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Ideas for rest days?

heykatieben
heykatieben Posts: 398 Member
edited January 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

I'm relying on eating back my exercise calories to stay happy and full. I'm not really wanting to take rest days because of this, though I guess I should, right? So a couple questions:

-- How necessary are these rest days, anyway? How much rest is rest? For instance, is a slow 3 mile run, all cardio, rest? Is it rest in relation to what you normally do, or does a rest day mean *no* exercise? Not that I'm a big athlete or anything, but a 3 mile run at 12 min mile is easy and burns enough cals to let me eat the way I want to - does that count as rest?

-- I figure light exercise is fine, right? Yoga, walking, cleaning. If I shouldn't be running on a rest day, how about a good amount of that stuff?

Other ideas/thoughts on rest days? Thanks! :D

Replies

  • ChrisLindsay9
    ChrisLindsay9 Posts: 837 Member
    You may want to give us a better idea of your fitness program? What's the intensity, frequency, workouts, etc.?

    For example, if your fitness program includes 4-5 days of intense training, such as strength training, you need one day of complete rest. I call it "couch potato" day. The rest day is for recovery and healing. (Microfractures, Microtears, joint and ligament healing, etc.). And if this is the case, don't worry about eating on your rest days (I typically eat the same calories-wise, with maybe a little less carbs and more protein/fat). That will provide you with energy for the subsequent working out days.
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