Cliche' But True....

I have had a tough couple of days on the workout front.  I am coming around to understand that this is going to be a long journey.  This reality check has me a bit anxious - but still excited as I slowly improve my fitness.

I was expecting the pain and soreness that comes with starting a fitness program.  Especially for a couch potato that has limited his weight training to 12 ounce curls with beer and wine over the last 30 years.  What I was not expecting was the fatigue.

Fatigue?  Oh yes.....fatigue.  I don't know if I have ever really experienced the bone tired feeling that comes from shocking your body into responding to exercise.  The muscle aches and soreness was expected.  The fatigue was not.  I have been trying to rest and HYDRATE to assist my body in coping - but at least for now it has not had an effect in reducing the exhaustion.

Don't get me wrong, I knew this was coming.  It seems obvious that your body would be tired after exercise and weight training.  When I was trying to process this in my head I was having difficulty.  Why?  I have never experienced this before.

As a kid I was always playing some sports or activity.  Running was a preferred means of getting from place to place rather than walking.  As I got into competitive sports - training was every day.  I had never allowed my body to become "unfit".  I may be having more of a mental issue with this phenomenon that is interfering with me being able to work through the fatigue.

This weekend was especially tough.  I have been trying to walk three miles each day in addition to my strength training at the gym.  I walked in the heat (100+ degrees) this weekend and think I overdid it a bit.  The last mile I started to feel a bit dizzy.  I got home just fine and knew I had to hydrate.  I must have drank a gallon of water over the next hour.  Although I felt a bit better - the walk had taken its toll.  I was feeling like crap the remainder of the weekend.

I am not giving up.  I think the experience has taught me to listen a bit more closely to my body.  If I am really feeling fatigued - I may take a day off from the walk.  Luckily - I have a group of wonderful friends that have been very supportive.  HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE - will be my mantra.  I hope the scale next week rewards my work!