The gunshot has sounded! Christmas is over and now Trinidadians are all in a mad sprint to the finishline of Carnival Monday and Tuesday. A mad sprint it is, as a new "energy" fills the atmosphere, radio stations explode with both somewhat passable as well as god-awful soca tunes, and the drivers on the road seem to explode along with them. Jobs become clock-watching affairs, as employees count down the hours until that night's fete. Have you seen the Savannah? There is no parking. It might as well be Ariapita Avenue on Carnival Monday, chock-a-block with runners, walkers, saunterers, talkers, "bbm-ers," and anyone else dashing madly to "get in-shape" in these next five weeks. Usain Bolt has nothing on a Carnival-crazed Trinidadian. Trinidad shuts down after Carnival. A sense of quiet, calm and peace permeates the atmosphere. It's as if the entire island takes a very deep breath and just sinks deeper into its couch of Caribbean Sea, to recover and revive itself after this period of excess. It is no wonder many people break down after Carnival. The "Wine Flu," overuse injuries, and downright fatigue is the result of the previous six or so weeks of excessiveness, overexertion, and extremes. Constant feteing, constant exercising, some working (note this is not a constant). Panyards are ablaze all night long. I wonder how people can work during the day then beat pan into the wee hours of the morning! Or maybe they just do not work? If they do work, then when do they rest and recover?
The fatigue, illness and injury that result from this "Carnival mentality" of extremes underscore the importance of rest and moderation. I am reluctant to talk about the importance of rest as "Carnival mentality" may take hold again and some may take rest to the extreme, particularly regarding work. However, I feel that many people do not understand how vital rest is to proper functioning and performance in both life and sport. I admit that I am guilty of not adhering to my own advice, not resting as I should and having that "Carnival mentality" of excess. Last year, two days after I took my Christmas vacation, I fell victim to a terrible cold and was forced to retreat to my home and bed for the season. It was the result of six months of constant activity. I fell prey to the rat race, the traffic, and the countless things that always have to get done, while trying to schedule some exercise into my day. As I went on vacation, it was as if my body said "Oh! I have time? Now I can breakdown!" So this year, my plan is moderation so I don't break down! The importance of rest is applicable to many aspects of life, particularly all levels of exercise. Recently, I had some very highly motivated patients at Total Rehab, who were overly compliant with their home exercise programs. Their pain was taking quite long to subside, and on further investigation I discovered that they were doing too much exercise at home. As they reduced their exercises to every other day, their pain decreased remarkably.
Many people apply this Carnival mentality of excessiveness to their fitness programs as well, and injury is often the result. The prevention of injury and maximizing of athletic potential is the reason for periodisation in training regimens. This is simply the variation of the training program variables with the integration of rest to fully develop athletic performance and reduce the likelihood of injury. Our body recovers and gets stronger during rest days. Most of us know the feeling of almost debilitating soreness after our first day of new exercise at the gym. This delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the result of the overload we have placed on our muscles by doing something to which our body is not accustomed. DOMS occurs because the overload from the exercise causes microtears in our muscles, which cause the pain. These tears heal, making the muscle a little stronger. In the favourite words of a friend, "the body adapts!" This is how we can lift heavier loads over time. However, without rest, the body cannot adapt to the stresses placed upon it, because there is no time to heal. Injury and illness can eventually occur. The principle of periodisation can be applied to our Carnival fitness preparations as well. The body performs better when rested and one can therefore get more out of one's workout. In fact, a well-structured periodised program that incorporates rest produces better wellness and greater, more long-term weight loss than the "Carnival mentality" programs. We can also integrate the concept of periodisation into our lifestyle. In essence, it is about moderation. Moderation in exercise throughout the year can prevent us from running the race of quick weight loss and better fitness for Carnival, only to sit back and let it all run down the drain of laziness and unhealthy inactivity for the rest of the year. Moderation in diet, in exercise, in work and in play can enhance and balance our lives and prevent the ill-effects of excess. After all, too much of anything is good for nothing.