Listening to your body when it needs a break. Simple solutions to getting back on track nutrition, supplements and listening to your body.
Think of training like making withdrawals from a “body bank account.” The more intense the training, the bigger the withdrawal.
Training stress can also combine with other life stressors — such as work, relationships, family, financial or other demands.
Rest and recovery is a deposit into that bank account. And hopefully, you’re putting in a good — and regular — salary of purposeful rest and recovery protocols.
Otherwise, you risk overtraining and over-reaching, i.e. “deficit spending.”
Where should I start?
Step 1: Pay attention. Symptoms sound familiar? That’s okay.
Awareness is the first step in targeting the problem. Consider a symptom diary where you track how you feel — even a few notes in the margin of your workout journal can help you see trends.
Step 2: Do the basics, consistently
The second step is to immediately reinforce your existing good habits. This includes:
getting enough quality sleep
getting enough quality nutrients
actively chasing rest and recovery protocols
Usually, following this “fundamentals first” prescription for a few days – and then committing to maintaining it – will improve your symptoms.
Remember that supplements are supplemental — an addition to the fundamentals.
If you insist on killing yourself in the gym despite your body’s plaintive cries to stop, a supplement probably won’t prevent further damage.
So help the supplements do their job by getting the rest and recovery basics down first. Supplements won’t fix stubbornness.
Step 3: Supplement wisely
However, if you’ve tried the basic rest and recovery strategies consistently for several weeks and you’re still constantly dragging, consider supplementing.
Click on the following link to read more about common problems and their supplemental solutions.