Happy Monday!! Hopefully you’re feeling rested and motivated from the weekend. I know I am after just getting back from 4 days in Lake Powell. It wasn’t quite long enough, but it was still the perfect getaway to free myself from social media for a few days and let the body rest away from the gym. Which means it’s the perfect time to remind YOU of the importance of resting. Let’s chat.
Ok, so hopefully we all know that working out is important. And I’m hoping that you’re working out at this point. If not, it’s time to find a workout you love and stick with it. But if you’ve been working out consistently at any point, you’ve probably overdone it once or twice. Whether that was during a workout or too many workouts in a row or even too many workouts in a day, most of us have felt some sort of fatigue. But just like any endorphin high, working out can be addicting. And when we see results, it’s easy to believe that we will see more results with the more workouts we do.
But rest is just as important as working out. When you constantly put stress on the muscles, tissues and systems, they need time to repair so they can catch back up for the next workout. Just like how we need sleep every single day, the body also needs rest. If rest isn’t incorporated into your fitness routine, not only are you increasing the bodies vulnerability for fatigue, poor sleep, messed up hormones, immunity and mood, but you’re also hindering the bodies ability to rebuild those tissues that were broken down. Which means all that hard work you’re putting in may not be visible. You want to see your muscle definition and weight loss or weight gain, right? That’s why I workout – I want to visually see my body change from all my hard work. And when you’re not resting, that muscle turnover and healing can’t happen meaning your progress will be slowed and your visible changes will be hindered.
Our bodies were made to be pushed and to be physically and mentally stressed, but they were also built for rest and relaxation. And that means FULLY resting. Before I started taking 2 rest days per week, I would workout multiple times per day and I would run 3-5 miles on my rest days. I never truly rested. I believed that the more work I put into it, the more results I would see. Then when I decided to finally listen to my body and take those rest days, my body completed changed. It took years, but it changed. My muscle definition begin to show more, my body weight decreased and my movements in the gym actually improved.
More isn’t always better. Remember that. If you work hard, your need rest. So let the body rest, recover and fully benefit from your work days! Whether that’s a week off while on vacation or the weekend off every couple months or taking multiple rest days during the week, DO IT. Take care of yourself! Now let’s get after it on this Monday!
Sunday – Rest Day
Monday – Orange Theory Class – see workout here
Tuesday – Orange Theory Class – see workout here (This was the modified Tornado workout for the day)
Wednesday – Rest Day/Wake surfing in Lake Powell
Thursday – Rest Day/Wake surfing in Lake Powell
Friday – Rest Day/Wake surfing in Lake Powell
Saturday – Rest Day
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Free Travel Workout:
2 rounds:
100 alt. walking lunges
80 mountain climbers
60 tuck jumps
40 alt bicep curls
20 heavy DB front squats
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Hi Juli, don’t know if you have any input on the pop ups on your site, but one fairy season popped up today. Just wanted to let you know they are a horrible company
Poor service, don’t send what you ordered, poor quality, and then they charge you for things you don’t order. Anyway, just thought you’d like ike to know. Love your blog! Have a Great day!
can you say what the company is?
Aren’t most pop ups are based on what you searched in Google? Targeted specifically to the browser user usually!
I learned this lesson the hard way last week. I have a lot of discipline in my body to a fault sometimes. I’ve been pushing it for months,feeling drained but not resting because that’s “lazy.” My body said “nope, watch this!” I bloated up something fierce about 2 weeks ago after an ultra long full day endurance session. I was forced to sit. I also got ravenously hungry and instead of fighting it I leaned in to it. I spent the past 10 days resting and eating. Once I got over the guilt I embraced the liberation. I felt so damn good. The fears of turning into a sloth abated as I started to crave activity by the end of the week, a sign my body was probably finally getting what it needed. Now, not too push too hard. Rest is hard for me but I’m learning it’s all part of the work.
I needed this reminder today. I have a pulled groin/hip flexor and I know it’s because I have been pushing too hard. Your post reminded me that it’s ok (and at this point, necessary) to dial it down a little. Thanks!
I listened to your “How to start CrossFit” podcast a couple of weeks ago and it inspired me to take the CrossFit plunge. I’m now smack in the middle of my onramp series – so thanks!
I find hat I have to remind myself that I’m here to gain strength and it’s ok that I’m not as strong as I’d like yet (especially when I’m only using the bar and it STILL feels heavy!).
Thanks for the motivation – keep it up!
it all takes time. and the consistent progress to better movements will help you with strength in the long run!
Currently 3.5 months into no working out (aside from an easy walk a few mornings a week in which your podcast is giving me life) and I wish SO bad that I had 1) had people telling me this when I first started crossfit or 2) listened if there were people telling me this. I thought I was invincible. Not the case, 6 years with no period and adrenal fatigue and I am finally recovering. I had to stop restricting my diet and stop working out. And honestly recovery is harder than working out ever was, but I know I have to do it. Thank you, thank you for using your platform to talk about this. <3
i wish more people would talk about it. it’s such a huge issue, especially for people in the crossfit community! glad you’re working your way to recovery!
Hi Julie,
I don’t know where to ask this but I was wondering if you can share some information on what type of equipment you use for your podcast. I am looking to start a podcast in an unrelated topic and I was wondering if you could give me some tips for a beginner.
Thanks!
i honestly just use my apple headphones, i record in garageband and that’s it haha!! i have absolutely no idea what i’m doing at any point of this podcasting process
Your podcast on starting Crossfit inspired me, too. I did my first intro session today with a 1:1 coach. It was awesome. I have thought about doing this for years, but between your podcast and Girls Gone WOD, I decided to go for it.
Thanks for the push!
yayyyyy!! great work!! hope you love it!
Such a good message! I schedule a full week of rest every 12 weeks and kind of use traveling as a chance to get less intense forms of exercise in or different like hiking or walking to explore. I’ve definitely been on the too much side and it’s hard for me to pull back but I know if I don’t I’ll be forced to pull back without my control.
Hey! I’m only on episode 35 of the podcast so I’m not sure if you still pull listener questions from these posts. But question for you. I haven’t really seen quinoa in any of your posts or recipes. Is there a reason for this?
Thanks!
quinoa is not considered completely paleo so you won’t see it on my site. and i’m honestly not a huge fan of quinoa so i never cook it at home
Hi Juli,
I have a question I’m hoping you’ll briefly answer (I’m sure it’s something other readers struggle with too): how did you learn to become a moderator with regards to eating? I know you’ve covered the topic in your podcast, but it’s something that’s been really hard to implement into my everyday life after struggling with an ongoing restriction/binge cycle (and I’ve been eating clean for many years). How did you fundamentally change your attitude towards eating/dieting? How do you make your recipes without going to town and needing to eat the whole damn thing (lol) right after you’ve made it? I know you’ve come a long way with your own issues — specifically, getting the physical results while also being mentally healthy — and I was hoping you could impart a tiny bit of wisdom with regards to that.
Thank you, you are truly a godsend! <3
for me, i had done all of the restriction and binge cycles and never saw the results i wanted to see. so i knew what i was doing wasn’t working. i knew that telling myself i couldn’t have something made me want it so much more. and then i would binge as soon as i got my hands on it. so I just finally decided that was enough and i would let my body have what it wanted. when i did that, i stopped binging. but it also had to do with my emotional stability at that point. being in a secure relationship with a person who didn’t obsess over food and their body made a big difference. and continually reminding myself that i was happy in my own skin, no matter what my body was doing that day. i also try to stay away from making too many desserts or treats, because when i make them, i eat way more than i should and i often feel sick after. so i just don’t cook those foods as much as i use to and that eliminates those behaviors.
Thanks this was helpful because I struggle with this issue also! Maybe you mentioned it and I missed it, but why nonpodcast this week? I always look forward to them!
just not enough time in the week with trying to keep the blog updated while leaving out of town for 5 days