Work Hard, Play Hard

     Welcome to afitnewyou!  Today we celebrate Independence Day in the United States as a national holiday.  Most people will be off from work, and heading to barbeques and / or parties.  Some people will even have a long weekend this year and go away for a few days.  Its during times like this where I often suggest to people to actually enjoy the day and, in a sense, be independent from their typically demanding exercise and diet routines.  With 365 days in the year, there are going to be a few of them where you should allow yourself a break from your routines, and to enjoy the, sometimes literal, sweetness of life.  "Stop and smell the roses"..."All work and no play makes so and so a dull boy", there are a number of these cliches that point you to relaxing just a little bit.  While it is extremely important to take good care of your physical health with regular exercise and smart food choices, it is just as important to take care of your mental/emotional health...and sometimes the best way of doing that is to simply take a break and relax.

     Linda is a former client of mine who can best be described as a dynamo.  Even as she glided through here 60's into her 70's there was absolutely no slowing her down.  Almost every single day, at least once a day she could be found doing some physical activity.  She trained in the gym at least 3 days a week.  And most days she would "get in a swim" either at her local pool in the summer, or at a local club in the winter...again, nothing was going to stop her from being active.  She is truly inspiring.  Even when she would go on vacation, she would make sure that she could maintain the same level of activity.  She wouldnt book a hotel unless she saw good reviews of its gym and/or pool.  And while I find this all commendable, I would tell her that it is ok to stop and relax every so often.  Not only does the physical body need time to repair, but a good part of why we go on vacation is to "get away from it all" in both the literal and figurative senses.

     On this Fourth of July, the gym where I train most of my clients is open with modified hours.  Instead of their regular 5am to 11pm, they are only open from 7am to 1pm.  These modified hours can indicate that even the owner feels you should be out enjoying the holiday.  To me it also indicates that during those limited hours, the place will be much busier than during the regular hours.  A client of mine who normally trains at night asked me if I would train him in the morning.  At first I said I would, seeing that I want to keep him physically active and motivated, and I thought I could squeeze in my own workout.  But I wound up deciding against it, and told him to enjoy his family at home and the holiday instead.  I wanted to do the same.  Instead of me worrying and stressing over how to work around the crowd at the gym, and the thought of missing quality time with my family, I knew that the best thing that I could do for my health is to relax for the day, and enjoy the company of those around me.
     There are going to be a number of those die hards at the gym today, I could envision a large number of the one who will be at this gym.  But its important to understand that its ok to take a break from time to time, whether its an extended period to nurse and injury, or its simply a day here and there to allow yourself not only your physical body, but your mind to recharge.  Even professional athletes and body builders have "off days" built into their schedules.  And the same is even true with your diets as well.  Now, I am not saying to go on a binge fest, but I am saying it is ok to have a burger and piece of apple pie at a bbq from time to time.  If you completely deprive yourself of the "good things" in life, they can often become harder to abstain from on a regular basis.  Getting a taste for them can motivate you to work harder when you are working, to allow yourself the indulgence when you do get the chance.

     Everything in moderation is a very important concept that can be worked into a healthy lifestyle.  Balance is another key work you would find in the type of lifestyle that many trainers would recommend.  With most of the days in a year being designated as work days, its ok to enjoy one here and there.  Enjoying the day is an important way to reach a fit new you!