I've been studying for my Master Personal Trainer's Certification and I'm learning so much about the anatomy of the body and it's functions. There are so many revelations I'm finding that parallel with the spirit world, it is blowing my mind. One of the most recent discoveries, was how the body needs REST. Just as important as it is to push oneself to achieve optimal growth through one's workouts, it is necessary for rest. Experts call this, Muscle Recovery.
I am an avid fan of the gym and personal training. I workout on a regular basis, usually 5 days a week. I do weights and lots of cardio. I have been doing this for some time now. I've always enjoyed working out. I started about 14 years ago and really began to kick it in to HIGH gear over the past couple of years. But I found myself recently becoming fatigued. I wasn't enjoying my workouts and found myself dreading the gym everyday. As I discussed my concerns with Ryan about how I was feeling he began to share with me that I was "Over Training". Imagine that, me? Overtraining! I thought there was no such thing. However, in my studies, what Ryan shared with me, was confirmed. I began to study more about this, as well as, question Ryan a little deeper on the subject matter. He began to tell me that a person can work and work and work, over and over, in the gym, and push themselves, but there does come a time when a person can "Over Train" their muscles to the point they become fatigued and reach a plateau. A point of slowed GROWTH. When these symptoms occur, your body is telling you it is time to REST.
In order for the muscles to grow past the point you have personally pushed them, they need a time of RECOVERY. This time of RECOVERY produces GROWTH. How awesome is that?! Get this:
REST = RECOVERY = GROWTH
As I'm getting this in my brain, I'm no longer thinking about the gym. My mind at this point starts going back to my personal HELL I was in for so long. I recall the day that everything changed in my life. It was February 5, 2003. I'll never forget that day, not only because of the devastation my life was being hit with, but because it would be the beginning of the BEST of Me to come! When my world went from Sunshine to a Category 7 Hurricane (if there is such a thing), I closed myself off from everyone. The only person I allowed in my life at that time was my Parents. I literally could not trust ANYONE else. For one year, I did nothing but read books, pray and cry. I was paralyzed! After a year had passed, I began to make some decisions for myself that would ultimately change my life forever. I had no idea where these changes would take me and what would become of them, but something had to be done to move forward with my life. Over the course of the following 3 yrs. or so I laid low. I didn't get out of my house, except to grocery shop or pick the kids up from school. I closed myself off to everyone! People were concerned for my health and well-being. They meant well, but they all thought I would never recover from such a blow. They all went on with their lives, doing what they do, preaching, singing, evangelizing, building churches, having conferences...you name it. I just couldn't understand how my world seemed to have stopped but theirs kept moving forward. After this season of quietness, I began to slowly start gaining ground again in my life. I started venturing out and trying things, experiencing life, one day at a time. I dove too quickly into some things that I regret, but God's Grace & Mercy brought me through and kept me all the way. I'm sitting here 4 1/2 yrs. after my divorce and 7 yrs. since my separation began, and I am more fulfilled than ever. I have accomplished so much on my own, that I never thought possible. From getting my first cell phone in my name, on my own...to completing my Life Coaching Certification and Advanced Personal Training Certification, as well as on my way to achieving the Master's Certification in personal Training and Nutrition. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I am trying to show you, by example, that throughout my "down time", which I like to refer to as "REST" time. God was using this time in my life as "RECOVERY"!
Now, what I want to come full circle to tell you is, without the REST, you can't have RECOVERY. RECOVERY is needed in order to produce gain...or, GROWTH! Your ultimate level of GROWTH comes after the REST! You can't continue in life day after day, doing the same things over and over and expect to get greater and greater results in your personal life. Sometimes, you've got to stop, and give yourself a REST! REST your mind, your body, your will and your emotions. I can testify, that because of the time I took to myself for REST and RECOVERY, I can honestly say, I'm stronger in EVERY area of my life! I didn't know I had it in me. I really didn't. I have fought HELL and I WON! Only because of the Grace of God and REST! I'm headed further than I ever imagined in my life. GROWTH has no other choice when REST is applied and RECOVERY does it's work! My Momma used to tell me when my babies were young and I wanted to wake them up to feed them or hold them because they had been sleeping so long, she'd say NO, they need their REST. Their growing while they sleep.
Don't count someone out just because you haven't seen or heard from them in a while. They may just be RESTING for their next assignment! Look Out for them because through their REST, they will receive their RECOVERY for GROWTH!
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