Recovery Week

[daisyduke]

Hello!

I have been exercising for at least an hour and a half or two hours every day (on most days three or four hours) for the past three years. I take one rest day per week. I never miss a workout.

Lately I have noticed that my strength has actually weakened and my heartrate gets very high when doing simple activities (walking up the stairs). I have been extremely tired and weak. I decided to take a week and just rest and relax to let my body recover.

I am still following 811 rv (no overt fat at all). I eat a lot of bananas and green smoothies. I gained 8 pounds this week. Is this because I have not worked out? Could this really be 8 pounds of fat? Do you think it is wise to take a rest week when we feel as though we need it? I'm feeling really guilty now. Thanks for all of your thoughts!

[Goldenrod]

That really sounds like your body it reacting to overtraining. I've been on forums with instructors who lead video workouts and none of them workout anywhere near that much. Most of them also take a week off once or twice a year with no negative affects.

Don't know about the weight gain, but I really doubt you've gained that much fat in one week.

[Sunshine9]

what do your workouts usually consist of?

I doubt it's 8lbs of fat... if for some reason it is, your body probably needs it

I think resting is always advisable when we feel we need it, and even from time to time when we don't think we do

what else do you eat?
if you're feeling weak that might be your body communicating something

[daisyduke]

Well, I usually do cardio and weight workouts for an hour or hour and a half in the morning. Then I do jazzercise for an hour (more cardio and light weights). Then I walk for an hour or more. For a while I was running five to seven miles instead of walking but I thought that was too much. I've since cut out Jazzercise (trying to save money). So i was only doing the 1 hr. to 1.5 hr. workout in the morning and then walking at night.

I usually eat bananas and mixed greens in a smoothie for breakfast. For lunch I have a salad with a tomato, celery dressing. I usually have zuchinni and pepper in the salad too. If I'm still hungry, I may eat some more bananas. That's usually it.

I think I was going through a bit of a cleansing lately. Tired and a tiny bit sniffly. I've been raw since January so I don't think it was too bad.

I don't think it could be fat since I don't notice any fat on me. Plus my clothes aren't tighter? I don't know. Thanks for any help!

[tvillemom]

"Daisy"....I'm going out on a limb here and say that you are putting too much stress on yourself! Don't worry so much about what the scale says...listen to your body. You said you were tired...so maybe you are detoxing something and your body is TELLING you to rest....hence the temporary gain in maybe water to help with cleansing. RELAX! Your body will take care of itself if you just listen to it! It sounds to me like you spend ALOT of time exercising...maybe even alittle too much? Take some time off and rethink what your body is telling you. Best of luck.
Wendi

[faith4u]

If your clothes still fit the same than I wouldn't worry about it. I could care less how much I weigh as long as I fit into my clothes.

I understand how you feel though because I have lived like you do for so long. I love to workout and I never WANT to miss a day. It is not out of fear of how I look but I love the way that it makes me feel. It is a huge stress reliever for me.

BUT after having said that.....it really does sound like you are over training and that your body needs a rest. If you are not full of energy all day than you have got to stop and give your body a break.

I am actually in the same boat again and have noticed that my arms are sore and never recovering form working out. I also am having more knee pain all the time. So I have also realized in the last few days that I was needing a break too.

One thing that I always notice is that if when I normally get up in the morning to workout I am too tired than I am over training. I usually wake up early not wanting to sleep another minute and ready to get my body moving.

So give yourself a break dear, and don't worry about the 8 pounds. Even if it were fat you would lose it right away with the way that you workout.

Just make sure you are eating enough to fuel your body for your level of activity.