Why high temps can lead to low ‘get up and go’

After working out all summer in the heat and humidity, Boomer Blogger Alan Sivell can sympathize with those of us who are ready for a break – just don’t make it too long!

By Alan Sivell

I feel guilty when I take a day off.

Not from work, but from working out.

But it is hard to stay motivated day in and day out forever. There are days, weeks and even months when you have to reach deep for motivation. And lately, I’ve been reaching.

At the Y, I check the time on the machine – which I keep covered with a towel – far too often. I quit at the earliest round number, although I do force myself to complete at least 30 minutes.

My bike rides have been chores, not joys.

Having problems getting motivated? You’re not alone.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. Within two days last week, three people talked to me about how long it takes to fall out of shape. Hmmm. Why would they asking me the same question I’d been worrying about myself?

I certainly share their concern. It has nagged me all my adult life and I can remember distinctly two times I fell completely out of shape and stayed there … for months.

The first time was when I went off to college and was not involved in sports or training for the first time. I went from 175 lbs. to 202 in three months. Chalk it up to the great pizza and sub shops near my Boston dorm room. And not breaking a sweat.

It’s okay to take an occasional break from working out – but wait too long and you’ll start gaining pounds and losing muscle.

The other time was not as bad and more excusable.

When our second child was born, there was even less time to workout. And when he didn’t eat what was on his plate, I did. I went from 173 to 196 between Jamie’s birth and his christening.

Again it was a picture – at the christening – that got me back on track. In the photo of me holding Jamie at the baptismal fount, my belt buckle was nowhere to be seen.

Motivation matters

I should say that out of a concern for my health, I again carved out time for my workouts to get back in shape. That’s true, but I’d be lying if I didn’t also say there was also a healthy dose of vanity motivating me.

For nearly 55 years, I’ve been working out at least 6 times a week. Some of the workouts vary in intensity, but I try to do as our old coach used to say: “At least break a sweat everyday.”

It’s not always easy getting out of bed for the early morning workouts. But it helps when you have a goal, whether it’s for a sport, a road race, a bucket-list bike ride or hike.

I’ve just been trying to stay a step or two ahead of the grim reaper. I’m focused on being the guy that drags the average U.S. life expectancy age up a year or two all by myself. 113 is my goal. For now.

Perhaps I need a more positive motivator.

A day off is okay, just don’t string 10 or 20 together in a row

Alan’s break was short – and soon he was back on his bike, peddling his way to good health.

The good news is that if you weight train, the muscles you’ve built take longer to dissipate. It’s after about four weeks when the muscle fibers begin to shrink.

Luckily for me, my malaise was short lived.

I took days off and cut back on the intensity of my workouts and stopped worrying about it. And in just a couple of weeks, I was again going for rides, walks and workouts with my usual enthusiasm.

Sometimes you need to give yourself a break.

Just not for too long.

I feel guilty when I take a day off.

Not from work, but from working out.

But it is hard to stay motivated day in and day out forever. There are days, weeks and even months when you have to reach deep for motivation. And lately, I’ve been reaching.

At the Y, I check the time on the machine – which I keep covered with a towel – far too often. I quit at the earliest round number, although I do force myself to complete at least 30 minutes.

My bike rides have been chores, not joys.

Having problems getting motivated? You’re not alone.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. Within two days last week, three people talked to me about how long it takes to fall out of shape. Hmmm. Why would they asking me the same question I’d been worrying about myself?

I certainly share their concern. It has nagged me all my adult life and I can remember distinctly two times I fell completely out of shape and stayed there … for months.

The first time was when I went off to college and was not involved in sports or training for the first time. I went from 175 lbs. to 202 in three months. Chalk it up to the great pizza and sub shops near my Boston dorm room. And not breaking a sweat.

It’s okay to take an occasional break from working out – but wait too long and you’ll start gaining pounds and losing muscle.

Seeing myself in a picture someone snapped that Christmas at a party provided the motivation I needed to decrease my eating and increase my activity … on a daily basis.

The other time was not as bad and more excusable.

When our second child was born, there was even less time to workout. And when he didn’t eat what was on his plate, I did. I went from 173 to 196 between Jamie’s birth and his christening.

Again it was a picture – at the christening – that got me back on track. In the photo of me holding Jamie at the baptismal fount, my belt buckle was nowhere to be seen.

Motivation matters

I should say that out of a concern for my health, I again carved out time for my workouts to get back in shape. That’s true, but I’d be lying if I didn’t also say there was also a healthy dose of vanity motivating me.

For nearly 55 years, I’ve been working out at least 6 times a week. Some of the workouts vary in intensity, but I try to do as our old coach used to say: “At least break a sweat everyday.”

It’s not always easy getting out of bed for the early morning workouts. But it helps when you have a goal, whether it’s for a sport, a road race, a bucket-list bike ride or hike.

I’ve just been trying to stay a step or two ahead of the grim reaper. I’m focused on being the guy that drags the average U.S. life expectancy age up a year or two all by myself. 113 is my goal. For now.

Perhaps I need a more positive motivator.

A day off is okay, just don’t string 10 or 20 together in a row

Alan’s break was short – and soon he was back on his bike, peddling his way to good health.

The experts say it’s OK to take a day off now and then. Even two or three. But don’t take too much longer. You’ll start to notice a change in your aerobic capacity first, say within 10-14 days. That is if you don’t notice the weight gain first.

The good news is that if you weight train, the muscles you’ve built take longer to dissipate. It’s after about four weeks when the muscle fibers begin to shrink.

Luckily for me, my malaise was short lived.

I took days off and cut back on the intensity of my workouts and stopped worrying about it. And in just a couple of weeks, I was again going for rides, walks and workouts with my usual enthusiasm.

Sometimes you need to give yourself a break.

Just not for too long.