How Much?
Posted in My Weight-Loss Journey by RachelI’ve been experiencing some stiffness in my knees over the past few days and this morning is no different. I wish I could say that I am shocked beyond belief, but I’m not. I’ve really put the pedal to the metal this week and it shows. Unfortunately, it’s showing in all of the wrong places! I won’t lie. I am somewhat hesitant to ‘dial it down a notch’, but I know that doing so would be the best choice given the circumstances.
What are the circumstances?
- Over the last eleven or so months, I have lost 100 pounds through exercise (90% cardio) and sticking to a weekly calorie goal based on my BMR and GoWear Fit numbers. That leaves me just twenty-one thirty-one pounds from my (newly) proposed ‘goal weight’. Surely I can forfeit a two-pound weight-loss week to allow my body time to heal and recuperate.
- I am not training for anything specific. I have based my current schedule around workouts from the C25K training schedule I followed back in April, the 10K training schedule I followed back in July, the need to include some form of strength training, and my love for distance jogging. I am averaging 20-21 miles per week which isn’t a whole helluva lot (?), but it is when I’m breaking my 5K PB, 5-mile PB, and 10K PB almost every week. If I want to keep the mileage up, I will need to it slow down especially if I want to begin training for a half marathon on February 15th.
- I’ve been making the mile trek to the train station nearly every morning (roughly 80% of the time) despite freezing temperatures. Adding another mile to the mix can’t be helping matters. I’ve gone five for five this week.
What it comes down to is this: I’ve been working my ass off for the past month and a half (34 workouts over the course of 45 days) and although my mind continues to scream ‘RUN BITCH RUN!’ my body is starting to put up a fight of its own. Exercise has been — without a doubt — a huge part of my weight-loss success thus far. Rather than wallowing in self-pity over having to monitor and babysit every fucking morsel that goes into my mouth, I find joy and accomplishment in exercising. It’s what keeps my spirits high on days where I would like nothing more than to tackle a dump-truck carrying thirty tons of mini powered donuts. It illustrates my mental, physical, and emotional strength — aspects of myself that were once distance memories hidden beneath layers of excess fat.
Exercise has become a huge part of my life and I refuse to put myself on the sidelines due to a self-inflicted injury. With that said, I should probably look into toning down my workouts for the next couple of days. Possible cut backs include:
1. Complete my scheduled sixty-minute interval session this evening, take tomorrow off, complete my 10K on Sunday, and resume schedule on Monday
2. Skip tonight’s sixty-minute interval session, complete my scheduled 10K tomorrow, ditch skating on Sunday, and resume schedule on Monday (where Tues = ‘rest’ day)
3. Take both tonight and tomorrow off and resume schedule Sunday (60 mins of skating)
4. Take tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday off, and resume schedule Monday (where Tues = ‘rest’ day)
5. Hit the gym as scheduled, but stay off the treadmill
When it comes down to it, my journey has always been and will always be about about repairing my distorted relationship with food, increasing my fitness levels, and making good choices. I would be an idiot to ignore the fact that my body is signaling for a break (…my knees are actually throbbing).
But, how much rest is enough?
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12 Comments to “How Much?”
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What the…?
This is my journey to lose 121 lbs one calorie, one blog post, one tweet, and one workout at a time! No foods are off limits, moderation is a must, and calorie intake/expenditure is key.
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'Drea says:
It’s hard for me to sit down too. Today is my *off* day and all I can think about is the gym…
AndrewENZ says:
Rest days are so vital yet I don’t enjoy them either.
I personally think it’s great we’ve all managed to become addicted to exercise.
Monica says:
Hi!!
You remind me like you should be writing self help books or being on commercials or informercials. The stuff you say is always so positive and yet real, too!
Im glad you love exercise so much. As per the knees, on the Shred, they have this exercise where you kind of move your knees in a circular motion. Make sense? LMAO Im horrible at descriptions, but it feels so good!
Gregg says:
I personally think you should take the today and the weekend off and start back up on Monday.
Its going to take a moment for your body to get back on track, but once it does you will come back pain free. I actually had a similar situation to start the year…. my asthma was acting up in the freezing 40 degree weather…. I am in Miami, that counts as freezing.
I actually had to take a week off. My first day back was a pain, but I have been hitting personal bests every day since.
Give your body the rest its asking for. You might have a 0 loss week but in the long run you will be better for it.
susan says:
hiya!
i found your blog recently, and i’ve actually been reading your archives etc… my partner and i are embarking on our own self transformations, and we find you very inspiring!
i just thought i’d chime in on this one b/c i read a few blogs of people who have already achieved their healthy living goals, but are a great source of info, tips, etc.
have you been to http://www.fitnessista.com ??
i’d recommend dropping in on her when you have any questions, but particularly fitness ones (i think she’d give you great advice about your knees and resting etc)… she’s sickeningly healthy/fit etc, but is very sweet, and helpful! she doesn’t push her theories, but will give you great info. and advice.
anyway, that’s my blurb!
Aimee says:
It’s hard to take a break but sometimes that’s exactly what your body needs. I hope your knees are feeling better soon.
Jenn @ Watch My Butt Shrink! says:
I’d say you need enough rest to let your knees feel better, you know? Can you find a non-weight bearing activity to do in the meantime? Swimming or bike, maybe?
It’s important that you take care of your pains – you don’t want it to become so serious that you’re totally out of commission for a long period of time, you know?
amanda says:
Wow! We are sooooooooooo much alike when it comes to exercising. I really don’t ever take a complete rest day off. However, I do take at least one day a week where I tone done my exercise. This is either by taking it easy (lower level on elliptical, run/walk at slower pace, not exercise for long, etc). You could even take a walk one day with some weight lifting.
You have to be careful with your knee injury because you don’t want to set you back any farther that what it has. After you exercise you may want to consider iceing down your knee and also taking an antiinflammatory. I am not a doctor or a nurse but I am in the medical field however take my advice if you want too or not (an x-ray tech working towards a career in healthcare management). I have dealt with minimal sport injuries on myself but I have seen numerous on others before. Just be careful and good luck to you!!!
Besides that, you have done an amazing job!! If you do take a few days of rest off just be careful of your calorie intact. I know when I get bored I eat more.
Jason says:
Great site you have here. I came across your site from another site. I have a blog myself which I hope will be a top resource for those looking to find the motivation to lose weight.
I’d like to exchange links with you to help spread some traffic around between each other. Please let me know if this is possible under our “Best Weight Loss Websites” page. Until then, keep up the good work!
Jason
4Weight2Lose.com
Steve says:
Rest days are much needed, but I always feel guilty when I take them. My legs were sore as hell after I ran in a 5k last Sunday, so what I tried to do was do some more walking instead of running (which is boring as all hell) and some lower impact cardio, like the eliptical or ARC Trainer.
Barb says:
My knees were aching too so I switched to upper body stuff for two days and then took a whole day off. That’s three days off for my poor legs. They don’t ache now so I’m going to get back on the dreadmill today. I probably didn’t burn a whole lot the last few days but I didn’t give up and just lay on the couch. Switch it up and make sure your legs get some real time off.
I hope your knees stop aching
Barb
Miz says:
restrestACTIVErest?
perhaps just do upperbody working out and a few walks until your knees feel great?
that’s what I would do.
love,
Miz who spent ages destroying, eeerrrr, shopping in Michaels yesterday with a 4 yo