Push! - How Hard?

You say push! I say how hard? I like to push myself to full potential. I love intense workouts that make me sweat in the first ten minutes and make me want to just lay on the floor when I am done. But, can I do that 100%, seven days a week, NO WAY! That is how people get burnt out, even from things they love to do.

Question: " How do you know when to push harder and when to rest?"

My current workout plan has me working out six days a week with Sundays off. I like a scheduled weekly rest day, but on top of this, the schedule also provides me with 3-4 easy days a month and they seem to come at just the right time too. By easy, I mean either less intense than the majority of days or shorter workout time (as short as 20 minutes).

However, I do find it hard to differentiate between needing a rest and feeling lazy. I try to avoid this by doing my workouts first thing when I wake up in the morning. As the day goes on, life tends to throw a lot more at you to get you down or tired. IN addition, everyone runs into those unexpected, "Want to meet for dinner?" texts and social gatherings, making workout time take a back seat. That is how we get behind.

Best times to take a rest

• Sickness - if it's below your throat stay home, if its in your throat or head you'll be fine, just disinfect everything well when you are done
• Injury - knees, ankles, feet - when you get an injury it is best to lay off until the injury is completely healed, otherwise you run risk of being in pain for the rest of your life
• Tired - when you are so tired that you are sleeping through your alarm, you prob need the sleep more, but only one day. Go to bed earlier and make no-exceptions for the next morning

Think before you rest

• Colds - if you feel stuffy or clogged in your throat or head, a little sweat session and cardio would be really good for you. Opt for a nice walk or run outside rather than the gym though to keep your germs to yourself. 
• Soreness - Being sore is good, but it is better to keep working out than to skip a day. If the pain is so bad you can't do normal day-to-day activities (like sitting down) then use the day for yoga or stretching, but do not skip. 
• Lazy - get off your butt, go for a walk in the sunshine, call your friend to play volleyball, just get moving. I bet you'll have plenty of feel-good endorphins when you are done. 

SO in summary, you really have to listen to your body and know the hard-to-tell differences. I would say I push 100% about 80% of the month and the other 20% is filled with stretch days and rest days. Check out my Rest Day and Yoga Poses posts for good ideas. Hope this helps :-)