Gym Guilt! How to stop

Kittyy1994

Hi there, does anyone else get a serious case of guilt if you miss a workout? I normally work out 5 days a week and walk dog everyday and I have gotten into the habit of really beating myself up if I miss one session/wall. Has anyone else had this? It has gotten to the point that I have been very sick this week with a cold- so sick I have had time off work yet I still forced myself to go and workout at the gym (and felt awful during and after!) How can I stop this guilt. I know I am not going to get unfit/gain weight if I skip one day, I just cannot help feeling bad and don’t want it becoming a habit and slack off completely...... anyone else experiencing this?

thereshegoesagain

I don't have that issue, but I BEG you to avoid the gym. Germs spread easily, I'd be pissed if I saw someone clearly sick at my gym.

rosiorama

I’m with Shegoesagain, don’t bring your germs to the gym. I was sick last week, and didn’t go to the gym for 8 days. Nope, I did not feel guilty because I didn’t want to run myself down even more. Plus, why make others sick too? Missing a workout won’t affect progress unless you stop going altogether. And sometimes it’s better to let your muscles have a longer recovery time. Every few months I take up to a week off from the gym, just to give myself a break.

I don’t know how you can stop the guilt. Anything can turn into an unhealthy obsession, even the gym.

rheddmobile

Yep, don't bring your germs to the gym please!

But about that guilt, sometimes it can be helpful to say things out loud, giving yourself permission to do them, so you don't feel as if you are losing control. Example: look in the mirror, and say, "I have a cold and so I am going to take three rest days and eat at maintenance calories while my body focuses its energy on getting better. In three days, I will pay attention to how I feel and plan accordingly."

Knowing that you have a plan and aren't going to suddenly go crazy, eat all the things, and forget you ever went to the gym can help.

MikePTY

Think of it this way: resting when you are sick is actually like going to the gym. It's taking care of your body and allowing it to recover and rebuild itself. Going to the gym is actually hindering your recovery, and harming you body.

Your body is also more resilient than you think. After working out regularly for several months, a combination of illness, holidays, and visitors caused me to miss the gym for an entire month. I was worried that would put me back at square one. But by week two I was already back to where I was before I fell off. Taking a few days or a week off for sickness is not going to stop you from reaching your goals. Overdoing it while you are sick and getting yourself sicker might stop you.

pondee629

The only reason I miss a workout is a very good one. So, no guilt. It was the right thing to do. If you're sick and can't work, you can't work out. "and felt awful during and after! ", see.

neugebauer52

The opposite here: haven't been to the gym for a couple of weeks (knee was playing up) and returned this a.m.: They started to dance a "macarena", told me they missed me! Manager actually came out of his office (no idea why he has got one) to say hello.

TavistockToad

Kittyy1994 wrote: »

Hi there, does anyone else get a serious case of guilt if you miss a workout? I normally work out 5 days a week and walk dog everyday and I have gotten into the habit of really beating myself up if I miss one session/wall. Has anyone else had this? It has gotten to the point that I have been very sick this week with a cold- so sick I have had time off work yet I still forced myself to go and workout at the gym (and felt awful during and after!) How can I stop this guilt. I know I am not going to get unfit/gain weight if I skip one day, I just cannot help feeling bad and don’t want it becoming a habit and slack off completely...... anyone else experiencing this?

the thing is, if you don't take adequate rest then at some point your body will make you, and it wont be pretty, or need just a couple of days off to fix.

look after your body, its the only one you have.

seeking out some support for the guilty feelings might be a good idea.