| lawn_gnome78
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What do you all think about taking a day of rest every week from the exercising?
A friend noticed how tired I sounded on the phone the other day and asked me when the last time was that I had a day of rest. I had to look back to january and saw that the last time I went a day without exercising was about four weeks ago. She said that my body is trying to tell me it needs a rest, but in my opinion it's telling me I'm still out of shape and I need to work out more!
...I'll "rest" when I'm thin. lol...
Honestly, the exercising I'm doing is about 30 minutes each day, most of the time it's some kind of cardio. I make sure that at least 2 times per week I get in a workout that really pushes me (I call them my "I almost died" workouts), and do weight training once or twice a week.
Just wondering what everyone else's opinion is on this. Thanks. |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:30 am |
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| InChristAlone
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First I want to applaud you for such hard work- great job! I have trouble not taking days off from the exercise!
In my opinion, you should definitely have a day off. You should give your body time to recover after the workouts. I have even read that one day is not even enough! I think that soon if you don't start resting some, your body could just say "I've had it!" and start giving you problems. So, if you think your body is crying for rest- give it over! :D |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:44 am |
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| luvs_torun
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| Take at least one day off a week for recovery. This will also help reduce the chance of "burnout"! |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:49 am |
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| lonnie
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Rest days allow your muscles to "recover" which will actually help them add cells and in turn, raise your metabolism which burns more calories per day. Sounds like a winning plan to me! We used to get 2 days off from PT in the ARMY and alternated muscle building days and running days.
Besides, if God took a day off, maybe we should as well? |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:50 am |
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| WGirl
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I only work out 4 days a week. On those 4 days I work out HARD. Even though I'm close to goal, and probably lower than many my age and height, I continue to lose. I think if you build a good workout, stick with it, and eat well, it will work for you without taking all your time.
On my my workouts, I do abs every time, 2 days of upper body, 2 days of lower body, and my cardio is currently interval training on a stairmaster, 40 minutes a time, all 4 days. I'm getting results from this workout to the point that the gym owner and the trainers have remarked on it.
Having said all this, find what you like to do. Try to find some variety. If you are looking or feeling tired, you might want to look for some adjustments.
HTH, |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:09 am |
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| Carrye
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lonnie wrote: Besides, if God took a day off, maybe we should as well?
Right. We don't call it recreation (re creation) for nothing. |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:47 am |
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| Kimboroni
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Yes, you definitely should take a day off.
That said, I have a very hard time doing that, personally. I tend to do a day of easy exercise rather than a day totally off, and I don't ever weight train two days in a row. I just like to get moving now. |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:53 am |
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| oldpjams
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the single day off is more beneficial than the seventh day of exercise. i would challenge anyone to find research to contradict that :wink: it's essential that you have at least one day for your body to recover.
you're speeding towards burnout. |
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:27 pm |
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| lawn_gnome78
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Wow, people!
Since no one on this forum has ever steered me wrong before, it looks like the wisest choice for me would be to take that day of rest.
I'm not concerned about burning out, I already "don't want" to exercise, I just do it because it's what I have to do to get healthy and in shape. What concerns me is that if I give myself one day off a week, will that turn into a few days a week, then eventually I'm only exercising 2-3 times per week?
If I start slacking, I'll have to kick it back into gear.
Thank you for all of your help! |
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Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:37 pm |
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| audreyh1
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I consider a day of rest a week to be critical. It's the single best guarantee to prevent overtraining. The body can really get into bad shape through overtraining.
And really the body benefits so very much by having a day to heal - that's what it's all about. The muscles can truly recover. It's during the recovery that your body gains strength, not during workout. So the weekly day of rest gives you that extra insurance.
A day of rest doesn't mean you lay around all day. You can still be active. You can still walk the dogs or go on a 2 mile hike, or even re-arrange the furniture.
It just means not stressing the muscles in a workout regimen. It means slowing down and relaxing and enjoying any physical activity you engage in without pushing yourself for once.
Audrey |
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:28 pm |
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| audreyh1
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I know that people are often loath to skip a day, because they're afraid that they'll lose momentum. They're afraid that one day will become two, etc.
It's true that sometimes skipping a day can make it hard to get back on track the next.
So I guess you have to figure out how to manage that issue for yourself.
Audrey |
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:32 pm |
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| westiemom
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Just because it's a day of rest doesn't mean you can't take a walk when you would normally be sweating. It means giving your body a rest. So if you are afraid it will cause you to miss a day, go for a leisurely walk during your normal workout time and keep an excercise journal!
Wed. are always my day of rest, I still walk my beasts though! |
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:51 pm |
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| A-Rod
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| ditto audrey - i was also going to say that, while a rest day is really key, you can always just get out for a walk or something like that. not going to tax your muscles that much, but will give you a little heart rate boost, help stretch out any sore muscles and get the blood flowing, and not make ya feel like a slug! |
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:54 pm |
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| luvs_torun
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| and have you noticed after your "rest" day...... how much better your next workout is? :D |
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:27 pm |
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| PapaBanucci
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Oh, indeed the day of rest is a wonderful thing.
I personally workout 6 days (3 weights + 3 cardio) and take one day of rest. It is good for the body to recover. It is good for the soul to simply "rest."
I don't worry about taking "more than one day." It is about sticking to a schedule. By taking a day of rest, I am being perfectly disciplined in sticking to my schedule, journalling every day. For me it is Sunday. Every week but with a few exceptions.
If you feel you have to do something, do something you love. Reap the benefits of your active lifestyle. Go skiing. Go hiking. Go for a leisurely walk. If you have to do something, do something not "in order to be healthy" but instead "as a benefit of being healthy." Though this may not give your body enough of a rest, it may indeed give one to your mind and soul.
My day of rest is a complete day of rest. I even take a day of rest from my diet. No, I do not binge, that would be unhealthy. I do eat however on Sundays like the average, out-of-shape, overweight, sedentary, clueless-about-fitness,-health,-nutrition-and-dieting America. Yes, indeed this one day a week of "normalcy" does have some consequence but indeed it helps me almost easily eat wonderfully clean - good carbs, lean protein, good fats, moderate portions, throughout the day, the rest of the week.
Personally, without this day of rest and without journalling, I have never sustained diet/nutrition and exercise. With a day of rest and daily journalling, I do.
I understand Exodus 20:8 so much differently than I did years ago. |
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Fri Feb 17, 2006 4:07 pm |
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