Some of the most successful lifters will tell you that their success lies in the fact they know how to listen to their bodies. Now, I know this is going to sound stupid, but how exactly do you do that? For instance, if I lift on Wednesday, and Friday rolls around and I am still pretty sore, do I workout that day? What other kinds of things do you need to do to listen to your body?
Deano
If someone hurts lay off is the big thing. Look at Dave Tate for example - He never seemed to really listen to his body.
My body always tells me to go drink beer and ogle hot women which isn’t much help in the realm of physical performance :-o.
Seriously, I think that a substantial amount of experience is required before your body starts talking to you. Through trial and error (mostly error) you learn what works for your individual strengths and weaknesses. As your body and mind work together over time a natural communication develops which you can use to determine when to push it or back off etc. I doubt this is something that can be taught or even explained very well (see above).
[quote]DeanoT wrote:
Some of the most successful lifters will tell you that their success lies in the fact they know how to listen to their bodies. Now, I know this is going to sound stupid, but how exactly do you do that? For instance, if I lift on Wednesday, and Friday rolls around and I am still pretty sore, do I workout that day? What other kinds of things do you need to do to listen to your body?
Deano[/quote]
In all honesty, if you have to ask, you aren’t ready. It isn’t like anyone hears a little voice that sounds like “Kit” on Knightrider telling them to go train harder and take the next day off.
You have to ask yourself the right questions before you can listen to to what your body has to say.
Primarily, am I “hurt” or am I “injured?”
Soreness falls in the “hurt” category. It’s a byproduct of what we do to be bigger/stronger/faster. Nature of the beast.
However if you have a nagging strain that isn’t improving but getting worse, then you’re probably dealing with an injury that might need a day, a week, even two weeks off.
Another way to tell between the “hurt” and “injured” is bilateral soreness. For example: If both of your traps hurt, then you’re probably just sore from a previous workout. However, if one trap is nagging you then you might consider some time off from that body part to let it heal.
Ultimately, the only person you have to answer to is yourself. So if you’re ok with placing a pause in your training to heal then so be it. However, that kind of behavior has the potential to breed complacency and open the door for more excuses not to train.
I had to take a week off thanks to some elbow tendonitis a couple of weeks ago, so this type of ego-check is fresh in my mind. I was to the point where I didn’t have a choice though. Still, the first couple of workouts after the break were a kick in the ass, not only physically but mentally. It’s definitely easier to push through and keep momentum than to stop all together and start again a week later.
Hope that helps.
B.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
DeanoT wrote:
Some of the most successful lifters will tell you that their success lies in the fact they know how to listen to their bodies. Now, I know this is going to sound stupid, but how exactly do you do that? For instance, if I lift on Wednesday, and Friday rolls around and I am still pretty sore, do I workout that day? What other kinds of things do you need to do to listen to your body?
Deano
In all honesty, if you have to ask, you aren’t ready. It isn’t like anyone hears a little voice that sounds like “Kit” on Knightrider telling them to go train harder and take the next day off.[/quote]
I have to agree. I really think it is something that comes with time.
I’m still trying to figure that one out myself; I’m horrible at it. From what I can gather, injury isn’t nearly as big an enemy as CNS fatigue/chronic overreaching (personally, at least). Looking back, though, grip strength seems to be a decent indicator as its the first thing to go.
I stopped listening to my body after it told me to shoot girls with long brown hair making out in cars.
I listen to my body a lot.
-Farts
-Stomach growls
-Popping knees and ankels
One of the big signs for me is when I’m really psyched up to do something. Like today, I really wanted to do reverse band bench presses. I don’t really have any scientific reason why that’s what I did today, but I’ve just been jonesing to get in and do them all weekend. That tells me that it was probably a good choice. This is different then hearing something new and thinking “Gee whiz, that’s exactly what I need” it’s a more intrinsic desire.
If you are tired Sleep
If you don?t feel like working out ,don?t
Even if you feel like lifting light or heavy
[quote]harris447 wrote:
I stopped listening to my body after it told me to shoot girls with long brown hair making out in cars.[/quote]
Thank you David Berkowitz! BTW, wasn’t it the neighbor’s dog that told you to do bad things? Enjoy the rest of your summer of sam.