Why You Should Take Your Recovery Seriously

“Our bodies tell us when it’s ready to push hard and give us its all. Other days, it reminds us we need to recover.”

This week I worked out every night after work. And I'm not talking a light jog, or a hatha yoga class, I'm talking high-intensity training and cycling. For some reason, I was so motivated. I just couldn't wait to get off work and hit the gym.

I had planned to hit up Baseline Fitness in Kirkland for a good HIIT session on Saturday morning too. But, by the time I got done with my SoulCycle class on Friday night, my body was telling me to chill out. I was lethargic and weak, and didn't get the typical endorphin rush of a good class.

So what was happening? Over training. While it might seem harmless to workout seven days a week, it can wreak havoc on your body and hinder your progress. Over training can disrupt your sleep cycles, lead to injury and cause mental fog. If that isn't enough, it can make you hold on to more fat and decrease muscle growth by increasing cortisol levels and messing with your hormones. WHAT?!

Our bodies tell us when it’s ready to push hard and give us its all. Other days, it reminds us we need to recover. So on Saturday, instead of another class, I slept in and spent the rest of the morning rolling out my muscles and drinking lots of water. When I woke up on Sunday, I was still feeling a little off, so I did a light thirty-min jog when I took Duck to the dog park.

By the time Monday rolled around, I was ready for another awesome week of hard lifts and fun classes with my girlfriends!

While it may seem counter intuitive to take days off, everyone should incorporate at least 1 day of rest. Some weeks you might need more if you went particularly hard in the gym. Most importantly, listen to your body and rest when your body is asking for it. You'll be glad you did.

- Kelsey