Energy levels, decisions and schedules

Vantreesta · 03-24-21, 11:40 AM

I would love to hear how people deal with varying energy levels and how you make decisions in relation to your schedule and self care.

For example, last week after the time change, everything was off. My sleep and eating were poor, energy and motivation and self discipline very low. I did manage to meet my workout minutes goal but very little housework got done and I spent a lot of time aimless and sitting around. I told myself it was okay for that week and I would get back on track Monday. So Monday and Tuesday were good, productive, great workouts and then today hit. I was really hungry when I got up so I decided it was okay to reorder my morning routine and eat first then finish my routine. This should not have been a problem. Okay, I did spend some time playing with my dog Cyric and that was important and worth it, but it was maybe 20 minutes instead of the couple hours that disappeared. And now all I want to do is read and watch baseball and not workout or clean.

So what I'm wondering is how you personally decide whether you accept a low energy/motivation level and ride with it or whether you say not today and push through it to stick to your plan. Monday I pushed through a 3-day long headache and said you're not stopping me today and it worked out well. I agree with many "experts" that our bodies will tell us what they need if we just listen. But how do you distinguish if your body is saying take a break or if your brain is justifying smthg your body isn't asking for?

Daphne M · 03-24-21, 02:42 PM

Very timely question because today became one of those days for me!

I can't usually tell whether I'm being smart and "listening to my body" or if I'm just avoiding a workout that might actually cure me of my low-energy blues.

What I've decided is that, in the end it doesn't matter. If I don't work out, I just fully embrace the day off and tell myself it will benefit me. I try to avoid feeling guilty. I do try to avoid doing it two days in a row. Unless I'm actually sick or injured, two days in a row without exercise makes me really stiff and sore and low in morale.

Vantreesta · 03-24-21, 03:11 PM

Thank you, Daphne! I'm glad I'm not alone. I've pretty much written off a workout happening today but I realized I have an hour now before it's time to walk again and that is enough time to turn on some happy music and get the kitchen clean! As you said, I will workout tmrw and it will be okay.

wendug · 03-24-21, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daphne M

I can't usually tell whether I'm being smart and "listening to my body" or if I'm just avoiding a workout that might actually cure me of my low-energy blues.

Yep, I deal with this, too. I rarely skip 2 days in a row, and find that if I just start to do a workout, I'll usually feel better and finish it. But if you start a workout and feel worse, then you should definitely listen to your body and take a rest. But I don't beat myself up about it. We all have good days/weeks and bad days/weeks. My allergies have been kicking in and they are definitely impacting my workouts lately. I just do what I can manage for now.

Vantreesta · 03-24-21, 04:15 PM

Thanks, Wendy! I feel like I've taken a lot of rest days lately but the days I do workout I kind of do a lot so maybe I just need to adjust my expectations for myself.

Lori_Michigan · 03-24-21, 04:19 PM

I wish I had listened to my body (probably for like 10 years now), but 6 weeks ago I decided I could do a high impact squat jump during the last week of my cycle where I had been injuring myself for the past few months (shoulder, hamstrings, hip, foot, and now knee). And I mentally told myself, oh well, I feel pretty good, I should do a higher impact cardio day! And then boom, a move that I'd done hundreds of time before, but because I hadn't listened to my body for the past few years and didn't give it the amount of rest that my now 47 year old body needed.

I thought I just might have "tweaked" it somehow, so I just rested it for a week and then got right back into weight training and doing things. Nope, big mistake. I ended up injuring it further by simply getting off the couch awkwardly. So I went to my doctor after 6 weeks of getting better then getting worse by doing things again. Turns out I have a torn meniscus! And I need to only do light walking around the house for the next 12 weeks, and then just keep to walking and CS for the next 6 months after that.

So, long story short, my body found a way to get the rest that I neglected to give it. It decided for me that I need to put weights and higher training behind me at the moment. My advice, listen to your body!

Vantreesta · 03-24-21, 05:27 PM

Lori, sorry about your injury. I learned the hard way too and definitely listen if I have pain or discomfort. I tore my hamstring tendon and ligaments in my hip in 2009 bc I decided of course I can do this! I still deal with those issues all these years later.

I just don't know how to distinguish btwn body needing a lazy day (which still includes miles of dog walks so it's not often I do absolutely nothing, which makes me feel not good) and my mind being lazy.

wendug · 03-24-21, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lori_Michigan

I wish I had listened to my body (probably for like 10 years now), but 6 weeks ago I decided I could do a high impact squat jump during the last week of my cycle where I had been injuring myself for the past few months (shoulder, hamstrings, hip, foot, and now knee). And I mentally told myself, oh well, I feel pretty good, I should do a higher impact cardio day! And then boom, a move that I'd done hundreds of time before, but because I hadn't listened to my body for the past few years and didn't give it the amount of rest that my now 47 year old body needed.

I thought I just might have "tweaked" it somehow, so I just rested it for a week and then got right back into weight training and doing things. Nope, big mistake. I ended up injuring it further by simply getting off the couch awkwardly. So I went to my doctor after 6 weeks of getting better then getting worse by doing things again. Turns out I have a torn meniscus! And I need to only do light walking around the house for the next 12 weeks, and then just keep to walking and CS for the next 6 months after that.

So, long story short, my body found a way to get the rest that I neglected to give it. It decided for me that I need to put weights and higher training behind me at the moment. My advice, listen to your body!

I'm so sorry you have a torn meniscus! Yes, definitely listen to your body. As I've gotten older, I can still do advanced workouts, but I need more rest days than I used to.

Maybe your body will really appreciate the break from your usual workouts and respond well to walking. I know it isn't what you had planned, but it might be good to shake things up. Try to see the positive in it!

annette · 03-24-21, 06:34 PM

Whether or not I push through tiredness or low motivation depends on so many things. However, if I'm doing yard work or heavy duty cleaning for a few hours I won't workout. I'm just too tired and my feet hurt. I've come to terms with it; it's OK. I can't go like I used to; stamina is definitely diminishing. At this age (62) I'm not going to be ripped and the goal is remain strong and flexible. If I only workout 3 or 4 days in a week I'm good with it.

fanofladyvols · 03-24-21, 07:05 PM

Heavy duty cleaning and or gardening/yardwork IS my workout for the day. I also treat it like a workout and do mobility warm-up and cooldown after. And if I'm hauling wood and digging , I don't hesitate to take a rest day after.

I also agree with Wendy if I start a workout and find
I'm not feeling good, I let it go and rest.

I also try not to have two rest days in a row BUT if it happens, I don't sweat it. I am always raring to go on that third day and have a kickbutt sesh. To me, the trade off is better than three days in a row of half-heartedly moving.

Vantreesta I try to balance light cleaning/decluttering on heavier workout days. I have goals for the week and a cycle of daily cleaning that sometimes get rearranged. I will opt for the workout over any house or yardwork goal if push comes to shove though. I make that choice because it's a form of therapy for me. I think everyone has to figure out what call works best for them and their household.

Lori I am sorry you're injured. Man that stinks

Support VF
VF Membership Subscription
Shop These Vendors
Activa	Collage Video
Amazon.com	eBay.com
Amazon.ca (Canada)	Half.com
Amazon.co.uk (UK)	Junonia
Amazon.fr (France)	Onehanesplace.com
BN.com	Overstock.com
Buy.com	Road Runner Sports
CenturyFitness.com	Sierra Trading Post

03-24-21, 11:40 AM
Vantreesta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Snowman Land :)	Energy levels, decisions and schedules I would love to hear how people deal with varying energy levels and how you make decisions in relation to your schedule and self care. For example, last week after the time change, everything was off. My sleep and eating were poor, energy and motivation and self discipline very low. I did manage to meet my workout minutes goal but very little housework got done and I spent a lot of time aimless and sitting around. I told myself it was okay for that week and I would get back on track Monday. So Monday and Tuesday were good, productive, great workouts and then today hit. I was really hungry when I got up so I decided it was okay to reorder my morning routine and eat first then finish my routine. This should not have been a problem. Okay, I did spend some time playing with my dog Cyric and that was important and worth it, but it was maybe 20 minutes instead of the couple hours that disappeared. And now all I want to do is read and watch baseball and not workout or clean. So what I'm wondering is how you personally decide whether you accept a low energy/motivation level and ride with it or whether you say not today and push through it to stick to your plan. Monday I pushed through a 3-day long headache and said you're not stopping me today and it worked out well. I agree with many "experts" that our bodies will tell us what they need if we just listen. But how do you distinguish if your body is saying take a break or if your brain is justifying smthg your body isn't asking for? __________________ "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." "God, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am." "You can't run from your problems. But you'll both feel a little lighter when you get back." ~New Balance shoe ad You don't have to be fast, just keep moving forward. Note to self: You don't get to complain about things you won't work to change! Word for 2024: Accomplished; Word for 2023: Grounded; Word for 2022: Consistency; Word for 2021: Mindfulness

03-24-21, 02:42 PM
Daphne M Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Northern Virginia	Very timely question because today became one of those days for me! I can't usually tell whether I'm being smart and "listening to my body" or if I'm just avoiding a workout that might actually cure me of my low-energy blues. What I've decided is that, in the end it doesn't matter. If I don't work out, I just fully embrace the day off and tell myself it will benefit me. I try to avoid feeling guilty. I do try to avoid doing it two days in a row. Unless I'm actually sick or injured, two days in a row without exercise makes me really stiff and sore and low in morale. __________________ Daphne M Gone anaerobic one time too many. Member, Tough Love Club Breast Cancer Survivor Sneaking up on the next event

03-24-21, 03:11 PM
Vantreesta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Snowman Land :)	Thank you, Daphne! I'm glad I'm not alone. I've pretty much written off a workout happening today but I realized I have an hour now before it's time to walk again and that is enough time to turn on some happy music and get the kitchen clean! As you said, I will workout tmrw and it will be okay. __________________ "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." "God, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am." "You can't run from your problems. But you'll both feel a little lighter when you get back." ~New Balance shoe ad You don't have to be fast, just keep moving forward. Note to self: You don't get to complain about things you won't work to change! Word for 2024: Accomplished; Word for 2023: Grounded; Word for 2022: Consistency; Word for 2021: Mindfulness

03-24-21, 04:15 PM
Vantreesta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Snowman Land :)	Thanks, Wendy! I feel like I've taken a lot of rest days lately but the days I do workout I kind of do a lot so maybe I just need to adjust my expectations for myself. __________________ "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." "God, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am." "You can't run from your problems. But you'll both feel a little lighter when you get back." ~New Balance shoe ad You don't have to be fast, just keep moving forward. Note to self: You don't get to complain about things you won't work to change! Word for 2024: Accomplished; Word for 2023: Grounded; Word for 2022: Consistency; Word for 2021: Mindfulness

03-24-21, 04:19 PM
Lori_Michigan Join Date: Feb 2014	I wish I had listened to my body (probably for like 10 years now), but 6 weeks ago I decided I could do a high impact squat jump during the last week of my cycle where I had been injuring myself for the past few months (shoulder, hamstrings, hip, foot, and now knee). And I mentally told myself, oh well, I feel pretty good, I should do a higher impact cardio day! And then boom, a move that I'd done hundreds of time before, but because I hadn't listened to my body for the past few years and didn't give it the amount of rest that my now 47 year old body needed. I thought I just might have "tweaked" it somehow, so I just rested it for a week and then got right back into weight training and doing things. Nope, big mistake. I ended up injuring it further by simply getting off the couch awkwardly. So I went to my doctor after 6 weeks of getting better then getting worse by doing things again. Turns out I have a torn meniscus! And I need to only do light walking around the house for the next 12 weeks, and then just keep to walking and CS for the next 6 months after that. So, long story short, my body found a way to get the rest that I neglected to give it. It decided for me that I need to put weights and higher training behind me at the moment. My advice, listen to your body!

03-24-21, 05:27 PM
Vantreesta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Snowman Land :)	Lori, sorry about your injury. I learned the hard way too and definitely listen if I have pain or discomfort. I tore my hamstring tendon and ligaments in my hip in 2009 bc I decided of course I can do this! I still deal with those issues all these years later. I just don't know how to distinguish btwn body needing a lazy day (which still includes miles of dog walks so it's not often I do absolutely nothing, which makes me feel not good) and my mind being lazy. __________________ "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." "God, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am." "You can't run from your problems. But you'll both feel a little lighter when you get back." ~New Balance shoe ad You don't have to be fast, just keep moving forward. Note to self: You don't get to complain about things you won't work to change! Word for 2024: Accomplished; Word for 2023: Grounded; Word for 2022: Consistency; Word for 2021: Mindfulness

03-24-21, 06:34 PM
annette VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ohio	Whether or not I push through tiredness or low motivation depends on so many things. However, if I'm doing yard work or heavy duty cleaning for a few hours I won't workout. I'm just too tired and my feet hurt. I've come to terms with it; it's OK. I can't go like I used to; stamina is definitely diminishing. At this age (62) I'm not going to be ripped and the goal is remain strong and flexible. If I only workout 3 or 4 days in a week I'm good with it.

03-24-21, 07:05 PM
fanofladyvols Join Date: May 2004 Location: Modify City, State of Fierce	Heavy duty cleaning and or gardening/yardwork IS my workout for the day. I also treat it like a workout and do mobility warm-up and cooldown after. And if I'm hauling wood and digging , I don't hesitate to take a rest day after. I also agree with Wendy if I start a workout and find I'm not feeling good, I let it go and rest. I also try not to have two rest days in a row BUT if it happens, I don't sweat it. I am always raring to go on that third day and have a kickbutt sesh. To me, the trade off is better than three days in a row of half-heartedly moving. Vantreesta I try to balance light cleaning/decluttering on heavier workout days. I have goals for the week and a cycle of daily cleaning that sometimes get rearranged. I will opt for the workout over any house or yardwork goal if push comes to shove though. I make that choice because it's a form of therapy for me. I think everyone has to figure out what call works best for them and their household. Lori I am sorry you're injured. Man that stinks __________________ Don't just work hard, work smart....Pat Head Summitt Never give up on your body!-- Miranda Esmonde-White Word/Guiding Principle for 2024: Embrace: embrace my faith, my family, my friends, myself, the process, the progress, the hard work, the strength program I choose, the recovery methods and rest I need, my life, the good times, and the memories of good people.