Okay, first let’s address the issue of R&R in working out. I, and many other fitness folks, believe one rest day a week is important to allow the muscles to recuperate. I remember asking the incomparable Maya about this a looong time ago, and she advised making that rest day a real relaxer, by getting extra sleep, eating very healthfully, meditating, breathing, etc. So far I’ve been able to do the sleep thing, but not so much with the other stuff. I think it’s really good advice though.
And here’s my personal experience: I used to skip rest days (too unproductive!) preferring instead to go a full 7-day workout week. Then shit happened and I had to skip a day once a week for a few weeks, and lo and behold, my workouts got better. I was less sore, less dehydrated, I lost weight, I looked better, I gained IQ points (bringing me to a total of 3), Gabrielle Reece wanted to sleep with me… You get the idea.
If you plan to do the 100 challenge, feel free to take a day off once a week. Make it the same day so you keep your commitment. And always listen to your body, even though mine is mostly not very vocal, except for the hoo hoo, and that’s a whole other story.
Other lessons for today:
1. Boxing is totally like crack. I’m a strung-out addict, getting all high on hitting. I’d sell your stereo for a session.
2. I only injure unglamorously. That’s an ungrammatical mouthful, but what I mean to say is, I messed up my toe today. There is absolutely no glory in a toe injury. Trust me.
3. If you are a tweaker (back to that again) frustration is just fuel. My boxing performance today was somewhat less than stellar, but don’t think that isn’t driving my determination. I’m super-motivated now. I might even hit things on the other 6 days.
4. Everyone should take boxing. It rocks that hard. But don’t do it, because I still wanna be able to kick your ass when I get better, and if you train too, I might not have as good of odds. So just enjoy it from a distance. Make it a “someday I’ll…” and skydive or do rollerderby instead. Fine, whatever, do what you want.
There I was, all smug, thinking ‘oh the 100 challenge won’t do much, but I’ll do it on top of my normal workout’. So off I merrily went, doing sets of squats, (sticking out the rack as directed, hehe )lunges, planks etc all day.
Lo and behold, this morning I feel like someone has removed my quads and replaced them with hot lava.
I can barely hobble around the office…*grin* thanks!!!
gilly
xox
gilly
May 17th, 2007
kelly, if we use the evil wheel for abs, can we do less???
signed:RR (robot renee)
renee
May 17th, 2007
I never thought that taking a day off would make a difference. I’ve been pushing myself 7 days a week for the last few months (I’ve only started recently). Does spending the day in a garden count as relaxing? I did quite a bit of planting today…heh.
I broke my toe recently as well, I hit a speed bump too quick during one of my runs this past week. There’s NOTHING graceful about it at all!
Krissy
May 17th, 2007
I am so with you on the boxing. I truly had no idea how much it would be to just punch the shit out of things. For me, kickboxing is even that much more fun, too, because what’s better than punching? Punching and kicking. I’m gonna move to Thailand just so I can learn kickboxing and wear those satin shorts like Dmitri.
Therese
May 17th, 2007
welcome to broke toe ville, maybe kelly can link to my broken toe story from months past!
juliet
May 17th, 2007
You know, this “make sure to rest” bit is one of those things that I’ve been hearing over and over again lately but have always resisted… generally I let myself rest about 1 day per month. It’s really hard for me to NOT exercise. But now, reading that someone who used to do the gung-ho-die-hard-all-the-time workout program has benefitted from one rest day a week, I might actually have to give it a try… Probably by assigning a guardian friend to tie me down on Sundays and keep me from sprinting out the door with my sneakers on, but hey - whatever works.
Also, as an aside, I absolutely love this blog. It honestly makes me wish I lived in NorCal so I could make the Ice Chamber my gym.
Alex
May 17th, 2007
Krissy, I broke my toe walking. No kidding. Just kicked something that’s been in my landscape for years. Sigh.
Shari
May 17th, 2007