Days when you're tired or dialling it in......
Nix143
Posts: 522 Member
Hey everyone, just wanted to throw something out there and see what you thought.
last night I got home from work and general routine is feed the pooches, get changed and then lift before my dinner. I eat pretty much constantly - 3 main meals + 3 snacks - so I'm never lifting without something pretty recent in my belly.
Anyway last night I was exhausted and for the first time I looked at the plates with a bit of dread in my heart. So I started and it was HARD! I know it's supposed to be hard but hard in a different way.
I know I wasn't getting deep enough in the hole with my squats, I could see my knees waving all over the place and I had a tiny lil suspicious twang in my knee. Bench was surprisingly ok - because like a numpty I did a deload. Then 3rd set into my rows I had to take myself to one side and tell myself to buck the heck up.
So I suppose my question is - when you are shattered and below energy par what's the best thing to do? Try to 'power' through it? Eat something to give you some energy and try later? Leave it until tomorrow? To my mind there are always going to be times when I am not bouncing with energy but still need to work out - should I be eating something specific before I lift rather than the couple of satsumas that I had yesterday afternoon.
What do you guys do when you feel like a big bag of blah? I'm really concious that at 43 my body is an existing bag of old aches and pains and getting injured is always at the back of my mind - but I'm also aware that my head is a sneaky lil trickster that might be looking for a way to go sit on the sofa instead
last night I got home from work and general routine is feed the pooches, get changed and then lift before my dinner. I eat pretty much constantly - 3 main meals + 3 snacks - so I'm never lifting without something pretty recent in my belly.
Anyway last night I was exhausted and for the first time I looked at the plates with a bit of dread in my heart. So I started and it was HARD! I know it's supposed to be hard but hard in a different way.
I know I wasn't getting deep enough in the hole with my squats, I could see my knees waving all over the place and I had a tiny lil suspicious twang in my knee. Bench was surprisingly ok - because like a numpty I did a deload. Then 3rd set into my rows I had to take myself to one side and tell myself to buck the heck up.
So I suppose my question is - when you are shattered and below energy par what's the best thing to do? Try to 'power' through it? Eat something to give you some energy and try later? Leave it until tomorrow? To my mind there are always going to be times when I am not bouncing with energy but still need to work out - should I be eating something specific before I lift rather than the couple of satsumas that I had yesterday afternoon.
What do you guys do when you feel like a big bag of blah? I'm really concious that at 43 my body is an existing bag of old aches and pains and getting injured is always at the back of my mind - but I'm also aware that my head is a sneaky lil trickster that might be looking for a way to go sit on the sofa instead
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Replies
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I had day like that yesterday also.
I power through it. I go to the gym anyway and attempt to do workout like scheduled BUT I keep in mind that it will be harder then usually and I am mentally ready to deload rather then complete it with terrible form.
So if my form is terrible I deload immediatly.0 -
As long as you're not in pain, I'd say power through it also. A mediocre workout is better than no workout at all and I think pushing through fatigue is just part of building your strength. You'll feel better too if you at least complete the workout! Rest, rest, rest afterwards. Espom salt baths, foam rolling, good stretching, and/or yoga if you have it available are all helpful for recovery! :flowerforyou:
Forgot diet: You mentioned you're eating enough, but not what your diet includes so I would also ensure you're getting a solid amount of protein!
TGIF!0 -
I felt like that yesterday as well! lol, got in from work and really didn't want to do my workout, so I had dinner first as I was quite hungry, then waited about an hour then did the workout, I still feel I didn't give 100% and couldn't get my 5x5 on the OHP but that's nothing new its my worse exercise
but as RunningDirty said better a mediocre workout than no workout 0 -
I'm thinking I need something to eat pre workout as opposed to my normal eat a snack about 2.30 then workout at 6 - might just need a wee peanut buttery something :laugh:
Other than that my diet is really good, 90% of the time - on a 40:30:30 split and eating TONS of delicious meat :drinker:
I have to remember that failure isn't bad, it's good - and that we're all about the progression.0 -
It depends on how bad it is. But as a general rule - bad days happen. Do what you can, don't expect it to be great, come back at your next workout and hope it goes better.
If I'm REALLY tired, I'll drop the weights a bit and just do SOMETHING that's feasible (Rather than trying for a heavy weight and not really being able to do anything)
If i'm really really REALLY tired, I just won't go.0 -
I think we all have our good and bad days working out. I just stick to it, even if I have to drop the weights. I have never finished a workout (no matter how bad it was) and thought to myself I shouldn't have worked out. I'm also glad I worked out, regardless if it was a crappy workout.0
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I power through the bad days...just getting in there and chilling in my own space sometimes helps...take it slower and take longer rests when knackered...that also helps...0
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I just do it anyway and have a subpar workout. Lol.0
