Add a few chiropractic sessions to your massage schedule. My insurance covers these sessions, hopefully yours will, too! Look for a chiropractor who specializes in treating athletes — if you find one who is also a conditioning coach, even better. These chiropractors, in my many years of experience, are far better at getting to the core of a problem. Less annoying claims that chiropractic can cure cancer, more focus on the body as a mechanical system, which it is. You can also get some personalized tips for strengthening your back. Many “back machines” in gyms are actually horrible for your back. Sometimes, the pain and stress you feel in your neck really happens because the muscles in-between your shoulder blades are too weak.

Muscle soaks really do help. There’s a great one I get from my grocery which has sulfur and magnesium is great, but epsom salts in a warm bath will help as well.

Take extra magnesium … like 500-750 milligrams before bed. It is a natural muscle relaxer. Potassium is also key for proper muscle function. You may seem some relief from muscle pain by supplementing with potassium, as well. As a bonus, potassium also regulates the bodies water balance. If you’ve upped your water intake and exercise, it’s possible your electrolyte balance is a little bit off.

I started drinking one liter per day of either SmartWater or water with Nuun tablets in it. It really helps me a lot! One advantage the Nuun has over SmartWater is less wasted packing.

Anyway, I hope that some of these suggestions help. Muscle tension is just the worst!
christy in seattle´s last blog ..Quick Diet Update

You can beat your “ally”s! Try a new food, recipe or exercise. Change it up. I am horrible at doing homework, so by no means should I be assigning any. So what if you want to take a break? The last three weeks have basically been a break for me, mostly because I have been lazy. I think the breaks make you realize what you want and how to do it. It will come to you, promise!
Erin´s last blog ..The Dreaded Butternut Squash

I think we all hit places where we realize the scale number is just a number and we need to refocus and destress. The journey to health and happiness and being comfortable in our own skin (“losing the title Fat”) is not always tied directly to weight loss itself.

I like to try redirecting my focus, when the scale related tunnel vision is becoming negative, to things like fitness or intake goals. Or even sometimes it’s just as simple as “get more sunshine this week”.

I think reading a book is also a great idea. Have you read “3 Fat Chicks on a Diet” or “The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl”?

Taking a break isn’t bad at all. Pausing to evaluate your status (all the ally’s included) –recharging, re-evaluating, and renewing your goals is a good thing. And a healthy part of the continueing process.

Have a nice breather and then get back on it full steam ahead! The important thing is you are making healthy changes at your own pace and that you see them as permanent and positive changes! This is for you, not anyone else, and when you look back at your journey you will see the process and the progress adds up to invaluable changes and speed isn’t something that matters all that much.
Christine´s last blog ..A Week of Thanks, Day 1