Looking at sleep quality and resting heart rate over a four week window makes far more sense than judging them week by week. The pattern has been consistent. When I am fighting influenza or a flu, my immune system is clearly activated. Sleep quality drops and resting heart rate rises. When I am stable, with routine exercise, a healthy diet, and a fairly fixed sleep schedule, both metrics stabilize. This past week I added Pilates to my training. It uses very different muscle groups than weight lifting, and interestingly I feel more exhausted after Pilates than after strength training. Next week I plan to do just one strength session focused on legs and rest the remainder of the week. Leg day impacts me much more than back or chest. The following week I will likely return to a balanced mix of one strength session (chest or back), one mobility focused session, and one cardio session.
