A break from Working out, A Raptors game and a little rant…
Written by Mike Cheliak on March 20, 2009 – 8:15 am -YOU NEED A BREAK!
OK…this little post is a little about this and that. Nothing earth shattering but some perspective stuff none-the-less. For those of you who are 
into fitness and working out, there is a well known rule of thumb that you should follow. About every 12 weeks you should take a week off from your normal regimen and let your body heal. Failing to do so will in some ways limit your overall success. Sometimes less than 12 weeks may be in order if you have been really pushing it but as a general rule 12 weeks works. It acts as a body recovery and reset week and can help with any minor ailments, stiffness or minor injuries.
You would think I should realize that! Here I am in the middle of 14 weeks straight and finally hit a wall! I should have known better but I “let it slide”. Our body needs time to “heal”. That is the reason for a 12 week break! Before you get all confused, excited or shake your head at this, let me make it clear. A break from your normal routine does NOT mean to sit around, watch TV, eat chips and drink beer. It means to take a break from the heavier stress exercises you have been doing.
In place or your weight routine, take a nice bike ride (without doing a time trial), Go for a nice jog at a reasonable pace, take a long hike with your family, friends, doggies or any group, play some hoops, row a boat, do a stretch class do some yoga or do anything that is different that has some active aspect to it. The key is to let your body get itself “reset” and ready to take on the next challenge you give it.
During this break, it’s also a good time to reset your nutrition. Everyone (or mostly everyone) has their slips in nutrition. During a week of light activity is a great time to makes some notes and effect some changes in your eating habits. If you have been taking in too many processed foods, ease up. If you have been taking in too many calories from liquids, cut back. The key is to refocus yourself physically, mentally and nutritionally for the next round.
One last word of advice is this. After your week off is done, you will likely feel like you can take on the world. DON’T! You first week back should be done around 70% of what your usual output is. You will likely feel some extra soreness and the worst thing to do is push it too hard. Make sure to properly warm-up before each session and do some light static stretching afterwards.
A RAPTORS GAME…
Every year, I take my wife, son, daughter and one of my son’s friends to a Toronto Raptors NBA game. It is sort of a “pre-birthday” thing for my son Billy. If anyone reading this follows the NBA, you will know that the Raptors have had a really bad season. They fired their coach, traded away their big off-season acquisition (Jermaine O’Neal) and generally have played horrible all year.
That being said…WHO CARES! Being a fan is more about enjoying the game no matter what the outcome. We are also long Toronto Maple Leaf fans (me since the late 1960’s). We root for the home team win or lose (mostly lose this year). We go to these games for the fun, action, live atmosphere and the overall experience. I will be doing live Twitter updates from Air Canada Centre tonight as the Raptors are guaranteed to CRUSH the Charlotte Bobcats (we hope)!
Before I sign off…I need to have my little rant (very little). Most of the so-called experts about the economy are the same money grubbing idiots that have help to bring companies like AIG to the brink of disaster. I think it’s time these so called “leaders of industry” were made accountable for their efforts in screwing things up. I for one have faith that our economy will turn around. It won’t be these moronic idiots who do it; it will be people like you and me who will turn it around. Maybe it’s time to start listening to the little voices like ours and put a sock in the loud mouths who caused this problem!
(Too harsh?)
In smiles, health and happiness as always!
Mike C
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