Rest Day Necessary?

sunshinestater

I started JMBR last month. It's designed with four days of strength, two cardio, and two rest. I'm stretching the program to 6 months and was doing with without a rest day (cardio on that day), which worked out fine for a month.

Now I'm on the next set of strength workouts, which are quite a bit harder for me, and I just started C25K three days a week as my cardio. It's really whipping my butt. I'm debating adding a rest day, but that would throw off the weekly schedule because I need four days for strength and three for running. I'll be doing my first 5K in fall, although I might try one this summer if all goes well.

I'd like to just push through this, but I don't want to burn myself out. I've been more sore and it's harder to do the workouts each day. If I work in a rest day, that would put me on an 8 day cycle. That's okay since I work from home and don't have to work out on certain days, but it just seems a little weird.

Should I just try to push through this a little longer before I work in a rest day, or should I give myself a break? I want to work as hard as possible, but I don't want to wear out my body too quickly.

FP4HSharon

Most experts now say athletic performance improves for people who take at least one day a week completely off. Saw a commentator say communist country teams (Olympics) do not do this, & he said he didn't want to think about how much they'd improve if they did. Your body needs a day to recover & rebuild. I think if you'll try it, you'll notice a difference.

timeasterday

Listen to your body and if you feel your progress is going downhill or energy is low, it's time to rest. I haven't tried this yet but I read somewhere that if you measure your resting heart rate every morning and see it increasing, then your body is not getting enough rest.

I was doing strength training (P90X) three days a week and C25K three days a week. I really looked forward to that rest day. But now I started a new running schedule which has me running 4 days a week while still doing P90X. We'll see how it goes - at least the added running day is just a short easy run.

LoraF83

Rest is just as important as the exercise itself.

Take at least 1 full rest day every week. 2 if you feel you need it.

cc141

I would definitely take at least one rest day. Try to run on one of your JMBR strength days and then the two cardio days.

WhoButME28

Regardless of what exercise regiment one is doing a rest day is absolutely necessary. 2-3 days in a week, depending on your level of fitness etc., is ideal.

jzammetti

Regardless of what exercise regiment one is doing a rest day is absolutely necessary. 2-3 days in a week, depending on your level of fitness etc., is ideal.

I agree with this. The magic happens when you rest.

sunshinestater

Thanks for all the good advice. I'm going to work in a rest day, even if it puts me on an 8 week cycle. I'm happy with my progress and don't want to destroy it with injury or burn-out. I keep forgetting that I'm not as young as I used to be (year and a half away from 50), so my body can't take the same abuse that I dished out to it in my youth.

Ninguneado73

One day a week at least.

Timshel_

Rest days allow the body to repair and replenish and can help defray over exertion and injuries. And I like em anyway.