Do you ever take a day off from working out?

ajcmoran2005
ajcmoran2005 Posts: 173 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone takes a day off from working out. I truly can't remember the last time I didn't run but I'm wondering if that's not healthy. Usually I love running but the past few days it's been difficult to motivate myself to do it. Is that my body's way of telling me to take the day off or is that normal?
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Replies

  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Yes. I train 4 days/week and rest 3.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    usually 1 or 2 days a week.

    Listen to your body and breaks are good.
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    I am always ACTIVE, like I always at least go for a walk or walk my kid to school etc. but I don't work out on purpose every. single. day.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Absolutely - always at least one day of rest per week, sometimes two, and every so often I take a full week off.

    Rest days are important, the body needs time to rest and heal. Sounds like your body is asking for a break.
  • ajcmoran2005
    ajcmoran2005 Posts: 173 Member
    I'm pretty active all day. I have three kids so I'm constantly chasing after them and playing with them. Even though it might be smart for me to take a day off, it just feels weird. At the same time I'm actually really tired.
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    I only rest on days I feel like I need rest. So when I'm eating a lot everyday, I may go for 20+ days of intense training without a break. Some days I train twice a day. I've never "overtrained" except maybe once, when I caught a terrible flu...though that may have just been the flu.

    Alot of people will say that training everyday is bad. Garbage. I've been doing this for 11 years. If you can train everyday, and you're excited about training everyday, then train everyday. If you feel like you need a break, take one. Everything should be intuitive.
  • ajcmoran2005
    ajcmoran2005 Posts: 173 Member
    One more question then. The days you don't work out, how much do you reduce your caloric intake by? I've been losing using the TDEE -20% at moderately active so on days when I decide not to run should I put it to lightly active and use that recommendation?
  • celtbell3
    celtbell3 Posts: 738 Member
    I usually take off 1-2 days a week (or, since I do two daily workouts, I'll take off one morning and one night).
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    "Intentional workouts"-I only do 3-4 days a week.

    Though on other days I may be gardening or going for a hike or riding my bike in the neighborhood.
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    One more question then. The days you don't work out, how much do you reduce your caloric intake by? I've been losing using the TDEE -20% at moderately active so on days when I decide not to run should I put it to lightly active and use that recommendation?

    No, your activity level is factored in and then it gives you a daily calorie rec.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    One more question then. The days you don't work out, how much do you reduce your caloric intake by? I've been losing using the TDEE -20% at moderately active so on days when I decide not to run should I put it to lightly active and use that recommendation?

    My activity level for my TDEE is set at "exercises 3-5 times a week"... So I don"t have to change my calories on rest days as long as I workout 3-5 days a week.
  • Time2Commit
    Time2Commit Posts: 8
    It is always recommended to take at least 1 rest day a week. :)
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    Yeah of course :) Although having been sick I have had a lot of days off in the last 3 weeks... lots to make up for!

    Your TDEE should account for your days working out as well as your days off. (usually asks how many hours a week or how many hours per day, how many times per week etc.) and then use that because then you will always be eating the right amount no matter what.

    I prefer the start at 1200 and eat back everything I do (that is worth recording of course) and have been fairly sucessful.
  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    When I push really hard in a workout I will sometimes come on a day where my body is very sluggish and fatigued, and my endorphins simply aren't flowing. It's not just mental, but physical. At this point jogging feels more like pulling on the strings of a doll than in propelling my body forward, if that makes sense. On those days it makes sense to rest or "save up" for a super intense workout once my body is recovered.

    I'd take more rest days than I do, but I like to eat more. Right now I probably average one every couple of weeks.
  • natsthename
    natsthename Posts: 13 Member
    I take one or two days "off" from the gym. I might ride my bike or walk on those days, just to keep moving, but it's not an official "work out."
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    of course. 1-2 days a week.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    One to two days per week for rest and recovery. It doesn't mean I just sit around and eat Dorritos and do nothing though...I'm generally active on my rest days and often participate in recreational "exercise" like going for a bike ride or something. I just don't participate in rigorous exercise. Proper rest is just as important as the workout itself.
  • footiechick82
    footiechick82 Posts: 1,203 Member
    I train 4-6 days a week depending on how busy I am... I usually take weekends off but still walk a lot because I have a pooch to take care of :smile:
  • ajcmoran2005
    ajcmoran2005 Posts: 173 Member
    When I push really hard in a workout I will sometimes come on a day where my body is very sluggish and fatigued, and my endorphins simply aren't flowing. It's not just mental, but physical. At this point jogging feels more like pulling on the strings of a doll than in propelling my body forward, if that makes sense. On those days it makes sense to rest or "save up" for a super intense workout once my body is recovered.

    I'd take more rest days than I do, but I like to eat more. Right now I probably average one every couple of weeks.

    Wow, you have described exactly how I'm feeling today! Usually I really look forward to my daily run but this morning it feels like I would be dragging 500 ton weights behind me. Ugh. Maybe I do need to rest for a day.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Of course! If I spend an afternoon hiking or kayaking it's always a good idea to do a rest day. Gotta let those muscles heal up.
  • nainai0585
    nainai0585 Posts: 199 Member
    my scheduled day off is Sunday as I do not have daycare available for my boys BUT, I will take other days off (like today) if its a PA Day off of school for my oldest; I have running around to do and it can't wait until the afternoon; or I just don't feel like working out that particular day.
  • TedStout
    TedStout Posts: 241
    Everyone's different, but I take time off when I feel I need it. At 50, recovery is a quite a bit slower than when I was younger. Your body has to heal.
  • culkin1
    culkin1 Posts: 21 Member
    I've learned not to plan my days off. I've adopted the attitude to always plan on working out today and never assume that I'll be able to work out tomorrow. With a full-time job and two teenage kids, days-off seem to work themselves in naturally. Not to mention having arthritis in my knees I never know when it is going to kick-in...like today.
  • konerusp
    konerusp Posts: 247 Member
    1 or 2 days a week+all 3-4 days of TOM every month.
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    I let my body tell me when I need a rest day which happens every 10-14 days or so usually. I don't schedule days off though.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    Yes, of course! 1-2 days a week I have rest days--I just walk, stretch, foam roll....light stuff like that.
  • TLow97
    TLow97 Posts: 55
    Wednesdays are my rest days.

    Sometimes I don't mind taking another rest day to help keep myself honest with my calorie intake.
  • EDollah
    EDollah Posts: 464 Member
    I do 2 days at the gym, 1 day off, with no regard to the day of the week. On the off day I make sure to take a short walk. I like this schedule a lot, each muscle group gets worked at least twice a week and the 2 days in between offers enough recovery.
  • Summerberry1012
    Summerberry1012 Posts: 109 Member
    The answer for you depends on the intensity of your workouts/duration/frequency/goal/etc. I workout 5 days/week for about 30mins. Otherwise I take Saturday/Sunday off working out but I'm still active like doing yard work or kayaking, etc. You just have to listen to your body. Yesterday I was absolutely exhausted so I did nothing but nap and lounge by the pool and this morning I was ready for a run again. Taking a break (and stretching) is important for your body to recover and muscles to heal - overworking them is what can lead to injuries.
  • haroon_awan
    haroon_awan Posts: 1,208 Member
    From my experience those who work out very intensely everyday like junkies are those who are trying too hard to lose fat (esp around the mid section) and not educating themselves on the best way to do so, both in terms of training and nutrition. The only exception are pro athletes.

    Come at me.

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