There are times when your "Plan B" for today's fitness may mean less, different or more. This will depend largely on your body signals and energy level.
I remember one afternoon hitting the streets at about 4 pm. After about 10 minutes of power walking with 3-lb hand weights, I hit a wall. I literally had to lay down to recuperate - I was shaking and felt utterly exhausted. I couldn't remember being hit so hard. After some thought, I realized that a number of factors had contributed to this condition simultaneously:
I remember one afternoon hitting the streets at about 4 pm. After about 10 minutes of power walking with 3-lb hand weights, I hit a wall. I literally had to lay down to recuperate - I was shaking and felt utterly exhausted. I couldn't remember being hit so hard. After some thought, I realized that a number of factors had contributed to this condition simultaneously:
- Blood sugar levels
- External temperature/humidity
- Previous sleep deposits
- Circadian rhythm
- Hydration level
- Previous meal/refueling
I had failed to consider these factors in planning my workout schedule, proximity of previous meal, my personal sleep patterns, water consumed, etc. I know now that if I plan to go out around this time, I must have had a substantial refueling snack within the previous hour and have been hydrating well throughout the afternoon, especially on hot days.
So Plan B became - rest immediately, return to base, refuel upon arrival, recuperate for a few hours, re-think my strategy and re-try later.
- REST
- RETURN
- REFUEL
- RECUPERATE
- RE-THINK
- RE-TRY
Note that sometimes, inactivity and your mental state become crucial parts of your strategy for fitness success. It's not just going out there and plowing forward with physical activity. It's about awareness: listening, monitoring and responding -- to both external as well internal signals. This is part of what it means to unleash your fitness warrior.
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