I have a BIG question for those of you who have more experience with physical fitness-(Coach Case) I've watched the contestants on Biggest Loser working out until they have sweat pouring down their bodies, or until they fall or pass out or puke, but I don't think that is really the realistic way to exercise....so my question is this: How do you know how hard to push yourself?
My goal is to actually RUN a 5k and I've been doing the Couch to 5K program. And up until Week 4 it has been fairly manageable. I even had one day when I felt good after I finished and I thought "Oh, these must be the endorphins people are talking about!" But today was seriously harder than anything I've ever done before. Part of me wanted to finish so that I could say I did it and the other part of me was saying, "Are you CRAZY!!!"
So I would really appreciate some comments. I'd like to know from the fitness junkies and from the couch potatoes too! Does it get any easier???
I'm signing off and then crashing on the couch where I'm likely to stay for a while. Esther
For me some days are easier and then others it is just a miracle that I am moving. Some days when I run I am stiff and achy when I start but I just start slow and try to increase my speed-you can even go slow the whole time- the fact is you are doing it! I try to think about parts of my body that don't hurt. I know you can appreciate your feet not hurting, when I had plantar faciitis I really couldn't run without pain because you shouldn't run but I did a 5k with my girls. The next year I kept thinking how great my feet felt and my back didn't hurt and I really felt grateful. If you have to stop running it's no big deal, you can start again. Your brain is so powerful. If you think how much you hate running it is so disabling. When I was running with my girls I showed them that running slow was just like walking fast and I told them they could do either. Just believe in yourself and hang in there. Sweating is so good for you, I am really proud of myself when I am super sweaty. :-) I think if you are just proud of yourself and do some positive and grateful thinking when you run or walk you'll remember you are succussful because you are doing it!!! Love you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Gaylene. Be proud that you are doing something and keep doing something. I think that you should continually push yourself to improve and do better even if it is a little. Sometimes your body needs a small break to rebuild the muscles and such. Just try not to get discouraged and get back to doing something. Somedays I go super slow for me, but I just tell myself. At least I am doing something. It is better than nothing. Sometime I will switch it up as well. If i run everyday, then It gets old pretty fast, so I will try doing a stair stepper or eliptical, or play a sport instead. I am so proud of everyone, in their efforts. When I have a day or several days that I don't want to do anything I think about how good you all are doing and it motivates me to do something.
ReplyDeleteI wish to add some tid bits from my own experience, which frankly I don't think is much different than any other person. For years I ran or jogged depending on how I felt, 2 to 5 miles per day, six days a week. I can tell you that on some days, I just struggled to even job. I would just be frustrated with it because like you have described I was running or jogging regularly and nothing made sense as to why on one or two days I could not seem to do anything. On some of those days I would just power walk. I found that by doing something it kept me in the habit/routine which is vital. It is like scripture study. The minute you take one day off, it seems impossible to get back on track. So I would say your "normal", recognize that there are and will be days just like these and when they come make it a personnel goal to do something, maybe power walk, ride a bicycle. I personnally believe that our body is telling us to change our routine and do something different. Just do something and you will fell better. As for sweating, some days I would sweat more than others. I know from my training in the police academy that our fitenss trainer said that when you work up a good sweat that your body would actually burn up or fight off illnesses and infections. So I do like to get a good sweat style workout a couple of times each week. During my 22 and half years as a police officer, I never used a sick day. I cannot say that I was never sick, but typically my colds or coughs never seemed to last very long and I found that working out made me feel better.
ReplyDeleteSo keep on doing it!! Your awesome!!!
Shane
Thanks for all you comments. I must admit that I haven't done anything since I wrote this post....and I think Shane is right. It's more about the habit and the daily routine. If I continue to react the same way when exercise becomes uncomfortable then I'll continue to have the same results and that's not what I want! SO I will post another comment today AFTER my workout! Thanks everyone!!
ReplyDeleteEsther