Fitting an exercise program into your day as a career woman or a mother of three seems like the hardest task you’ve done but it’s something you’ve grown accustom to and even enjoy. While exercising was once a serious chore, it’s now thirty minute highlight of your day, or is it? Have you noticed a decline in your interest to go to the gym lately? Or, perhaps you’ve made it to the gym and your fitness routine seems stagnant and old? If this is the case, you should take note of how you have felt lately. Like many others who exercise, this may be the first indication you need a break from working out. I’m not talking about quitting but taking a break from the gym or from the style of training you’ve been doing to get out of the rut.
Hitting the Plateau
Whether you’re in shape or working on getting in shape it’s so common to hit a plateau. It’s something you can’t help and is often a sign that you need to change up your routine. Frequently, people will increase the amount of weights in order to get over the proverbial hump but sometimes that’s just not going to work. You may even feel a loss of strength and can’t go any further and you shouldn’t be surprised by this. It happens to everyone and when it does; you have to learn to work through it or give your body a rest.
Exhaustion is not the Same as Being Tired
Your long hours at work or the the sixth grade science project and four loads of laundry could be just one of many reasons why you’re not getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep is one of the fastest ways to cause exhaustion. Add little sleep to real life and three or four days a week of exercise and you’re looking at a recipe for disaster. When you feel like you’re struggling through every single rep that’s enough to deter anyone from working out. Unlike hitting a plateau, fatigue is something that’s far more difficult to work through. It may take time, but you’ll have to learn how to balance your life with your workouts.
Over-the-top Doesn’t Mean Over-training
After spending some quality time in the gym you’ve realized that everyone has a specific way they like to exercise. Perhaps you like to work out by yourself or you would rather have a workout partner and have found what works for you. Maybe you love over-the-top exercises combined with cardio but are struggling with doing either at the moment. In effect, you could be over-training.
It’s a common issue that falls on many gym goers after they’ve found their groove. Your workout schedule went from twice a week to three to four to five and suddenly you feel like your body is not responding to the exercises. Unfortunately, over-training will cause you to mentally and physically feel this way. If you reduce the amount of your workouts for the time being it will give allow you to heal and rest from the inside out.
Your Body is Telling You Something
Pushing through your plateau, over-training and exhaustion will hinder your workouts because your body is telling you to take a break mentally and physically. Since you’ve worked so hard to improve your health you shouldn’t quit but give your body some time to rest. Quitting is an easy remedy that you’re most likely going to regret later. Instead, look at the deeper issues and create a plan to change what’s producing this angst with your fitness program. For example; instead of weight lifting for one week, substitute with bands for an entire week’s workouts. The bands will allow you to get very creative with your workout and your body may respond to the new program well. Even the the smallest changes will have the potential to pull you out of a rut.
Source: Experience
