Marion Freijsen A blog about Sports, Fitness & Health

Listen to your body

This week a close friend of mine ended up in hospital. Hospital staff called it a miracle he came through the door upright, usually people with his issue would have been carried through! Although he had needed a little push to get him to go, he went to the doctor after not feeling great for a while and will live a healthy life because he listened to his body…

I have always believed that at the end of the day – you know your own body best. Or at least, you should know it best.

It depends on whether you have tuned out all the signals it gives or you are alienated from it so much that you don’t understand what is normal and what isn’t.

For every one of you, you can learn what is your very own norm if you pay attention. Note how your stomach and/or system reacts when you eat certain foods, pay attention to how much sleep you need to feel good, or how long you need to recover from a stiff walk or run or bikeride. And easiest of all these days – know what your resting heart rate is. You can easily measure it. Before you get up in the morning, count the beats during one minute. Do this, not rushing it or thinking about all you have to do, three days in a row and take the average of those three. That is your avg. resting pulse.

And that alone can give you an inkling instantly if things aren’t right. Before you even have the symptoms of flu or a cold, your heart rate will be slightly elevated, about 5-10 beats above your normal. And in general, when you are (getting) worn out, it will also have to step up.  An elevated resting pulse  means you should take it a little easier for a few days, to help your body recover. And if that does not reduce it, and you continue to feel below par – it is definitely time to see a doctor.

I am not preaching you should self-medicate, but I sincerely believe that each and every person can hear what their bodies are telling them – if only you learn to listen.