Workout Warrior

Workout Warrior

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Love Hate with Rest Days


I am so happy! I discovered a way to get into my blog at my work. I can't actually view my blog, but I can still create and edit posts, which makes me ecstatic. Don't get me wrong, I do work but I also have some down time during my lunch hour and after and before school when my papers are graded were I can find some time to throw up a post.
Today is Wednesday, and I wish I had a WIAW post for you today, but honestly nothing exciting on the food front today...oats, almonds, egg whites, turkey and mushrooms with yogurt, etc. Pretty boring day food wise. I really have a love hate relationships with Wednesdays for one reason, it is my all out official rest day from the gym. I love rest days because I do get to sleep in a little later, I let my muscles recover so they are fresh for the next day, and I don't have to rush so much in the morning before work. I hate Wednesdays, will simply because I am not getting my morning "pump" from the gym.
This quote explains it all. Really, I don't go to the gym day in and day out because I think that I am fat or that I need to change the way I look...I go because I really do LOVE IT. If I could spend 100% of my day in the gym, I probably would. Last week I watched the MTV True Life "I am Addicted to Exercise." This really struck a place with me. No, I do not spend 8 hours a day in the gym as one of the guys on the show did...but I dream about working out, think about working out, blog about working out, eat to get the most benefits from my workout, etc. I can take a day off from the gym ( which I am doing today) but it is physically hard for me mentally. I love getting the rush from a workout, and I am addicted to the rush. One of the reasons I work out so early in the morning is due to the fact that I know it is the one time of day that nothing can interfere with it. When it comes to nightly activities, I always make sure during the week I am home at a decent hour to get my rest (not hard when you are 29). If a weekend event does come up, I am pretty good about letting a Sunday workout go and I will make it up by not having my rest day on Wednesday. Sadly, I would have to say that yes I am addicted to exercise. But is it bad that I am? So what if I spend an hour and a half of my day at the gym 6 days a week, I could be doing worse things. I think there comes levels when it comes to addiction. Needing the high from a workout everyday verses needing the high from a workout every couple of hours.
So yes, exercise is part of my daily routine, and even though it is one day or two days I take off...I feel like my day is just not right.
So sometimes, discipline comes in all forms. It can be making yourself get up at least three times a week to exercise or it can even be forcing yourself to take a break from the exercise and let your body recover. Either way, discipline is hard. Discipline can be forcing yourself to eat more food because you know you need the energy or saying no to those tempting brownies.
Do you consider yourself addicted to exercise?
What is something that you have to have discipline towards?

5 comments:

  1. i love this post! i think i started working out because I felt like I "had" to...but with time it has become something that I simply enjoy doing. Its like my special "me" time every day...the thing I do just for me and no one else. i love that! it took a while to develop the habit and i still do not always love 5am but its always worth it!

    i think its great that you love it so much...and i find so much inspiration from your enthusiasm!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I work out an 1 - 1.5 hours 6 days a week. I do it because I love it, it's me time, and keeps me sane! If that's wrong then I don't want to be right!! haha

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wouldn't say addicted to working out but I def dream about it and love it. It keeps me sane. With college sports-practice was kind of mandatory but in a few days I'll be exercising for me and doing what I feel. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. i think that you could say I am addicted to exercise. I do force myself to take rest days though, because I know its whats best for my body. But I do always feel a little "off" when I take a rest day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't necessarily think it's bad to be so involved with exercise so long as you're smart about it. I usually take Fridays off from working out and I ALWAYS feel more lethargic on those days (I also go to bed at like 10 on Fridays, party animal over here). I'm a big fan of morning workouts because no one else is really awake and it's 100% me time - great way to start off the day :)

    ReplyDelete