My Fitness Vacation
When you start a life changing journey, it can be hard to force yourself to rest...especially if you are seeing results on a regular basis. Your body becomes re-adjusted to a new lifestyle and taking a break seems foolhardy. But I have learned a few things on my journey west, both literally and figuratively. Many may disagree, but I'm here to tell you that we are all different, and finding the right balance is crucial, and completely personal.
A few weeks prior to our RV vacation, I had been experiencing uncomfortable pelvic pain. It was kind of hard to explain to my doctor, but as soon as I mentioned my workout routine and how and when I was feeling the pain, she asked "Is it P90X?"
"....yes!" I answered, quite surprised.
"Yep, I've seen this before. How long do you break between rounds?"
I was quite embarrassed to admit that I don't. Even though I know I should. I had just completed three rounds of the workout...PLUS an additional few weeks, because I knew this vacation was up and coming. I wanted to get ahead of myself.
I was grateful to find out it wasn't a hernia, or ovarian cysts, but rather a pulled muscle. The one that attaches my "six-pack muscles" to my pubic bone. It isn't a large muscle, and can easily be injured with alot of strenuous exercise.
"I recommend taking a break." my doctor added.
Quite frankly, I got a bit scared. And a bit down. I managed to get the last few workouts in before the trip, struggling through the pain. I packed some workout stuff just incase...a few DVD's, some 5 pound weights, all my Shakeology packets and P90X bars. I figured if all else failed, I'd at least have my magic shakes.
The first day or two was easy. But suddenly the shit hit the fan. I was eating too much, feeling sluggish, and completely guilty for doing nothing but sitting in the passenger seat of a moving RV. I managed to get some walking in that evening, doing some laps in the swimming pools as my kids enjoyed themselves, and began voicing my insecurities to my husband..my wise husband...who always thought I had a bit of an addiction to exercise. Although I wouldn't call it an addiction. Not completely...but close.
He said, "You are on vacation. Take it...enjoy it. You know that when you return, you will be right back in your routine. Sure, you are getting a little behind. But I know you. You will be back to yourself in a month or less. Don't sweat it."
So, I swallowed hard. And after some serious thought, I haven't. I did, however, watch my eating a bit more closely...and didn't sweat it when my sister-in-law made an awesome meal. Instead, I enjoyed the food and the company and reminded myself that I'll be home soon enough. And since I have vowed never to go back to my old ways, returning to my routine will be easy enough.
As for my belly pain, it is completely gone now.
Sometimes the breaks do pay off. Sometimes it helps you to realize how strong of a person you really are. You need to be strong to make the commitment, but you have to be even stronger to admit that you need a break.
And in the end, vacations out west can be a bit of a blessing, taking the time to enjoy the open sky, the fresh air, and the power to be
...or not to be
...for a little while.
A few weeks prior to our RV vacation, I had been experiencing uncomfortable pelvic pain. It was kind of hard to explain to my doctor, but as soon as I mentioned my workout routine and how and when I was feeling the pain, she asked "Is it P90X?"
"....yes!" I answered, quite surprised.
"Yep, I've seen this before. How long do you break between rounds?"
I was quite embarrassed to admit that I don't. Even though I know I should. I had just completed three rounds of the workout...PLUS an additional few weeks, because I knew this vacation was up and coming. I wanted to get ahead of myself.
I was grateful to find out it wasn't a hernia, or ovarian cysts, but rather a pulled muscle. The one that attaches my "six-pack muscles" to my pubic bone. It isn't a large muscle, and can easily be injured with alot of strenuous exercise.
"I recommend taking a break." my doctor added.
Quite frankly, I got a bit scared. And a bit down. I managed to get the last few workouts in before the trip, struggling through the pain. I packed some workout stuff just incase...a few DVD's, some 5 pound weights, all my Shakeology packets and P90X bars. I figured if all else failed, I'd at least have my magic shakes.
The first day or two was easy. But suddenly the shit hit the fan. I was eating too much, feeling sluggish, and completely guilty for doing nothing but sitting in the passenger seat of a moving RV. I managed to get some walking in that evening, doing some laps in the swimming pools as my kids enjoyed themselves, and began voicing my insecurities to my husband..my wise husband...who always thought I had a bit of an addiction to exercise. Although I wouldn't call it an addiction. Not completely...but close.
He said, "You are on vacation. Take it...enjoy it. You know that when you return, you will be right back in your routine. Sure, you are getting a little behind. But I know you. You will be back to yourself in a month or less. Don't sweat it."
So, I swallowed hard. And after some serious thought, I haven't. I did, however, watch my eating a bit more closely...and didn't sweat it when my sister-in-law made an awesome meal. Instead, I enjoyed the food and the company and reminded myself that I'll be home soon enough. And since I have vowed never to go back to my old ways, returning to my routine will be easy enough.
As for my belly pain, it is completely gone now.
Sometimes the breaks do pay off. Sometimes it helps you to realize how strong of a person you really are. You need to be strong to make the commitment, but you have to be even stronger to admit that you need a break.
And in the end, vacations out west can be a bit of a blessing, taking the time to enjoy the open sky, the fresh air, and the power to be
...or not to be
...for a little while.
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1 comments:
Fitness vacations are really important. All through most people's worklife, they take a "vacation away from fitness" by being sedentary. Why not take a vacation "into fitness" with your vacation instead? If you are very sedentary, you could try yoga, qigong or tai chi. The beauty of this fitness vacation: www.TaiCHiGala.com - is that you can either take hands-on training in healing and gentle topics, or you could take hands on tai chi workshops in it martial arts and self-defense applications. Either way, more people should be less shy and afraid of trying to help their health and state of fitness. I totally support the idea of fitness vacations!
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