Not What I Was...Effects of Setbacks

Have you had a set back? Neglected your commitments to fitness?
My set back required me to put my fitness gains on the side.
Remember when Nosey Nancy hit me up in Wally World or I ran into my timeout?
Well, times up! It's been 4 weeks and I'm ready to pound the pavement and get back in the gym.

The problem I'm facing and maybe you too - if you quit your routine or have a set back is....
not being what I was.

If you've read my 10 reasons to not fear the gym, then you already know, I left this reason out.
I didn't know at the time of that post - that this is, yet, another reason we may have a hard time getting back on track. lacing up the running shoes. and breezing through the gym doors.

It's too easy to be held back by the discouragement of knowing you are not what you were.

But why would we do that to ourselves?
Let's insert some truth and motivation....

I know what I was and I will be that again, and better!

My husband rags on me all the time because I always want to know everything. Knowledge is like a blanket to me. The more I know, the better I feel. Hopefully your game for a little food for thought...

3 truths on what happens when we quit or have a setback from our fitness routines

Studies show and I can concur based off of the last 4 weeks that progress is lost quickly.
It is all relative to you as an individual.

Within 2 weeks, Endurance gains are lost.
Read that one again. It is depressing! Yet motivating! Think of all the hard work you've put into yourself to just give it up and let it get away. 2 weeks of time. 14 days. Flys by. Life gets busy and kids get sick. Work demands overtime and bills must be paid. But we have to commit to committing. Stopping a routine for just 2 weeks strips us of our gains in endurance and sets us back a few steps, no pun intended.

Another change within 2 weeks, strength.
Our muscles need to be challenged and conditioned continuously. Any of you wear braces as a kid? The movement of your teeth took time. The time we put into our workouts are like those periodic visits to the dentist. And after so much progression and noticeable changes in our muscle definition or tooth alignment it becomes time to kick it up a notch. The dentist would run new elastic with a new strategy enforced. Same with the gym. A tougher program is created for more muscle gains. A scoop of protein added to our shakes and carbs rationed at a rate for building and feeding those muscles. After this tweak your muscles are stronger and your teeth are aligned. Now, what if you lost your retainer? Wouldn't you panic? Without that tension your smile would relapse immediately. Why not have that same level of excitement in your strength training? Just 14 days of not lifting, not pushing, not swinging allows our muscles to fade back to their original levels of strength. Saddening and frustrating.

The fastest gain to loose at just one week, Flexibility.
People, that's a fast-closing window of time. This fact, for me, is more upsetting than the other two. I love a good stretch. I live for a good stretch. At anytime of the day you will probably find me stretching something. My lower back. My forearms. My neck. My hips. This world cramps us. Offices are not designed ergonomically, at least not mine. Couches and computer chairs don't position us in a relationship good for our spine, butt, and legs. Not to mention any of the stress you may carry through the day. These things hurt us in the sense that we tense something, somewhere, which triggers a reaction, somewhere. Stretching releases this and primes us for what's next. Yes, there's debate in cold stretching and while the verdict is still out, I think it's safe to say that when cold stretching, just go lightly. Dig deeper after the body/muscles have warmed up.

7-14 days, ladies and gents. If we can be young, healthy & active but have bodies that breakdown within just one week of neglect....think of all the good we can give ourselves in latter years -if we just commit to committing.

At this point, I'm asking myself  "is this an excuse" to not workout or "is this a legit reason" to miss a workout.

Have you faced a set back?
Ever discouraged by the thought that you're not as good as you once were?
What are your thoughts? I really do love to hear them!

*And the ortho analogy....I couldn't resist. I work in dentistry, it's taken care of me for 13 years.

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I've linked with Misty and Brittany for Getting Fit Friday!!!
and
I've linked with Helene in Between and Newlywed Moments