Inspired to get fit this summer?
Best advice: take it slow!
Does this amazing weather make you want to take your dusty running shoes out of the closet and start pounding the pavement? Or maybe you’re inspired to pull your bike out from the back of the shed and get pedaling. Or maybe that big patch of garden that needs weeding is calling your name. Be careful! If your muscles are not used to it, your enthusiasm could backfire and leave you with strained muscles, debilitating pain and stiffness.
Not only do I see this in many of my clients, but I also know this from my own personal experience. Last weekend I pulled my old hiking boots out of the closet, donned a 25+ pound pack, and headed up to the White Mountains with a group of friends. Although admittedly being a bit out of shape from taking it easy the last two months post car accident, I did count on my overall general fitness to be enough to help me through…. but after 2 and 1/2 days of hiking I could barely walk!
Luckily, I took plenty of Arnica, kept myself hydrated, did some self massage, and was soon feeling better, and stronger, ready for my next hike! But what could I have done differently? Maybe prepared myself with a couple of weekends of just “day hikes”. Or even practice walks with the pack on my back. And I certainly could have added more stretching to my practice. And a massage the day I got back would have been a very helpful addition to speeding up my muscles healing process.
Any good athlete knows that you need to prepare and build up for an event…but weekend warriors forget and overwork ourselves, only to pay the price for many days. So whether you are gardening, biking, running, kayaking or hiking, when beginning a new activity after a long hiatus, start SLOW. Warm up before your activity, do less than you think you can, and build up. Stretch after, and be sure to drink plenty of water, especially in this warm weather. Your body will Thank You for it!