to experience a hot flash or night sweat. Exercise gives me
natural energy and helps me to think better. So I am willing to spend 30 minutes 5 days a week for these health benefits and many others.