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When Should You Take a Break from the Gym?
Why is pizza the only thing you can think about after a sleepless night?
There are always long discussions with my clients when it comes to making the right decision between taking a break, skipping the workout, and working out. There is a fine line — possibly no line at all — and so it’s easy to push yourself and overdo it when your body would more greatly benefit from the rest. On the other hand, there are some people who are more sensitive about their bodies, and they will stop working out when met with any little illness or feeling of tiredness.
In this article, I will share my thoughts and tips on how to make the right decision between pushing and pulling — which means working out versus taking an unplanned break. Many of my clients are superwomen, and they feel extremely guilty when they have to skip a workout when they get sick or if they simply feel exhausted. Once they’ve committed to their goal, they want to stick with their plan 100% of the time — rain or shine. But this nonstop exercise may cause them to hit a wall, because they end up pushing their bodies too hard and too far. Therefore, I always say, “Work out smart, not hard.” Your body is doing so much for you; you must respect it when the body is asking (or rather begging) you to take a break.
