Don't forget to rest . . .

As athletes who use heartrate monitors, we are able to make sure of two things: that we train hard enough and that we don't over train.



I know that sometimes I'm guilty of not pushing myself hard enough or selling my self short. But on the flip side, I want to be able continue training for many years to come. So, sometimes I err on the side of going easy.



Nevertheless, we should also consider the pitfalls of overtraining: Injury and burnout. Take a look at this article in the Wall Street Journal. We face a lot of pressure to "put on the miles." However, sometimes this leads to injury. And often, it leads to a lack of sleep. We can't underestimate the necessity of sleep to help our bodies recover. Especially as we get older.



I can remember when I was playing tennis at the age of 23. If I didn't get 8 hours of sleep the night before, I couldn't hit the ball over the net. So, sleep helps with strength. And there was a study of postpartum women. Those who got 8 hour of sleep every day were able to lose their baby fat. Those who didn't kept their pregnancy weight. So, if you're struggling with weight loss, are you getting enough sleep?