So I’ve just come back from my first overseas trip with two friends to Bali and it was a really well needed break. I was so excited to go and spend some time in some nice warm weather, getting massages, sightseeing and doing all the nice things you do on getaways. My body felt as though it really really needed this break, it’s the little things like being able to give not only your physical state a rest but also your mental state. With my training leading up to this holiday I felt that I hit quite a big plateau in my training where I was leaving the gym feeling like I hadn’t worked as hard as I could have. Not only did this have an impact on my body but I was then kicking myself about it and it was getting me quite down because I felt like I hadn’t accomplished a good training session. But in Bali things changed…
- I was able to completely relax. Sleep ins, slower exercise (walking along the beach and up stairs).
- I was able to de-load. No weights, no sprints just swimming by the pool.
- Relax on nutrition. Not be so strict on my diet, try new foods and nourish my body.
But taking this past week off work + training and mainly focusing on the complete opposite of what I usually would (RELAXING) had a massive impact on me. During the last few days of the trip and coming back home my body felt like it was ready again to start training harder than ever! It was an amazing feeling walking back into the gym and lifting heavier than I was before I left. It just went to show the importance of rest and how it positively affects the mind AND body.