Often our body will give us cues to say something is good for bad. That may be a sense of pain if we move wrong or hurt ourselves. It may be butterflies in our tummy when there's a sense of danger, excitement or apprehension. Or it could be an internal chatter that doesn't feel 'right' or makes us question our next move.
Recently I've been pretty busy and my training load has been pretty high. In the last week or so my body has tried telling me that it needs a rest. Whether that be sore muscles, lower energy, or lower desire.
One cue that I picked up on a few years ago and has always stuck with me since is this. Generally I love training and moving. But when my internal narrative changes to "I need to/should train" - whether that be to make progress, to feel better, for aesthetics - I know I need to rest.
Sure, I'm not saying I always want to train. But when it goes to a more obsessive need in my head rather than a desire to do it with possible low motivation I know it's gone too far.
So the last couple of weeks I've started to feel like this mentally and physically.
So what have I done?
I've taken this week off. Completely.
I'm still eating well and the high amount I normally would. But I'm not exercising.
This is a little easier because the work week is pretty full on (thanks bank holidays) but it has also helped me to re-align my priorities and adjust the stressors to where I am.
Also because my work isn't all in one place right now, it's meant my step count is climbing, so my body is getting exactly what it needs! Light movement!
I know I could check my body battery on my watch and it could tell me similar things. But I really love that I have some mentally and physically indicators I can stay in tune with.
Plus! My body battery has now shot back up through the roof this week, which is great to see that my body knows what it needs!
What are your cues that you need to tone it down, or indeed, ramp it up?
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