Pushing Yourself and Doing What You Can

wdwithers
wdwithers Posts: 36
in Fitness and Exercise
I have been doing various excercises here and there. Some days I fell so tired, and hurt so bad, it feels like all I can do is get up off the bed long enough to move from the bed to the bathroom and back. Other times I feel like I can go forever for hours at a time. My sleeping habits have been out of whack because of my insomnia, and stress. I've been suffering with a painful heel spur, and a few other things.

So my question is this, how do you know when it's ok to stop when you have lots of energy and how far should you push when you don't ? Please don't tell me it depends on how your'e feeling. I need concrete answers, so I have a target. I need targets to have a point to reach for or where I know when I reach a point I can stop, without feeling like I'm giving up or quitting too soon?

I am a target or goal oriented person who needs concrete answers.:

:indifferent: :huh:

Replies

  • UWZander
    UWZander Posts: 70
    Find a workout program that includes the right amount of strength training and cardio that you like, then follow it every single day without fail. If you find a workout program to do, you will most likely get more work done on a consistent basis.
  • Masterdo
    Masterdo Posts: 331 Member
    Kinda difficult to reply since you didn't give a lot of information about the nature of the exercise you do, but here's some food for thought maybe.

    Your lifestyle is FAR more important in the whole fitness scheme than the routines you do on a daily/weekly basis. It would probably be a good starting point to get a nice routine going in your life in general, get the stress and insomnia under control. Regular exercise is a nice way to achieve this, no need to push insanely at this first stage, just get moving, on a regular schedule, to get everything under control. Experiment with when is the best time for you to exercise to enhance your sleep rather than hinder it.

    After that, it all depends on the activities you do. You can do quite a hefty amount of cardio every day, though if you are not a runner already, I'd start with at least a day off between each runs, to start. Strength training the consensus seems to be that it's not very efficient to train a body part when it's still sore from the last workout. So have more than one routine that work different parts and rotate your workout sessions. Leg day. Bicep/Tricep/Back, etc. Do some very light or even no work at all on injured parts (light/active stretching maybe? Consulting a professional really helps for these things) but keep training around the injury. Keeps motivation, sense of routine and other exercise benefits alive during recovery.

    Rest, sleep and proper nutrition is kinda the only thing that will allow you to push as hard as you can, and even though it seems counter intuitive, starting slow and focusing on these points is really a good idea. It also helps tremendously with injuries.

    Good luck with this journey!
  • ItsPheebs
    ItsPheebs Posts: 127 Member
    Your body is telling you to rest. It's okay to do that. But, if you're that sore and tired, it might be worth checking your iron and vitamin D. Not to mention, all of the things people say about "you can sleep when you're dead" is nonsense. Rest a little, work on sleep, give it a few days, and then start back but go lightly. Make sure you're eating enough, getting your protein and water ... all of the little cliches you hear that people tend to disregard really do matter.

    You don't have to give up or quit, but it's great to regroup.
  • tajmel
    tajmel Posts: 401 Member
    I could be completely off base here, but this sounds like depression to me. I say that, because that's how -I- express depression. Lack of motivation, extreme lethargy, insomnia... and you said you're under a lot of stress.

    Resolving the sources of your stress would be best, but I know that's not always possible. You could also seek therapy, or talk to a friend. Make sure you're getting sufficient nutrients to rule out malnutrition. Spend some of every day outdoors. Etc.

    The most effective thing for me is to keep moving. The more I exercise, the fewer problems with depression I have, and the more consistent my energy levels are. Just picking something and doing it routinely, even when you don't feel like it, will do a world of good. Rather than work extra hard on days you feel good (wearing yourself out) and not working on sluggish days, shoot for regularity.

    If you'd like more support, feel free to add me :).
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    Kinda difficult to reply since you didn't give a lot of information about the nature of the exercise you do
    Yes, please tell us what your chosen exercise is and we can give you more specifics.
  • wdwithers
    wdwithers Posts: 36
    Kinda difficult to reply since you didn't give a lot of information about the nature of the exercise you do
    Yes, please tell us what your chosen exercise is and we can give you more specifics.

    Mainly Wii Fit. and mainly the aerobic step levels 1 and 2. Then I walk out on the highway in front of my house for a mile or longer if I am able.

    I usually go as far as I think I can and still be able to make it back to the house.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member


    I usually go as far as I think I can and still be able to make it back to the house.
    Ah. So for most of your workouts, are you going as hard as you can, for as long as you can until you're toast?

    That could be the problem. Instead, pick a pace and a distance or time that you know for sure you can do. Stay at that level for a week or so, making sure to take a rest day or two. Then increase your intensity or time by 10% or so. So if this week you walk a mile 3 times, next week walk a mile twice, and a mile and a quarter once. The next week, walk a mile twice, and a mile and a half once. The week after, walk a mile once, and a mile and a half twice. Etc.
  • wdwithers
    wdwithers Posts: 36
    I'm not depressed. I have Crohn's disease. All of my large and part of my small intestines have been removed. This makes nutrient and mineral and vitamin absorbtion difficult for me. I have suffered with my insomnia since around the age of 13 to 15 years old. I do try to drink Ensure or something similar when I can afford to which isn't very often. Some of my medication I take also makes me not have an apetite, but I have to have if for the Crohn's.
  • ItsPheebs
    ItsPheebs Posts: 127 Member
    I'm sorry you have Chron's disease. I know that is really hard. All the more reason you need to find balance and let it be okay to rest. It sounds like money is tight, too, but if you can investigate homeopathic or holistic supplements those are very helpful. There are things that you can take, some not very expensive, that can assist with vitamin absorption. I have insomnia myself, so I've tried everything out there ... I totally understand. What I can suggest is don't give up, but set a schedule for three days a week for a 30 minute walk. Make sure you're eating as well as you can, and set a schedule for going to bed. I agree with other advice here in that it's really important to try and go slow and work on some of the other things that you can. Work up to walking 5 days a week, add in some light body weight work.

    I have a friend with Chron's. He trains in MMA and he said that it took him a very long time of consistent, steady light exercise with slow progression to be able to handle his current workout schedule. Sometimes, he just pushes through it. Sometimes, he takes a couple of weeks off. This is where you just have to learn to listen to your body and nothing anyone else can say can tell you what to do.

    I wish you the best!

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