Cardio question

buffalobill41
buffalobill41 Posts: 72 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Should one take days off between cardio sessions (just moderate elliptical work) like you should after lifting to let muscles recover or can you do it everyday?

Replies

  • Anaris2014
    Anaris2014 Posts: 138 Member
    edited May 2015
    NOT AN EXPERT:

    I was doing a 20 minute high intensity cardio work out every day (5km run) for about 2 years. During that time I lost a lot of weight - on top of that I was playing Football (Soccer), Touch football and other similar activities, together with elliptical training at the gym 3 days a week.

    In the end I just started doing injury after injury.

    ETA: This time around I am trying to give myself plenty of rest days, even if I go for a 5km walk on a rest day.

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited May 2015
    - Mix up your activities, do different things every time, that use muscles differently (cycling, swimming, elliptical, circuit class)
    - Mix up your duration and intensity - some long and slow sessions, fewer with intense intervals or high resistance - don't do high resistance or HIIT every time
    - Stay away from too many jumping things, keep things low impact
    - Warm up every time with a 15-30 reps of bodyweight strengthening exercises addressing big joints - hips, knees, ankles, shoulders
    - Cool down with stretches
    - Take a break every 2-3 days or when you feel tired
    - Stop if anything hurts. Burning, stabbing pain during or right after exercise is bad, especially if just one one side. Soft, gradually developing soreness that's symmetrical is mostly likely DOMS
    - IF you have DOMS, go easy

    In short yes you can do cardio most days if you do ^^
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    if you're over 35, though, def take rest days
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    buffalobill41 wrote: »
    Should one take days off between cardio sessions (just moderate elliptical work)

    If you perceive it as moderate, no.
  • arian10daddy
    arian10daddy Posts: 2,758 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    buffalobill41 wrote: »
    Should one take days off between cardio sessions (just moderate elliptical work)

    If you perceive it as moderate, no.

    I second that... Moderate cardio doesn't need rest IMO... High intensity needs breaks as more recovery is needed.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    It depends. If you are not pushing yourself too much, do not feel sore or tired etc then no. Our bodies are made for moving, several hours per day.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    if my schedule allowed it, i would work out every day ;)

    i take rest days but they vary based on what i have to do. sometimes its because my grandfather has a morning appointment, or i have a lot of work i have to catch up on, or a lot of errands to do, etc. I have one or two 'rest' days a week.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Moderate I wouldnt bother with, but all depends what you call moderate. I take at least one day a week off to avoid boredom. Some people wold call walking 30 mins moderate.
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