Shoot yourself in the foot-part 2

Some fitness fanatics believe that if a little exercise is good than a lot must be better. I should know, I use to believe that. And do I even have to add that I incurred significant leg injuries as a result of that attitude? Pay attention here people and learn from my mistakes.

Such fitness fanatics are quintessential overtrainers (or is that overachievers?), true type A personalities, constantly pushing themselves and never taking a rest or active recovery day. Somehow they expect their 50 year old body to bounce back as if they were 18 again.

Sorry to say that it doesn't work that way. If you paid attention to the recent Olympics and caught any of the interviews with 41 year old swimmer Dara Torres, then you heard her state that she cannot train the way she use to when she was a younger swimmer. To prepare and successfully compete in the 2008 Olympics, she had to be a lot smarter about how she trains. She needed more recovery time for her body and more core work and stretching.

Very interesting. This from an elite athlete who has competed in 5 Olympics.
What can us mere mortals learn from such an incredible competitor?

Well for one, your rest/active recovery days are just as important as your hard work-out days.
When you work out (particularly weight training) you are literally tearing down muscle fibers.
The rest days allow the fibers to heal and regrow, becoming stronger. If you don't allow your body the time it needs to heal, you will continually break down your muscles.

Result: disaster, commonly known as overtraining.

If you overtrain (and I have), instead of breaking down your muscle fibers, YOU will be broken. Overtraining can feel like a bad cold or mono-excessive fatigue, a bone tiredness, trouble sleeping, depressed, no interest in working out, possible (probable) injuries.
Does any of that sound like fun?

I can assure you, based on my own experience, it is definitely not fun. You must take rest days.
Active recovery days matter too-you can go for a 30 minute easy walk if you want to move your body or a light yoga class such as restorative yoga. Something that you consider very light to
light intensity. Certainly NOT 2 hours on the elliptical machine.

Ignore your body at your own peril. Rest is not a 4 letter word!
And yes, I can count.......

In Health,

Laura