Who benefits from recovery?

Phaedra2014
Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Recovery days are important but does everyone benefit from them?

By that I mean, is recovery related to intensity of work out?

I lift but the weights are not very heavy (as yet, I'm getting there), I swing kettlebells, do HIIT workouts, calisthenics, jog and run intervals. I also do Yoga or Barre.

Would I benefit from recovery days and how often should I take them?

My workouts go from 30 to 80 minutes, and sometimes 75.

Thank you!

Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    if you're doing HIIT correctly (and simply not just interval training) then you are taxing your body and CNS the same way as strength training and you need to recover.

    but you should go by how you feel but really if you are doing workouts that aren't challenging you and making you fitter (which means you would have to take some time to rest for your body to recover and be faster and stronger) i personally wouldnt be that motivated to do them.
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    By "challenging" do you mean been exhausted at the end of a workout? These terms are confusing because it's all relative. I usually become energized and awake after any kind of workout, except running...it makes me want to sleep as soon as I'm done.

    I usually take a day off. I'll go for a walk or just do yoga, but was wondering if I should take 2 maybe. This is all relatively new to me.
  • StrongLife
    StrongLife Posts: 525 Member
    I most definitely benefit from them! I'm 52 and my workouts are pretty intense. Mainly I listen to my joints, if they are feeling achy then I shut it down for a day. Try it and you be the judge. Your body does need to repair.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    I most definitely benefit from them! I'm 52 and my workouts are pretty intense. Mainly I listen to my joints, if they are feeling achy then I shut it down for a day. Try it and you be the judge. Your body does need to repair.

    ha i was going to come back and say something like this. i have no idea how old he OP is but how i recover at 42 is WAY different than how i recovered at 22 and was an athlete. back then we had some tough workouts during off and on season, lots of 2 a days. back then i could get away with my rest days being 6- 8 mile runs :laugh: and that was on sundays after spending satrdays playing and helping to kick kegs (i played rugby).

    if i tried that crap today i'd implode.
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    ha i was going to come back and say something like this. i have no idea how old he OP is but how i recover at 42 is WAY different than how i recovered at 22 and was an athlete. back then we had some tough workouts during off and on season, lots of 2 a days. back then i could get away with my rest days being 6- 8 mile runs :laugh: and that was on sundays after spending satrdays playing and helping to kick kegs (i played rugby).

    if i tried that crap today i'd implode.

    I'm 46. I'm old :tongue:
  • W0rthless_Her0
    W0rthless_Her0 Posts: 121
    I usually take a day off. I'll go for a walk or just do yoga, but was wondering if I should take 2 maybe. This is all relatively new to me.

    Everyone benefits from recovery. That is if you have exerted yourself enough for your body to NEED the repairs your body makes during a recovery period. Even if you DONT need it theres nothing wrong with walking, doing yoga or playing golf or other light sport like activity. All of those things are good for you and everyone else.

    You used the term relative. It is relative. Generally a 23 yr old that trains hard 4-5 times a week may only need 1 day of recovery for the week while someone who is 46 may need 2 or even 3. It all depends how you feel really. Also the ideas of recovery days are good, however taking a whole week or two after a month or three of solid training will do the body some good as well.
  • TriShamelessly
    TriShamelessly Posts: 905 Member
    A recovery day for us older folks (I'm 46) is generally a good idea. As Sundays are usually my most intense workout days, and Monday is hell at work typically, Monday becomes that day when training. Moving up to a half ironman in the fall, so training will be intense 6 days a week. One day off will be needed. As others have said, listen to your body and experiment to find what works best for you..
  • TriShamelessly
    TriShamelessly Posts: 905 Member
    P.S. Congrats on the loss! Well done!!
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Everyone benefits from recovery. It's the way your body works. You essentially break down your body by exposing it to stress whilst exercising. Then in the recovery period it builds itself up again to a greater level than it was pre exercise in anticipation that it will need to deal with a similar level of stress in the future.

    The more intense the exercise the longer the recovery period in general.

    I would say cluster your weights and HIIT on one day and the day after do lower intensity stuff. Alternate between this structure through the week and have one day of complete rest.

    You can play it by ear but - if in doubt leave it out.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Anyone who wants to get stronger, faster, etc.

    The workout provides the stimulus, the stress. The body compensates during recovery and adapts to the stress. Meaning you can do more than you could before. And thus it repeats (or should do if you follow a non-retarded training schedule).

    No recovery? Enjoy spinning your wheels....
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    P.S. Congrats on the loss! Well done!!

    Thank you! It hasn't sunk in as yet.

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