Its difficult to work out during the holiday season. Other obligations take precedence such as visiting family and friends and somehow, a daily workout will just slip through the cracks. By the time the holiday season is over, youll have done the odd workout in the past two weeks, but nothing consistent and nothing too difficult. Thats okay. It happens to everybody. The trick is getting back into the swing of things, back to your daily run or to the gym, and getting back into your groove without going too hard.
The hardest thing to do when getting back to exercising is to not start where you left off. Depending on how long your break was, and how little exercise you did during it, you may have lost some strength or speed. As such, you shouldnt go to the gym expecting to set a new personal best on the bench, or pound out a twenty-mile run. Not only will it probably be an impossible thing to do, but you are courting injury by doing so. Its difficult to take a few steps back and start slow, especially if you are in good shape already, but its important to do.
When you get to the gym, start easy. Warm up your muscles by lifting less than you are accustomed to doing. Go on a short jog. Remind your body what it is going to be doing. Do not try to lift as heavy as you can or run as far as possible immediately. Wait for a week or two to start making gains again, because it may take that long for your muscles to gain the strength they lost during your time off. Its frustrating to do, but it will prevent you from getting injured, from tearing a muscle or giving yourself a stress fracture, which will be better for you in the long run.
When coming back after taking an extended break from exercise, its important to start easy. By doing so, you will be able to re-strengthen your muscles and remind your body of what it is supposed to do. You will keep yourself from getting injured, and allow for more gains in the future. Taking a break is a fine thing to do, but dont assume you will be able to pick up right where you left off.
The hardest thing to do when getting back to exercising is to not start where you left off. Depending on how long your break was, and how little exercise you did during it, you may have lost some strength or speed. As such, you shouldnt go to the gym expecting to set a new personal best on the bench, or pound out a twenty-mile run. Not only will it probably be an impossible thing to do, but you are courting injury by doing so. Its difficult to take a few steps back and start slow, especially if you are in good shape already, but its important to do.
When you get to the gym, start easy. Warm up your muscles by lifting less than you are accustomed to doing. Go on a short jog. Remind your body what it is going to be doing. Do not try to lift as heavy as you can or run as far as possible immediately. Wait for a week or two to start making gains again, because it may take that long for your muscles to gain the strength they lost during your time off. Its frustrating to do, but it will prevent you from getting injured, from tearing a muscle or giving yourself a stress fracture, which will be better for you in the long run.
When coming back after taking an extended break from exercise, its important to start easy. By doing so, you will be able to re-strengthen your muscles and remind your body of what it is supposed to do. You will keep yourself from getting injured, and allow for more gains in the future. Taking a break is a fine thing to do, but dont assume you will be able to pick up right where you left off.
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