When are good rest days?

SimoneNinan

I had a huge physically active day on Wednesday and light workout/run on Thursday. Friday I took 'off' as a rest because I ran a 5K and zumba'd for over an hour (part of the Color Run racing) yesterday. Today? I'm sore and tired... dare I take another rest day even though i played it safe on Thursday and Friday?

SimoneNinan

No really... does anyone have experience with this??

DavPul

I don't understand the question. Is it okay to take a day off? Ummmm......Yes.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

If you feel like you need a rest day take one. Your workouts will be there tomorrow.




Shut up, everyone on my friend list. I took a rest today. I did.

PJPrimrose

If I don't take my "down" days (Wed. & Fri) my performance sucks both in kick boxing and weight lifting (even though I'm still lifting pretty light). My body pretty much demands down time.

SimoneNinan

Thanks guys. Sounds like experiences vote for "if you need one, take one." Was doing a social litmus test to see if 3 rest days in a week = laziness. I'm going to go light today to loosen up my sad muscles and see where that leaves me. Trying not to fall off the exercise wagon. again.

whitebalance

Thanks guys. Sounds like experiences vote for "if you need one, take one." Was doing a social litmus test to see if 3 rest days in a week = laziness. I'm going to go light today to loosen up my sad muscles and see where that leaves me. Trying not to fall off the exercise wagon. again.

Three rest days in a week is pretty much my normal week. IMHO it's important to listen to your body and rest when you need it, but consider an "active rest day." A long walk, Pilates or yoga, leisurely things that keep you off the couch and keep the blood circulating to your muscles. Sounds like that's where you're headed anyway.

logg1e

I definitely need at least 1 rest day between my strength work. If I'm doing neither strength nor cardio I sometimes like to do a flexibility workout (such as yoga).

raindawg

I tend to stick to my assigned rest days. But also I listen to my body. Sounds like your body is telling you it needs another day.

fivethreeone

I rest four days a week and I'm super inspirational and shet.

YesIAm17

Plenty of people who are in pretty darn good shape only workout 3 days a week, so 4 rest days... I wouldn't call them lazy at all.

I do a mix of cardio and strength (T25 Alpha + Gamma) 5 days a week and then a stretch routine the other 2 days which are my "rest" days. I am sure some would say that is too much. I listen to my body, if I need more rest I take it, but that is pretty rare.

Do what you need to

CyberEd312

Listen to your body it will let you know when it needs a break.... I take Sundays off personally every week (we may take the dogs to the Park for a very casual walk) but other than that I will only take another day off when my body tells me it is time.... Best of Luck

12by311

My rest days tend to be a bit unscheduled and float from week to week. My husband works swing shifts and I have two young kids so I just "rest" on days I can't make it to work out. I usually have 2 a week, sometimes 3.

Oh and rest days don't make me feel lazy at all…I go pretty balls to the wall in my workouts.

bwogilvie

I schedule at least one rest day into my week, and I only do 2 intense workouts back-to-back if they are different activities (e.g., a long, hard bike ride followed by a long hike or run), or if I am positive on day 2 that I can still handle it.

And I listen to my body. A week ago Saturday I did a 10K run and was feeling some knee discomfort the next morning. I tried a 5K run on Tuesday and my knee was bugging me afterwards. Decision: no more running until the knee felt fine walking. I thought I was OK today, but after 40 minutes of walking I felt a twinge (not pain, but a sensation of stiffness), so it's another day off running. Maybe Tuesday....

I'm keeping up with my walking and cycling, since they don't cause pain (and cycling doesn't even cause discomfort). I suspect it's a reactivation of an injury from winter 2012 in the same spot: a bike crash that made it impossible for me to run, and painful to walk, but had no effect on my cycling at all.

ndj1979

IMO everyone should have one, one hundred percent rest day each week ..for me it is Saturday, which is the day after I deadlift…

wednesday I do not lift, but I usually do HIIT sprints and Abs that day .

Capt_Apollo

There is a difference between tapering and testing before a race and then recovering afterwards, and taking rest days for exercise.

If you're doing a race, you want to not work out the days leading up to it. The amount you rest and taper is based on the distance you are competing, and your fitness level.

SimoneNinan

Aha! Tapering!!! That's the word I've been missing in my fitness vocabulary! Glad I guessed the right approach!