Sometimes I forget I have limits.

doodlecakes_07

I usually like to workout 5-7x a week. 3 days weights/strength, 4-5 days running, 1 day gymnastics, stretching everyday, doing ab work religiously... Sometimes I forget that my body needs to rest.

For example:

I hyperextended my shoulder 3 weeks ago, and it's still sore. I'm sure it could be all healed up by now, but I decided to muscle through the pain and continue working out (minus lifting weights... still did all kinds of abs/calisthenics that I shouldn't have). I did bars yesterday at gym, working on front hip circles for 45 minutes straight, which definitely did not make my shoulder situation better.

So, my shoulder still hurts quite a bit.

Another example:

I loveee running. I decided to start training for a half. Ya know the best way to do that? Just go and try to run 13.1 miles out of the blue. Yeah, such a good idea. The run felt great. I felt so accomplished. Maybe I should have stopped when I realized I had a bleeding blister on the bottom of my foot. Maybe I should have stopped when my ankles felt like tight fibers being slowly pulled apart. Maybe I should have stopped when I felt a sharp but continuous pain in my shin. Maybe I shouldn't have run 5 and 6 miles the days after the 13.1.

The continuing trend: I don't know how to stop. I don't know how to rest. I don't know when enough is enough.

I took an accidental rest day today. It makes me feel bad, like I missed training and some how I'm going to fail at life (dramatic, I know) . Sure my shoulder hurts. Yeah, it hurts to put too much pressure on my shin. BUT I should have worked out anyways, even though it didn't fit into my schedule.

My thinking is all messed up. I need to get it straight. Rest is okay. Rest is good. I just can't seem to wrap my head around that concept.

Is anyone else like this?
Any suggestions on how to change my mindset?

Arleigh7

So I love to lift heavy and had overtime developed Chronic shoulder and joint pain but I wouldn't let that stop my workouts. Well....about a year ago while travelling in the UK I really hurt my shoulder in a tiny gym. Net net is my shoulder got progressively worse to the point where I had Shoulder Reconstruction surgery 1 week ago. I will fully recover but right now I am in a sling 24 hours (minus painful showers) and will not be lifting again for 6 to 9 months.

I would recommend you find a great trainer / coach / therapist. Someone who can help you put a program together that is varied enough to keep you happy but with built in rest days so you fully heal. You'll fid that you'll get stronger faster if you give your body a chance to rebuild.

Also your very young so you heal quickly. If you keep this up you could really be risking multiple injuries before you hit 30.

Good luck in finding your balance!

GiGiBeans

I have active rest days so I don't feel like lazy bones. I'll do a stretching routine and/or take a walk for an hour or so.

its_amyyy

Doodle, I get this. There have definitely been times where I have fallen into this cycle as it's very easy for me to do. First, your body does release endorphins when you exercise, so there is a physical, chemical, and mental reward for doing so. You feel great afterwards, even if your body is screaming at you (okay, maybe that's just me lol).

The best advice that I know to give you is just to sit with it. Your body NEEDS rest days. You are going to have to force yourself to take a day off and sit with the anxiety that you feel when you don't work out and sit with those crappy feelings of guilt. Keep doing this every week, and the anxiety will lessen until rest days become a normal thing for you. In my experience, the easiest way to get through the process is to get out of your head. Get out of your house and go do something you like to do -- take your laptop to the coffee shop and study/shop/play games, go to a book store and lose yourself for an hour or two in books, go see a movie at the dollar theater, go shopping, meet up with a friend for dinner or coffee... whatever it is that gets you out of your head, out of your house, and away from those anxious, crappy feelings. As someone who is almost 7 years recovered from an eating disorder, I can tell you this helped me more than I ever thought possible.

If you legitimately forget to take rest days, schedule something on your rest days (like meeting up with friends) the following week during the time that you usually exercise. Put it in your phone so it reminds you and you don't forget to take it easy that day.

lithezebra

I need to alternate easy days and strenuous days or I end up feeling sore and low in energy. An easy day for me is a dance class, a walk, an easy bike ride, a gentle yoga class. A strenuous day is weights or a challenging yoga class, or HIIT. It seems like a lot of rest, but I end up regretting it if I don't take it easy after a hard day.

The good news is that my intense workouts are more intense, and feel a lot better, when I get enough rest in between.