WHY REST DAY IS NECESSARY PT. 1

There’s a lot of fitness junkies out there and you might say that I fit the bill for that category. I have been active since I was little, swinging the T-ball bat with the boys in kindergarten, being a D1 Hept-athlete in college and now living a balanced and active lifestyle navigating through pregnancy. I live for surrounding myself with positive people, moving my body and nourishing it.

You are wrong though; about the fitness junkie part. Yes, I am a fitness lover. I love HIIT workouts, I love going above and beyond; you are a lot stronger that what you’re mind tells you. I also really enjoy lifting weights and doing yoga. Outside the gym you can find me going for long walks, slow bike rides, rollerblading and hiking! I love movement. But if I have learned anything from moving my body as much as I do, it's that my body NEEDS rest.

Is your healthy HABIT turning into a destructive OBSESSION?

I have learned through trial and error that the NEED, CRAVING or HABIT of continuously working out, was not helping me. It was actually speeding up my ageing genes and slowly diminishing my temple of a body. I am not here to bash the fit fanatics out there, I just want to tell you that REST is important for your overall health. Nourishing your body with good movements, the right foods and R&R is key to a healthy and long life.

In 30 years (I’ll be 55) I want to be the lady in your class that can still keep up in a HIIT workout, bicep curl just as much as you can, or be able to do half lotus crow in yoga. Which is why I have found MY sweet spot when it comes to TRAINING for a life of prosperity and longevity.

Lets back it up to working out. Most people workout out for the wrong reasons. Do you ever get to the gym after a couple days off and think, “I have to make up for those days off... so I am going to push my body PAST its limits!”, or “I HAVE to get a workout in but my body just feels like mush AND I am too exhausted to push through...BUT I MUST WORKOUT.” Yeah, I used to have those conversations with myself too. We all have! Over training, every day workouts, and the SAME workouts all lead to exhaustion and mental breakdown sooner or later and it is actually categorized as Over Training Syndrome.

OTS is an imbalance in a simple equation: Training = Workout + Recover. Over training and working out too much can lead to a number of imbalances; muscular, neurological, nutritional, mental/emotional and even hormonal imbalances. We live in an “all or nothing” society and a lot of people exercise improperly, follow the latest fad, only doing cardio, only lift heavy, slowly breaking down their bodies. Our bodies are sacred temples, capable of a lot of things but over training and pushing past our bodies limits are not some of them.

Tips to help navigate REST:

+ try working out mid morning. our bodies have had time to digest, your energy is still up from a balanced breakfast and a mid morning break is good for the brain.

+ on rest days, treat yourself to a epsom salt bath, self massage your sore muscles with oils and go for a walk with a friend, SO, or furry friend.

+ drink a lot of water. water aids in muscle growth and repair, is good for digestion and skin!

+ navigate your workout routine so rest is incorporated at least 2 x a week.

I never really understood self love until I started taking my own advice and having rest days. They are so important for our body. Now, it's my golden rule. #selflove and #restdays are BAE.

And now that I’m pregnant, rest is on a whole other level. Instead of two days off, it’s more like 3/4 days of rest, which can be walks, stretching or laying on the couch all day. I’ve definitely become more patient with my body because of all the changes it’s going through. Plus, I’m growing another human so working out like I used to....I just laugh, because I can’t even do high knees anymore, or a regular push up without sacrificing form. But THAT IS OKAY WITH ME.

Look for Why Rest Day is Necessary Part 2 coming soon!

xx

GL