Confessions From a Personal Trainer: I ate pancakes, eggs, coffee and went to a movie instead of a big work out day

True Confession Tuesday:

Where every Tuesday: I confess.

Confession: This past weekend was planned to be a big work out weekend training for World’s Toughest Mudder. Work outs would be Friday night, a ton of them on Saturday, and finish on Sunday. Instead I ended up out to breakfast eating pancakes, eggs, and coffee and going to a movie. 

You see – things don’t always go as planned. These big work out weekends are a huge part of training for the 24 hour event. Once a month these big work outs happen and I love doing them. Such a variety of things including: rock climbing, running, sprinting, hills, weight lifting, walking to get groceries, running in the dark late at night and more.

Friday night went as planned – except the fact that it was 93 degrees here in Minnesota and I was melting. I mean melting. But two different 3 mile runs and a killer rock climbing session in the books.

Saturday morning was another story. Woke up at 5:30 ready to go run those demon hills (did you miss that story – check it out here) and when I went outside it smelled like the neighborhood was on fire, there was a haze in the air, and it was hard to breathe in clean air. I finally figured out that it was from the Canadian wildfires but also one in Northern Minnesota. The worst of it was this early morning time but it did persist all day. There was no way we could run, especially those hills with smoky air.

So, we decided to re-route to the gym. We’re already up and ready to work out. But the strangest thing happened at the gym. We walked up the stairs and decided – it’s not happening. The whole day of working out is not happening. We’re taking the day off, we’ll work out tomorrow, and the rest of the week.

And that’s OK. 

It wasn’t like skipping one work out – we were skipping 6-8 work outs. But I am a firm believer that if you listen to your body, it will tell you what to do. A big work out day simply wasn’t going to happen. My body wanted a day to rest, to relax (insert breakfast and a movie), to get things done including cooking, some cleaning, and hanging with those cute dogs.

Rewind a few years and I would NOT have been able to accept a change in plans – especially work out plans. My life was built around work outs, my self worth was built into getting them done, what I could eat was tied into working out and I couldn’t handle the feeling of the change of plans.

Over the years I have tuned into what my body is trying to tell me. And those recovery days have been so important and key. Instead of pushing through them and forcing a work out, I take the day off and come back stronger. My work outs Sunday and Monday were great – and I’m sure taking Saturday off to rest and eat pancakes (gluten free of course!) had something to do with it.

So ask yourself a few questions: 

• Do you listen to your body?
• Do you accept change?
• Change in schedule?
• Change in routine??
• Do you know what your body is telling you?
• Do you need movement?
• Rest?
• Connection?
• Do you need therapy?
• Accountability?

And on and on. We have to be able to adapt, change, and grow every day whilelistening to our bodies.

I told a client yesterday, “Your body will always out smart you.”

It is in your best interest to tune in, listen, adapt, and grow. 

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