Mental and Physical Break Part 2

You can read Part 1 Here.

DAY THREE

How I Did: I was starting to get the itch. I was almost mentally and physically ready to go back to the gym and my routine. I weighed in for the first time since my Texas Vacation. I’ll be honest, I was a tad nervous. I waited a few weeks to “correct the damage” I’d done in Texas before getting on the scale. It was a good number. It was my pre-Texas number (144).

How I Felt Physically: I felt much better on Day 3 than I did the first two days. It was like my body was finally over the aches and pains. I didn’t walk around feeling like my body was falling apart like I did earlier in the week. The upper back soreness was gone. The pains in my shins and knee were gone. So that was a good sign!

How I Felt Mentally:  Mentally I felt okay. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed with some things on Day Three. Normally I would have an outlet (the gym) to work out some of that anxious energy but I didn’t have that. Mentally I was looking forward to the gym.

What I Did: Wednesday after work Michael and I made the trek to his mom’s house for dinner. Nothing better than comfort food from Mom! She read my mind too, I’d been craving comfort food all week. She made spaghetti, Caesar salad and had fresh bread. Perfect.

A glass of wine or two to relax…it was a nice night.

Candy Detox: On the Candy front I didn’t do too well. Day One I avoided the Candy Room at work and successfully did not eat any. Day Two I caved. I was disappointed but it wasn’t the end of the world.

DAY FOUR

Back to the gym! I most definitely needed that work out. The week I’d had I needed it. The plan was to hit the Spin Class but I got stuck in traffic and got to the gym too late to join the class. Which is one of the main reasons I hate taking classes. The pressure, the stress to get there, the classes never working with my schedule, etc. But all was not a wash. I got to the gym and changed and hit the treadmill. After not running for over 2 weeks I ran almost 4 miles on the treadmill. It was an okay run, nothing fast, nothing special, but better than my runs were before I took a few weeks off from it.

I finished up with some weight lifting and then went home. I didn’t feel inspired by the workout but I was glad I went and got in something. Next week I’m going to try hard to get in a Spin Class.

THE VERDICT

I am 100% glad I did this. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d make it all three days. I wasn’t entirely sure I needed this until I did it. My body told me that I most DEFINITELY needed this break. I was surprised by how much my body hurt during the break. I was also surprised at how hungry I was those three days. Shouldn’t it be the opposite–extra hungry on exercise days?

I am also 100% glad to be back at the gym. I didn’t want to take too long of a break for two reasons: 1) I didn’t want to fall off the “wagon” of exercising. It’s so much harder to start up again after that and 2) I didn’t want to lose all of my fitness I’d built up. I think I avoided those two pitfalls AND got the much needed break. Success!

Will I do it again? Probably. If taking a break like this a few times a year means I am refreshed and I can avoid getting run down and sick, it’s a good thing.

QUESTION: How long of a break have you taken and then gotten “back on the wagon” right away? Was it a struggle?