When Is It OK To Skip Your Workout?

What???  Here you are, busting your tushy trying to get in shape, you are reading our blog and following our advice to keep going...now I'm giving you a pass to skip your workout??  Sometimes it is necessary (and beneficial) to skip a workout.  Let's look a reasons when it really is alright to skip your fitness routine.

First and foremost, it is OK to skip your workout if you are sick.  If you are suffering from migraines, dizziness, diarrhea, or vomiting, please, please, please stay home.  If you are experiencing the common cold, first determine if you are "well enough" to exercise.  Is it the first 24 hours of symptoms?  Do everyone a favor and stay home and prevent spreading your germs.  If you are feeling well enough to exercise, check your resting heart rate.  If it is 95 or above at rest, you probably should stay home and skip your workout.  The outcome won't be good if you exercise with a high resting heart rate.

Now with the obvious reason out of the way, let's look at a few more situations when it's OK to drive past the gym and keep on going!  Are you experiencing joint pain?  This is a tricky one.  Take a moment to determine whether you have muscle soreness or joint pain.  Here's how do you do that.  Is there swelling?  Is the area warm or hot to the touch?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, most likely you have joint pain and it's time to stay home.  Remember, if you are experiencing pain for more than 2 weeks, it is time to seek medical intervention.  It is normal to experience muscle soreness after some workouts.  In this instance, exercise is actually going to help you. 

Here's another scenario.  What is your blood pressure and/or blood sugar looking like?  Is your blood pressure high today?  Skip the weight training (which has the tendency to raise blood pressure) and choose light cardio instead.  Blood sugar high?  By all means, get in the gym!!  Exercise can help get blood sugar under control.  If you are dealing with low blood sugar, try having something to eat.  If your levels settle down, get in the gym.  If it's still running low and/or you are experiencing dizziness, by all means, skip your workout.

Another reason to get a "hall pass" to your workout...what has your fitness routine looked like the past few days?  Have you been hitting it hard for the past 3-4 days straight with no break?  I give you permission to take a day off.  Remember, overtraining has its drawbacks...headaches, chronic muscle soreness, fatigue, injury...take a break and let your body recover.  Not quite sure you are ready to skip the gym entirely?  Try doing some light cardio...take a walk in your neighborhood, do some "window shopping" at the mall, go to the park and hit the fitness trail.  Your body (and mind) will thank you.

These are just a few reasons when it is OK to skip your workout.  Your body needs time to recover from illness and injury.  Take it easy and easy back into your exercise routine.  New to the exercise world?  Sometimes it's hard to determine when you should stay home.  Talk to your trainer and get their advice.  Not working with a trainer?  Seek the advice of a fitness professional at your gym.  Remember, while it is OK to skip a workout, please don't let one skip turn into a week off from your exercise plan. 

The trainers here at PROMATx Health Club are here to help.  We can not only help you kick up your fitness routine, but we can help guide you with decisions that affect your exercise goals.  Come in and talk to us today.  Put your plan into action, let us help you reach your goals!!