Taking a break from exercise

Wed., May 24, 2006

Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.s.s., C.s.c.s. King Features Syndicate

Q: I have reached my fitness goals and am happy with my body and fitness level. Can I take a break now and exercise just as needed, or will I ALWAYS have to exercise?

A: Yes, you can take a break, but not for long. We would all love to be able to work hard to reach our fitness goals and then just let our bodies maintain that fitness level forever, but it’s just not realistic. As the saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” When habits of exercise and proper nutrition change, so does your body.

Changing the intensity, frequency and type of exercise can help give you a break while also helping you maintain what you’ve achieved. The key is to allow exercise to become an imperative part of your lifestyle and to have FUN while doing it.

Reinvigorate your exercise routine by trying something new that will keep you interested if you’re becoming bored with your routine.

The frequency of your exercise programs can also be altered. While you should definitely continue to set aside time to exercise, try exercising at different times of the day or different days of the week. Look for total body workouts that work each muscle group instead of one that works only the upper or lower body and requires you to exercise more often.

As time passes you may find your body requires more to maintain your current fitness level and is looking for a challenge. This is actually a good thing, because it shows your body is becoming more efficient at your current fitness level. This is where you should switch up your workout routines to add different activities to give your body the challenge it desires.

While taking a short break from exercise, meaning one to two weeks, you may find your body welcomes the time to recover from injuries or from being overworked. During this time scale down your exercise routine but stay active. Once you get back on schedule you’ll find your body rejuvenated and ready to continue on its lifelong fitness journey.

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