Steve, a few questions for you. My wrist gets sharp pains when I bend it forward or backward, even side to side. I think it was from bench press and military presses. I bought some gloves with the wrist straps to support them from now on. What should I do? Keep working out with the gloves? Give it a few days? I think its just a mild sprain or pinched nerve. Been keeping an ace wrap on it for compression.
My knee has also been hurting, think its the impact of my 300lb body jumping around in basketball, although I'm not really sure. Switched up to elliptical for low impact, gonna do some swimming too and cut out the basketball. You think thats the best course of action for a few days?

Thanks very much Beth... nice to see you around.

I can't say why you have your pains but I know that if I were you I'd take a week off from anything intense like weight lifting, jumping and sprinting.

When is the last time you did that?

the offer to come to chicago is always open

I have plenty of fire most days -but it needs a little bit of stoking from time to time..

true enough - I'm fairly simple actually - tell me i can't do something and I'll do everything in my power to prove you wrong

The last time I took a week off? Ummm probably back in March/April before I got into my healthy lifestyle. I can't really afford to take a week off. The vegas challenge is on the line. I might just switch over to low impact though.

Suit yourself, lol. In my opinion, that's silly talk. Your body tells you when you need a break. Not some challenge. If it hurts while doing it, I wouldn't do it.

Pushing through pain is about the worst thing you can do. I have scars to prove it.

Beating the body into submission doesn't work for elite athletes and it sure as hell doesn't work for your average gym-goer. Acute pains can transform into chronic injuries all too easily.

Thanks Steve! That's amazing advice lol jk....totally me being selfish

I understand what you're saying Steve. Is it naive to believe that I can do low impact, like elliptical or swimming and still heal? The only way to heal is to just take a week break?

Think of stress as a 5 gallon bucket. Stress is systemic meaning it leads to 'fatigue' in various aspects of the body. Dieting might take a gallon of stress up. Weight training might take up 2. Cardio another... and so on.

Personally I'd take a week off from everything.

Our bodies like this every now and again. As we train, we accumulate fitness and fatigue simultaneously. When pains start popping up, performances plateau, or whatever other metrics you want to go by... this is usually a surefire sign that the fatigue is starting to out pace the fitness.

It's important to realize too that fitness sticks around longer than fatigue when the stress is taken away.

What this means is when a metric pops up telling you it might be wise to back off... backing off will allow fatigue to dissipate and fitness to remain. When you hit it again, you're fresh.

That's a lot of theory that definitely plays out in the real world.

Short-answer.... if you must do something, keep it geared completely toward the stuff that a) isn't intense b) isn't high impact and most importantly c) doesn't hurt.

Ok, thanks steve. I'm a big fan of listening to your body. I just wasn't sure if it was telling me to slow down or to stop.

It's a tough call... I always err on the conservative side simply b/c I know how debilitating and frustrating long term injuries can be... especially when you realize they could have been easily avoided.

The way I look things is simple. Who cares about 1 week? It's not like you're taking a week off every other week. You're taking a week off every few months or so... or when your body "tells" you to. Assuming you don't be a retard when you break, you aren't going to reverse anything. If anything you're going to help your body out <see previous post>.

Even if you are a retard about it not a whole heck of a lot can happen in a weeks time.

That said, I know how it can feel when you're on a roll and you feel the need for a break coming on. It too can be extremely frustrating. I think that's all part of experience though... as you gain "fitness wisdom" your mind and body really do become aligned.

About the time my body is physically telling me I need a break... I'm also psychologically ready... so it works out on all levels.

In any event... take it easy. If that means complete rest, you'll be fine. If that means taking it easy with lower intensity exercise for a week or so.... that's fine too.

I hear ya. I know I'm not going to gain 5 lbs in a week or anything. Just kinda sucks to be flying like a train down the tracks on such a good speed, then have a road block make ya stop. I was planning on a break soon anyways, I have a birthday and family reunion in Canada comming up.

I agree, you could Slow down and close the gap a tad on the competition. lol JK!! Seriously though, I hear ya. Just having done the 3 3 3 the last few days has me all sore and fatigued. Blah!!

I'm taking a break today, letting the bod heal a bit from all the weights I introduced recently. I feel like I got hit by a car. haha

How's it going Steve?? What's new? You're diary moves to quickly. I think we left off with images of steaming duces. LOL

Ha, you're well behind. I demand you catch up before you post in here again!

Just teasing.

I'm doing well. Today is my Friday... no work tomorrow so that's nice. I am leaving, not sure what time, to go to Atlantic City for a bachelor party.

Wife also gets surgery tomorrow on a hernia.