Take it easy!

I typically work out hard - usually for at least 45 minutes. I've always worked out like this - if I'm going to get up before sunrise and drive down wherever to work out, I'm going to really make it worth it. It's a rare day I quit early, or even rarer, that I don't go at all. And, when I go, I'm certainly not going to be one of those people that reads while they are sitting on the bike or walking on the treadmill; I always say that if you are reading while you are working out, you are not working out hard enough. However, this way of thinking is far from the truth. While you do want some days when you really push yourself, you need to give your body time to recover - your muscles won't get stronger if you continually push them to exhaustion; they become inefficient - the more you try to push them, the harder they push back. You get frustrated, you are sore, and your muscles fatigue very quickly. This puts negative stress on your body - quite opposite from what you want. Exercise is supposed to relieve stress and improve your mood - NOT ruin your day. Light exercise helps to move lactic acid out of your muscles (this acid is what makes you feel sore and continues to build up when you don't let your body rest properly). If you want to read, go ahead - this is your free time; when you are reading, you are resting your worry cells - they'll be more energized when you need them later in the day. You'll enjoy your workout more when you are comfortable knowing that you don't have to pound it out every day. Sometimes you do need to just roll over and go back to sleep; other days, all it takes is a good book! Relax and enjoy yourself - Melissa