Rest isn't just about self care.
Building muscles requires resistance to them- whether you do that by swinging kettlebells or running or bodyweight exercises. This resistance causes tiny tears in your muscle tissue. You’re muscles get stronger and bigger when the rebuilding of them happens. And that only occurs when you let them rest!
There’s also the whole mental aspect of working out without enough rest.
It can be really difficult to bring your ‘A’ game day in and day out. Eventually it’ll catch up with you, and you’ll show up to your workout tired and disengaged, and that’s when your form goes to shit and you get hurt .
SO WHAT ARE THE SIGNS YOU NEED SOME REST?
You have trouble sleeping- getting up and/or falling asleep
.
You’re super irritable
.
You find it harder to concentrate or focus on your everyday tasks
.
You feel unmotivated for many days/weeks in a row- you can’t get out of it
.
You’re always sore (although if you’re a beginner this is kinda true-...
Sometimes you SHOULD miss a Monday.
When working out DOESN’T help you de stress….
This post comes from a shit ton of personal experience, as well as a common topic of conversation with the lovely humans I get to work with everyday
Obvious reasons you shouldn’t push it:
it hurts to do it (remembering that uncomfortable is a different feeling)
you’ve never done anything like it before
you haven’t done any movement like it in months
Less obvious reasons you shouldn’t push it:
you’re emotionally drained from that thing you’ve been stressing over/that challenging relationship you’re dealing with/ that work situation you can’t figure out
you’re physically drained from that thing you’ve been stressing over/that challenging relationship you’re dealing with/ that work situation you can’t figure out
Exercise itself is a stressor that raises your stress hormone cortisol-which isn’t always a negative. Raised cortisol from exercise can actually...
Author
Gretchen
Coach
Growing up I was a half-hearted athlete who struggled with my relationship with both food and exercise. I smoked for over a decade and spent much of my youth either binging or not eating at all. But after breaking my leg in a car accident, months of physical rehab and years of psychological counseling lead me to a renewed appreciation for my health and my ability to just move-something I'll never take for granted again. I overcame a lot and have spent much of my life sharing what I've learned. I became a NASM personal trainer over 16 years ago. The type of clients I've trained and my own personal interests lead me to attain many other certifications. These include Sports Specific and Orthopedic exercise specializations, Pre and Post Natal exercise, MMA conditioning, and ACE Mind Body Specializations. I've taken 2 TRX qualifying courses in general and functional fitness. I am Kettlebell certified through both NETA and Kettlebell Kings, also completing an independent study facilitated by Steve Cotter, founder of the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation. I am also a certified Animal Flow Instructor. In the fall of 2021, I became a Certified Intuitive Eating Facilitator, as IE was integral to my own ability to divest from diet culture. I think this was the missing piece to be able to put together a holistic, meaningful training program for all my clients.
