You need adequate rest. You may ask yourself, what is adequate?

Exactly how much varies with each individual but remember this one thing:

Your body, spirit and mind needs respect. YOU need respect.

So, rest.

Breathe. Breathe again, but this time, more deeply. Fill your lungs with as much air as possible, feel your diaphragm enlarge and then, exhale. Breathe again. Repeat. If you’re religious, thank your God that you’re alive and if you’re not religiously-inclined, thank your lucky stars!

Your being is not a pump that generates energy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year. It needs regular re-fill. Essential. You car needs regular refueling.

Getting adequate rest is akin to any modern day electronic gadget, which requires re-charging of batteries to operate. Re-charging energy back in to the gadget to function at its optimal level and be useful.

Getting adequate rest = re-charging of batteries within yourself, your mind, body and spirit. Don’t burn the candle at both ends.

In my 23 years experience in the gym, I have followed and still adopt many proven principles in attaining optimal results from resistance training. One of the fruits of this is an increased sense of vitality. A critical principle in achieving this is getting adequate rest. This helps your body repair itself, create an annabolic environment to help protein synthesis, rid the body of toxins, regenerating and changing its body shape for the better.

Over the years, I have regularly used what is called the “Instinctive principle” which basically says that you have got to listen to what your body is saying with regards to your energy levels and train to your energy levels accordingly. I believe the application of this principle has increased my awareness and been one of the main reasons I have stayed injury free in all my years of serious training.

Just because you lifted a certain weight last week does not mean you can do it again this week. There are just too many variables at play here that may impact negatively on your energy levels, one of which is lack of adequate rest. One must not let the ego run wild when one has the goal of building muscle or making small, incremental steps towards a larger, worthwhile goal in any area of life for that matter.

I always tell the enthusiastic youngsters in the gym, if you want to build muscle and a world-class physique, leave your ego at the door when you enter the gym. Don’t just get fit and strong. Build a physique!

Knowing when to call it quits in the gym before sustaining a serious injury is just as important as deciding when to exercise, but you would want to differentiate between genuine tiredness and plain laziness.

So, pace yourself and listen to what your body is telling you. If its says “stop”, then stop!

Since getting my driving license many years ago, I am very familiar with a great Australian road sign that says –

“Stop. Revive. Survive.”

So true. I like the simplicity of it and how powerful a message it is.

We can add “Rest” before Revive and see that it may also save lives even when you’re not in the car, driving. Just going about everyday life.

When in the driver’s seat as you journey through life, don’t overdo anything, go at it a little at a time and know when to slam on the brakes. Sometimes it is better than going slowly. It may just add a few more years to your life.

Its YOUR one and only life after all.

Until next time,