Pushing myself VS Hurting myself

ashesfromfire

So I need some second opinions - I would love to be able to go by my own instincts but I know myself too well and have a history of being bad to myself when attempting weight loss (including a bout of starving myself) So here I am wanting input:
I work at Home Depot and the last two days have taken a huge toll on my body. Yesterday I worked in the paint department and would say I easily lifted and carried over a thousand paint cans (plenty of which where 5 gallon can - uhg! We were crazy busy all day long and I work until my arms literally gave out (at the end of my shift I tried to make a phone call but couldn't handle the pain of holding my phone up to me ear!) But when I got home I went on a 5 mile walk/jog to get my exercise in. This morning I woke up and felt like I'd been run down by a train - everything hurt. Luckily I was only scheduled a half shift this morning, but spent all four hours out in garden loading retaining wall block. I honestly felt like I was at my physical limit. Now I've had a few hours to rest and I'm wondering if it would be okay to do a work out tonight? How do you have a healthy line between pushing yourself and honestly hurting yourself? Part of me worries I'm just using work as an excuse to take the night off, while the other part is telling me I'll cause more harm than good. Thoughts?

ashesfromfire

Bump - really guys - I need some advice

baoneill29

I would just listen to your body. If you had an physically exhausting day at work and feel your body is a the limit, I wouldn't worry about taking the night off. I've overdone it Friday and Saturday and am not sweating it one bit taking today off! I feel like I've been run over by a truck and some time to heal is what my body needs, this maybe true for you too. Good luck!

AmyRhubarb

You woke up feeling like you'd been hit by a train, then got pushed to your limit at work this morning - I'd say you deserve a rest day! Muscles build and repair when you let them rest.

corbei

This really sounds like overdoing it! Your job is very demanding and your body needs rest. This kind of activity plus reducedl calories is not good for you. I hope you calculate the calories you use up at work and eat enough. Good luck! Stay well.

2hobbit1

You need to rest to let your body repair - you are over training!

Most people think of that as excess exercise but if you are in a physically demanding job like you have it can happen as well.

No need to through in more abuse with exercise after the kind of week you've had - if you can't heal/repair you will not only not lose weight but equally important you set yourself up for injury!

JLD81

Pushing yourself is pushing yourself through to the next level so that you can better your body. I agree with the others that it sounds like you have pushed your body enough and need a day of rest. Muscles naturally get small tears and need healing time when growing. You want to make sure you are getting adequate nutrition to help your body grow, change, and heal when working out. When you are that sore you need either to take a day off or do an easy workout. I have a 2 mile heart association power walking video i do on my days where i feel very sore but still need to workout. Sometimes if you are sore from doing upper body then lower and upper then lower too many days in a row you can do something easier like this to keep the body from feeling stiff the next day but still not pushing it to the point of injury. I have a history of eating disorders in my past and have really fought to push past them. I feel like they are always there with a little voice in your ear that you have to learn to ignore in lieu of your body's messages. Sometimes, I have found, that by giving my body a day of rest I actually will lose weight that I was holding onto.

lyttlewon

Can you tell the difference between OH MY GOD WHAT DID I DO?!? and That is really damn sore?

I broke my ankle when I was a kid. Before I had surgery my brain was sending out the OMG signals. It was a panicky pain. After surgery, everything was obviously painful but it was a peaceful pain.

ashesfromfire

Can you tell the difference between OH MY GOD WHAT DID I DO?!? and That is really damn sore?

I broke my ankle when I was a kid. Before I had surgery my brain was sending out the OMG signals. It was a panicky pain. After surgery, everything was obviously painful but it was a peaceful pain.

see, I really wish I knew how to tell he difference but unless I physically cannot do it - Like standing on a broken ankle - I'll keep pushing. MFP helps me most because I actually feel like it gives me an excuse not to constantly go full throttle. I push myself until I bleed and thats not good sometimes. But I dont want to rely on excuses to not work out. I should be working hard. I want to lose weight so desperately at this point....but I want to be health doing it. I'm just soooo neurotic!

zechks

So I need some second opinions - I would love to be able to go by my own instincts but I know myself too well and have a history of being bad to myself when attempting weight loss (including a bout of starving myself) So here I am wanting input:
I work at Home Depot and the last two days have taken a huge toll on my body. Yesterday I worked in the paint department and would say I easily lifted and carried over a thousand paint cans (plenty of which where 5 gallon can - uhg! We were crazy busy all day long and I work until my arms literally gave out (at the end of my shift I tried to make a phone call but couldn't handle the pain of holding my phone up to me ear!) But when I got home I went on a 5 mile walk/jog to get my exercise in. This morning I woke up and felt like I'd been run down by a train - everything hurt. Luckily I was only scheduled a half shift this morning, but spent all four hours out in garden loading retaining wall block. I honestly felt like I was at my physical limit. Now I've had a few hours to rest and I'm wondering if it would be okay to do a work out tonight? How do you have a healthy line between pushing yourself and honestly hurting yourself? Part of me worries I'm just using work as an excuse to take the night off, while the other part is telling me I'll cause more harm than good. Thoughts?

Take some rest.. Listen to your body. If your too sore and then you try to workout, you might end up hurting yourself.