Am I doing this right...

LaurLaur09

Hey guys I have a quick question...but, before I ask, let me explain. :-) Everyday I press play on my Extreme Makeover Weightloss dvd. I'm in love with this video and it is low impact. I don't use weights on any day of the week but I plan on doing the major toning when I am at a better weight. I know a day of rest is suggested but I don't know if it is a must with what I am doing. I have been told that I will reach a plateau quickly if I don't rest and that scares me. The dvd works on core/cardio/simply body being in motion. We do squats, pushups, crunches, etc. Here is my question...Do you think I need that day of rest because I'd hit a plateau quickly or could I do the dvd all 7 days a week but just not pushing as hard? Am I doing this right? Any info would be lovely. Thank you! :-)

ejwme

I'm not sure...

For ME (and I'm not you!!), if I can do something for 7 days a week, I don't count it as exercise (but it is activity!). I knew with my current training regimen that I had stepped it up enough when I started to finally look forward to rest days (rather than just getting horribly restless on rest days). I'm afraid of overtraining, though, and not entirely sure where my break point is either - I'm guessing when I need to start adding more rest days than usual (right now, 2) just to recover. I'm tracking my resting heart rate overnight to be sure now, since a lot of other factors are also messing with my performance (dratted weather, terrain, etc). But my goal is not weight loss, or fitness, though they may be consequences of my activities. Right now it's a marathon as fast as I can finish - I'm just trying to say YMMV.

But if you're doing it for 7 days, and you feel fine, it IS activity, it does burn calories, so if your goal is weight loss and fitness, you're fine. You'll know when you plateau - you won't improve any more, you'll feel stuck in a rut, or possibly start to loose performance (like not be able to squat as much as you used to, or get more sore). Don't be afraid of it - it's not the end of the world. You'll just need to recognize it (by tracking your improvements!) and adapt.

Most people agree, whether you're training for endurance or strength, mixing it up is a good idea, so maybe finding a second favorite video to alternate with would be a good start. If you do the same things day in and day out, your body will adapt and you will plateau, no matter how many rest days you add in. But you may like the plateau you end up on, you won't know until you get there.

beeblebrox82

You won't plateau, but you may hurt yourself. The recovery day is just that, a day for your body to recover.

LaurLaur09

Thanks for the insight :-) I appreciate it greatly. I may try to find another video to add into my week so my body doesn't get used to the same thing. I have a long way to go but I don't want to fail. I've failed enough in my life with my weight issues. Today I'm cleaning house ...perhaps thats going to be enough of a workout on its own lol

GiGiZumba811

I would recommend taking the day to rest. Maybe doing a light walk instead. Your keeping motivated but resting your body from the heavy workout.
I find that when I'm sore the best thing to do is something very light the next day, keeps the body moving without the strain.