So today was a really rough workout for me. It was the third week of the current XIT session, so it was moves I’ve already been doing for two weeks. I started my workout off strong and made it through the first round of the three circuits with no problems. I was starting the very last circuit of the whole workout, which was the strength circuit for me this week, when I began to feel off. The weights that I’ve been able to easily lift for the last two weeks suddenly felt far too heavy. I figured that made sense as I had already completed 5 out of 6 circuits, so maybe I was just getting fatigued. So I grabbed lighter weights and continued on with my workout. About halfway through this last circuit, I began to feel dizzy and realized that sweat was pouring down my face. Now I’m a heavy sweater but this was like my face was covered with a solid sheet of water. I looked at the neck of my shirt and it was completely drenched. I quickly assessed the situation and determined that something was wrong. I still couldn’t tell you exactly what went wrong today, but I immediately put my weights down and took a seat.

This is a big deal for me, and something that quickly caught the attention of the trainer. I always try to live by the belief that there are no excuses to not workout. This is one of the main reasons why I have been to stay committed to a rather strenuous workout schedule (at least one  intense workout 6 days a week) for over 9 years at this point. I’ve often found that I can begin a workout not feeling great and finish up feeling like a million dollars. The only way this works, however, is that I’ve learned to really listen to my body. You can feel sick without actually being sick. Sometimes you’re just dehydrated or need to get your blood flowing. But I’ve learned the difference between the two and I will never push myself to workout if I’m actually sick. Pain works in the same way. There is good pain like muscle soreness that shows that you’re making progress and then there’s bad pain like a sprain or pulled muscle. It’s important to learn the difference between the two if you want to continue to improve your fitness.

I would say that training for a marathon was probably when I really learned to listen to my body. Running for more than three hours at a time, gives you a lot of time to think and become familiar with your own body. I learned when I needed to refuel with jellybeans or a Gu; how often I should drink water or gatorade; and the difference between a slightly rolled ankle and a full on sprain. These are all things that are necessary to know in order to avoid injuries. After my marathons, I found that my newfound knowledge of my body’s abilities could be applied in other workouts. I can tell when a weight is too heavy for a particular exercise or if it’s just right. Your body is good about signaling its limits as long as you’re willing to listen.