When is it Time to Quit? ⏰ August 2023
When is it time to quit?
How much pain is too much?
“Ouch! My knee hurts! I think I should stop this workout and just rest.”
With so many joints, muscles, bones and all the connective tissues, we are bound to have some aches, pains and even some injuries. When these arise our first reaction is usually to STOP and rest. Maybe sit the workout or even week out, resting our pains.
When is it right to rest and when do we need to modify and push through?
At TOA we have a 2 and done rule. If an exercise is hurting, we make two modifications to work with the limitation. If that doesn’t work and the exercise pain persists. Then we scratch that ONE exercise. Only if the majority of exercises are hurting do we stop for the day and start again fresh with a new plan.
After all, we train WITH our limitations not AROUND them.
That’s easy enough and straight forward. However, how do we get through mentally? To let you in on some personal information, I have a knee issue, and a hip flexor issue and a back issue. All arising in the last three months and none getting better with all my efforts and modifications. Man, is it tough. Both physically and mentally.
How do we stay mentally invested, how do we stay encouraged and how do we keep moving forward without throwing in the towel?
Grab a chair and a drink and let me tell you.
Well, to be honest, I’m here wallowing in my pain and lack of progression coming off a hard workout today. That is okay. As long as the wallowing lasts for a moment. As it will. It will pass as do all emotions. It is what rises from the (quiet/angry) reflection that matters.
For me it is loud music, rocking out, letting my emotions come and go and reflecting on WHY does this bother me. WHY am I upset. It isn’t the pain, that I can easily get through, that’s physical and on some level healable. What makes healing from an injury or limitation hard is the urge to compare. To compare to what you once did, maybe comparing to those in your workout group.
What we must remember during this time, is that we are all on a different path, we are all experiencing life uniquely. A specific journey curated for each of us to overcome challenges, to rejoice in the successes. With your continual efforts, each injury or limitation propels you forward. It is when we stop, give up and throw in the towel that we no longer make progress, we no longer experience the victories.
Without the low, how do we have a high?
Take your current obstacle and embrace it. This challenge will end with your success, with your victory and triumph. It will end with a stronger version of YOU!
August 2023 ©BeSTRONGERFitness
