How to Exercise on the OWL Reset Cleanse

You are a health conscious person who always wants to do what’s best for your body; which is why you’re considering the nutritious, good-for-you, non-depleting OWL Reset cleanse. But, you also enjoy your fitness routine because of what it does for your muscles, immune system, and overall health.

Perhaps this leaves you wondering whether or not you can workout while on a cleanse. You might even be hesitant to start a cleanse because you’re someone who loves to move and can’t imagine going a day without some sort of physical activity. This is the right question you should be asking because it means that your head is in a good place when it comes to making stellar health choices.

We are here to help you navigate your way through resetting your body to make sure you are properly healing, getting in your daily movement, and not pushing your body to unhealthy limits. Keep reading to find out what OWL suggests as thoughtful, healthy decisions regarding fitness and the Reset cleanse.

What to Avoid During a Cleanse

The biggest take away we want you to gain from this is that you can continue to exercise when you take part in a cleanse. In fact, exercise can give a boost to the benefits of the cleanse. Light exercise improves the digestive process and increases blood flow. The enhanced circulation moves blood cells to all parts of the body to help organs repair during this opportune time.

However, it’s important to understand that you are eating less than your body is used to, your blood glucose levels are lower, and your fuel is less readily available. It is simply not healthy or smart to do as much as you would while eating what is a normal amount for you. Additionally, physical activity is a stressor on the body. This causes the natural release of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol works against the aims of the OWL Reset because it inhibits your body’s ability to repair itself due to the increase of inflammation throughout the body.

That being said you should steer clear of the following:

HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)
These types of workouts require your body to call on fuel instantaneously. Something that it is not equipped to do when eating less. Even in short bursts high intensity movements zap energy very quickly, and doing a repeating circuit means that you’re calling on energy that isn’t there, putting yourself at risk of dizziness or fainting. Safety should always be a priority when exercising, and this point is definitely something to consider when deciding how to move your body during this time.

WEIGHT LIFTING
Similar to interval training, moving weights requires a lot of work from your muscles. They are being asked to move against extra resistance that is not normally there. Moving more than your body weight is possible under isolated instances such as pulling out a vacuum cleaner to do your weekend chores, or walking your groceries from your car to your kitchen. But repeated efforts over a short period of time, as you would do in a gym setting, is not ideal when your calorie intake is low.

LONG DURATION HIGH IMPACT
This is in reference to your strong, thirty minute morning run. Your body needs to burn fuel for the entirety of the run in order to keep you moving. But during a cleanse, you’re short on that fuel and you certainly shouldn’t be burning it for that amount of time. This can lead to dizziness or sudden weakness.

How to Exercise on a Cleanse

LOW INTENSITY
Your blood glucose levels are what supply the majority of your energy for vigorous activity. Most cleanses will have you avoid sugars and carbohydrates which is the source that provides this fuel. To avoid dizziness or weakness when exercising, instead of a HIIT workout, opt for some slow, steady cardio. Keep your breathing comfortable and your heart rate under control.

LOW IMPACT
In concert with lightening your exercise load regarding intensity, you should also examine the impact on your body. Perhaps instead of that hard run, you go for a twenty minute walk, a light bike ride, or an easy swim.

Look for something that gets your blood flowing but doesn't demand so much effort from your body or your brain.

SHORT DURATION
Eating less means less fuel. When your car only has half a tank, you can’t cover as many miles on the road like you can on a full tank.

If you normally go for thirty minutes, maybe fifteen minutes is good for you while doing a cleanse. Take into consideration the intensity of your chosen workout movements and opt for a shorter length than what your circuit would normally last.

STRETCHING & BODYWEIGHT MOVEMENT
Stretching is a fantastic way to keep your muscles engaged and in use without overexertion. You can do your own light stretching or yoga. Tai Chi is a great combination of easy movement, blood flow, meditation, and stretching.

Some other options for light movement could be pilates or a short, at-home bodyweight circuit that includes air squats or hip bridges, sit ups or lunges. But remember, short periods of work is best when you’re on a cleanse.

Hydrate and Listen to Your Body

It’s important to maintain your body’s hydration, especially while cleansing. Your body is focused on healing during this time and it’s imperative that you provide it with all the tools it needs so that the repair process isn’t impeded.

Your body will let you know when it’s had enough and needs rest. You have to listen to these signals so that you don’t put any unnecessary strain on your body. When you don’t honor what your body needs you are taking its focus from renewing and healing to repairing muscle tissue and recovering from stress.

Remember that you’re choosing to do a cleanse to reset and restore your body’s balance. Allow it the time and space it needs to work its magic.

Julie Weller

Julie is a self-made writer on a forever journey of fitness and health. As a high school music teacher, she has seen and experienced the challenges of maintaining good health while simultaneously balancing a career and healthy relationships.

Julie has always lived a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves the outdoors, hiking, and camping. Over the years she has continued to learn smarter and better ways to take care of her body while continuing to do the things that make her smile. Naturally, all of her teacher friends wanted to know how she did it - what was her secret?

Julie found herself explaining over and over everything she'd learned in her research, and sharing her experiences through trial and error. Her friends would take her advice, try some new things, and then come back to ask how to take it to the next level.

"You should charge for this kind of information!" Became a constant phrase, and so began her career of writing to share her knowledge with the world through health and wellness companies looking to spread healing and healthy habits within their communities. Now Julie gets to combine two of the things she enjoys most - writing and wellness - and use them to affect change in a real way.

When not making music with her kiddos, or writing wellness tips for a higher quality of life, you can find her reading, hiking, drumming, and fitnessing