Anyone ever take a week off?

bsoxluvr

I was doing SO good with working out at least 4-5 times a week and eating well, but now I'm tired and just can't get into a grove this week. Is it wrong to want to take a break? I'm still going on walks with the dog, but I can't seem to get into gym mode to save my life.

StarryEyedGirl

you're half way there! you are only adding more time to your journey but do what you have to so that you don't stop all together!

yertle123

yeah, sometimes the body needs a break....however, watch it that you don't stay away too long...your body will act like its starting over again....thats the down side

PixieGoddess

I go easy on myself during my TOM, and every now and then I'll take a day off if I know that I would just be miserable counting calories (for ex, I took off Easter Sunday and my boyfriend's birthday when I took him to a Rockies game) so why don't you relax and rocoup for a day and then see if you feel all energized again? Or, if you take a day off and feel weak and tired, that will be your motivation to not take a day off in the future! :laugh: I like to look at things from a win-win perspective.

Good luck!! Hang in there!! :flowerforyou:

tattoogal

What were you doing for workouts those 4-5 times a week? Maybe switch up your exercises so it doesn't seem so routine. I usually rotate between going for walks, bike rides, and home workout videos. It's also okay if you take a day off in between workouts. Just don't give up.

IanRS

No problem taking a break from workouts so long as it is only a week, you remain on track eating wise and exercise a little walking the dog. If you are feeling tired perhaps you are overdoing it - might be an idea to workout 2-3 times a week to see if you can keep that up better over the long term.

In any case you are obviously doing something right having lost 13lbs which is a fabulous achievement.

EKarma

I say don't take a week off. I've got my tracking day up to 111 and I decided I just wasn't going to give up. I started to feel that way about 3 weeks ago, but I was weighing myself everyday and I hadn't lost any weight in a while.. So I decided to stop with the scale and do it every week, like I used to when I first started.

My love of losing weight has finally come back! I feel great. I'm not stressing out about the number so much anymore, but working more on my health.. I'm also working on my endurance. I made a goal that I will jog 4 miles by the end of this term. I want to keep this goal.

I just jogged 2 miles the other day!! No pain, not out of breath.. I amazed myself! I was just shooting for 1 miles, but when I got there I told myself to keep going... I always told myself I would never be a "runner", but I just might prove myself wrong. It's a great feeling.

So keep going.. Set a goal for yourself. What have you always wanted to do? Do you enjoying bike riding? Do you like to go hiking? Have fun with your exercise and food! Get creative!

sniffles

What's the old saying? It takes 5 days to form a habit and 3 to break it. Take a few days off if you need to but I'd warn against taking a whole week!

The body is a fickle thing and you'll pay for that 7 day rest!

amymeenieminymo

Actually I'm VERY burnt out and I've been at it for 2 years. So for the past two weeks I've been scaling back on the gym and just taking 30-60 minute walks. That's how I started with this program, so I figured I needed to go back to the basics to get my groove back.

chrisdavey

It really does depend on what sort of training you are doing. In some body building circles it is normal to only train once a week. But that one session is seriously intense. Listen to your body, if you are feeling tired then take a few days off.

NaturalMom

What's the old saying? It takes 5 days to form a habit and 3 to break it. Take a few days off if you need to but I'd warn against taking a whole week!

I concur. It is important to take time away every once in awhile, especially when you've been dieting for over a year. I certainly understand; I am about to hit my year in July. Personally, though, whenever I take more than 3 days off I start reforming old bad habits. My last "week off" lasted for 2 months. I am just recovering from it now and beating myself up because I am not going to make my July goal. Treat yourself but don't let yourself slide into the self-pity/regret cycle.

Keep up the good work. Remember your goal. You can do it!!!

higgety

A massage is a good way to help the body rejuvenate and recover from all the exercise you've been doing. The muscles do need a break from time to time so that they can accommodate all the changes to the body, otherwise you get burned out. It's also a healthy reward for all the hard work you've been doing.

kwardklinck

I've taken a couple of days off exercise but my body usually misses it. If you need to just not think about diet and exercise for a little while, then just take the break. Just don't let it go too far.

Crunchytxmama

I didn't take a full week off until I'd been losing weight and exercising for about a year, and even then I still exercised, I just did light cardio and nothing else. There is a difference between having the "blah's" and "not feeling like" going to the gym, and being seriously fatigued after weeks of intense workouts. I would challenge you to figure out which this is, in your case. If you're just feeling burned out and unmotivated I would probably try to find something new to do and actually I would step it up, rather than go easy, otherwise you risk falling back into the habit of not being a regular exerciser.

kdsmith

I would try taking a few days off instead of a week or try doing some lighter or different exercise routines for a week...even just continuing to walk your dog can be rejuvenating.
Hope you start feeling stronger soon.

MissingMinnesota

I took a week off since I was sick and it took almost more energy to get back to the gym tonight but once I got there I felt great. So just remember that no matter how long you take off you have to get back to it just like if you had a cheat day on food you know you are going to start back up the next day or meal.

mythicals

If I know I worked really hard last week, I'll take a week off to give my body a break and get back on track the next week.

cmhcarpenter

I was really in the rhythm of exercising for a couple of weeks, and all of a sudden I got thrown off. It's been a good week sense I've done any kind of activity, which makes me feel like crap. So while I've been keeping track of my food, ( I just joined myfitnesspal this week), I haven't exercised! So I know how you feel I think. I know I feel better when I do exercise, and I know that I will see results so much faster once I do get moving again, so I'm trying to motivate myself to get back on the ball. Once I stop it's hard to get going again. I hope you don't have the same problem. If you do, find something that motivates you and go for it!

bsoxluvr

Thank you everyone for kicking me back into reality! After reading all the posts I forced myself to the gym last night (I am a member at 24 hour fit-lite) and did a 45 minute circuit...and I felt great! I was able to sleep better and woke up more refreshed today. I guess I needed the two days, but everyone is right, a week is too long.

Thanks for the help!