How do you feel after 3 months of a more sedentary lifestyle? When gyms and studios closed across the country and lockdown orders were in effect, getting your daily movement became quite the challenge. Perhaps you noticed weight gain, more stiffness or pain in your neck and back, or a decrease in overall energy. Though we were (hopefully) getting more sleep, eliminating the stress of a commute, and perhaps appreciating what we have a little bit more, working from home brought on a lot of new or different stressors. Having kids at home, extra trips to the fridge, or even struggling to leave work to working hours are all challenges that our clients faced during this time. Our clients often attributed their workouts as a saving grace - their “me time.” What is the safest way to combat 3 months of sedentary lifestyle and to get you back to feeling like yourself again? Research indicates that people who do not exercise are at a higher risk of sickness - especially upper respiratory infections; however, the same risk applies to those who exercise too much. Our instinct after little to no exercise is to ramp it up to full intensity as soon as we are able - we may plan to hit the gym 5x a week and even throw in a spin class or two. DO NOT DO THIS. Over exertion can cause immune disruption, muscle damage, and oxygen distress thereby making you MORE susceptible to sickness, especially upper respiratory infections! Exercise science and our anecdotal evidence has demonstrated that daily movement alongside infrequent and intense exercise has the opposite effect of over training. It’s important to know and practice the difference between exercise and daily movement. Exercise serves the purpose of providing your body with a strong enough stimulus so that it responds with stronger muscles, improved cardiovascular health, or shorter recovery times. Daily movement includes the recreational activities we enjoy most. For example, walking, skiing, and yoga are great ways to ensure you get your daily movement. Instead of stressing your body and not giving it ample time to recover and get stronger, combining HIT & daily movement actually improves circulation of immunologies and recirculates cells that are important to anti-inflammation and immune support. In short - getting your HIT workouts at Evolved Health and going for a daily walk will actually boost your immunity more than working out every day. Staying accountable to your own health and wellbeing can prove difficult in times as stressful as these. That’s why you need a trainer. Our trainers are knowledgeable and efficient. Your safety and best workout possible are their top priority. It’s much easier to reach the highest level of intensity with one of them at your side cheering you on. Our Evolved Health studios are clean, 1-on-1, and big enough to socially distance. Get back on track with your HIT workout, move daily, and you will not only rebuild, but also sustain your strength and health.