Ep 037: Fitness And Fatigue: Why Tough Workouts Aren’t Always The Answer And What HRV Really Means

“I’m not against hard work,” says coach Jim Laird on today’s episode of The Quantum Body Collective Podcast, “But are you prepared for it and can you recover from it?” The body, he explains, only has so much energy, much of which is reserved to fuel vital bodily functions. So, many people go hard in their workouts thinking they’re doing the right thing, while depleting themselves of energy required for the crucial recovery period. One major factor is our sedentary but highly stressed lifestyle. We don’t spend our days building up our reserves with smaller daily activities like walking and sleeping according to our circadian rhythms, so we can’t recover as quickly. That same lifestyle saps us of energy, trapping us in a vicious cycle, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, mental and physical burnout, and digestive problems.

One way to gauge how much reserve you have is HRV (heart rate variability) which gauges how balanced your body is between active and rest modes. Using tools like the Oura ring, you can also see how much your daily habits, such as drinking alcohol and missing even just a few hours’ sleep, are affecting that HRV. Jim clears up what HRV is not, and what number you should be shooting for based on age and other factors.

Through small daily changes both mental and physical, you can build adaptability and endurance. These include even the smallest attempts to move more and get back in touch with nature.

Quotes

“What happens outside of the gym has a bigger impact on what happens inside the gym than what actually happens inside the gym.” (3:48 | Jim)
“If you constantly have to push yourself further than you’re able to on a consistent basis, if you don’t have the resources to recover from that exertion, eventually, you’re going to get yourself in trouble. That’s where people end up. They can’t get out of bed. The coffee quits working.” (7:54 | Jim)
“We’re operating on this idea that we should have infinite energy, while also engaged in habits that are actively making our bodies unable to produce the energy in the first place.” (19:19 | Meredith)
“Your body’s in a constant state of adapting. The better you treat it, the better chance it has of adapting in a positive way.” (51:18 | Jim)
Links

Connect with Jim Laird:

Website: https://www.stillmanwellness.com/

IG: @gymlaird

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