I’ve learned a lot of great tips that have improved how I train, eat, and recover. But the best tip I received recently came from Todd Durkin, owner of Fitness Quest 10. Durkin specializes in training professional athletes, so he knows a little bit about optimum performance. And during a recent trip to San Diego, he spotted a flaw in my current routine. It had nothing to do with reps, sets, or overall load. My problem was in my recovery. Too much work and not enough rest–outside of the gym. Durkin suggested that I take a vacation, get away, and let my body recharge. That wasn’t a reason to stop exercising. But it was an invitation to remove myself from the daily stresses of life, unplug (yeah–I’m still blogging), and get a little more stress. He told me that it’s something he advises to all of his clients: from his professional athletes to his weekend warrior clients. And it’s his favorite tip for one simple reason–it’s always that advice that helps them feel better and make progress towards their goals.
With that in mind, I’m stepping away from the office for a week for the ultimate getaway: A cruise. I’m spending a week on Celebrity Cruises (the ship is the Solstice), an experience that’s guaranteed to help me sleep better, rest a little more, spend some time with my very understanding girlfriend, and provide me with enough food to satisfy my body’s needs (and then some). I’m sailing the Caribbean with the simple goal of taking a step backwards, so that I can take two steps forward. But, at the same time, I hope to keep my diet in check, cheat a little, have some fun, and even find new ways to to meet my fitness needs while I make stops in San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. I’ll be sharing my regeneration strategies, my workouts, and even some tips from my experiences.
All of this isn’t to say that you need to take a cruise to relax (although, I’m already more than impressed with what the Solstice has to offer–including the cater-to-your-needs attitude that keeps me eating and exercising the way I want), but that you need to find some way to break out of your typical routine. Stress is an inevitability, and the more that you can combat that stress with recovery strategies–both in and out of the gym–the more likely you’ll feel great, have more energy, and continually experience improvements for the gym. We oftentimes only focus on workout recovery strategies, and neglect the bigger picture of rest. It may be easiest tip you may ever receive, but it’s also the one that will probably provide the best benefits in the long run.
