Rest Days

wolfelements
wolfelements Posts: 117 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
How do you guys go about your exercise rest days?

I've been exercising everyday since I started my new fitness plan, so about two weeks. Today I went out and even with stretching before my walk I ended up cramped and uncomfortable. So I decided today will be my first actual rest day. I think for my rest days, I'm going to listen to my body.

Replies

  • gimmecoffeeiv
    gimmecoffeeiv Posts: 20 Member
    I schedule one rest day a week, usually Sundays. The other six days I do a combination of exercise, either Zumba, running, or elliptical, and then some weights, pushups, ab exercises, and other floor work. Sometimes on the rest day I find myself thinking about working out though. Weird. Never thought I would see that day!
  • wolfelements
    wolfelements Posts: 117 Member
    Sometimes on the rest day I find myself thinking about working out though. Weird. Never thought I would see that day!

    That's my problem right now! I didn't finish my walk and it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking about it. I walk super fast with music, arms a-swinging, and it's like my daily meditation.
  • jimmie65
    jimmie65 Posts: 655 Member
    What's a rest day?
  • tifftheneutron
    tifftheneutron Posts: 20
    Maybe add yoga? It doesn't burn a ton of calories, and it isn't super taxing on your body, but you are still doing something to feel active.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    At least once a week, maybe more, usually a Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather.
  • alanlmarshall
    alanlmarshall Posts: 587 Member
    If you don't have planned rest annd recovery, you'll have unplanned rest and recovery.
  • shooter560
    shooter560 Posts: 15
    I always factor in a total rest day, its normally a Tuesday for me, I also have an easy day (Friday) where I just do 30mins or so of light cardio (level 1 or 2)
  • wolfelements
    wolfelements Posts: 117 Member
    Maybe add yoga? It doesn't burn a ton of calories, and it isn't super taxing on your body, but you are still doing something to feel active.

    I do have a DVD of a program that combines yoga with ballet. I could do that on my rest day so I don't feel like an obsessive slug. lol!
  • TAsunder
    TAsunder Posts: 423 Member
    I work out 6 days a week currently. I rest on Sunday. Last summer, I went for long bike rides on Sunday and rested either the Friday before or Monday after.

    I also tend to have a large calorie deficit monday through wednesday (~500-800 under what MFP suggests) and then make up some of it thursday through sunday. I have no real logic behind that except that I don't want to work on a large deficit the whole week and we tend to have more social plans on Thursday through Sunday.
  • wolfelements
    wolfelements Posts: 117 Member
    I also tend to have a large calorie deficit monday through wednesday (~500-800 under what MFP suggests) and then make up some of it thursday through sunday. I have no real logic behind that except that I don't want to work on a large deficit the whole week and we tend to have more social plans on Thursday through Sunday.

    That makes sense. I should try to do that for my weekend. It's my birthday weekend, so I'm eating out twice and drinking alcohol. So eating less Thursday and Friday could help me with that.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I don't have any full rest days...but I do have days that are less intense and I work in recovery HR zone. My days look something like this:

    Monday - Aerobic cardio (HR 134-144)...30 minutes
    Tuesday - Lift Heavy; 30 minutes recovery zone cardio (usually just a walk)
    Wed - Aerobic cardio...30 minutes
    Thurs - Lift Heavy; 30 minutes recovery zone cardio
    Fri - Aerobic cardio...30 minutes
    Sat - Lift Heavy; 30 minutes recovery zone cardio
    Sun - fun day...go for a hike...swim...bike ride with the kids...just being out and about and generally active
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I always take Sunday off, sometimes more days if I feel I need it. Every few months I find myself taking the better part of a week off, which is really nice, and I come back to my workouts feeling refreshed and ready to go.

    Some Sundays are more restful than others for me - I'll often take a 20 minute walk (not a power walk, just a walk with the fam and/or dogs), or do 15 minutes of yoga first thing in the morning. Other times, I literally sit most of the day and just REST.
  • linzbreanne
    linzbreanne Posts: 12 Member
    Jillian Micheals Yoga Melt Down is what I used to do for rest days. Its only 30 mins long, has great body weight training, but isn't too hard.
  • wolfelements
    wolfelements Posts: 117 Member
    Thank you all for replying. It's definitely giving me ideas!
  • BackTatJIM
    BackTatJIM Posts: 1,140 Member
    why would you exercise on a REST day? I would sit my *kitten* on the couch and relax
  • freelancejouster
    freelancejouster Posts: 478 Member
    On rest days I think it's best to actually rest, or just go on a slow walk around the yard/mall/campus. My track coach would always yell at us if we didn't take time off in high school because that's how people get injured. Rest day means rest.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I don;t think rest day s are necessary when doing cardio - unless you are doing something like HIIT.

    When weight training, rest days are necesary. Day of workout, day off to recover, etc...
  • JessieLMay
    JessieLMay Posts: 146 Member
    My "rest" day is on sundays and its just stretching, yoga and maybe light cardio. There is no way I can rest. I tried that this weekend and felt so bad and my workout yesterday sucked because I lost my momentum.
  • alanlmarshall
    alanlmarshall Posts: 587 Member
    I don;t think rest day s are necessary when doing cardio - unless you are doing something like HIIT.

    When weight training, rest days are necesary. Day of workout, day off to recover, etc...

    I disagree. Distance runners take rest days, it prevents injury. Even pro athletes incorporate recovery into their training
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    Recovery is important. Without it, you could be over-training which will give you a whole other set of problems to deal with. Our muscles repair and build when we're resting. Sure, do some active recovery like an easy walk or short, easy bike ride or something similar. I think easy stretching would be perfect. But I wouldn't do much beyond that. Especially if your rest day happens to fall on a busy day when you've been active doing others things (housework, errands, etc.).
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    Today is a rest day for me.

    I've exercised my way through a head cold and pushed myself really hard (60 minute spin class, outdoor personal training session and 60 minute bodypump where I raised nearly all my weights) over the last 3 days.

    Today my muscles are sore so I've taken some ibruorofen, made sure i got a full 8 hours' sleep and started the day with a hot bath and some stretches. Am having a deep tissue massage this evening.

    Thinking about a steam/sauna later but I may just have a complete day off!
  • CaffeinatedConfectionist
    CaffeinatedConfectionist Posts: 1,046 Member
    Usually I don't plan my rest days, because they tend to just happen when life interferes with my typical exercise routine. If I find that I've gone for an exceptionally long time without a rest day, or if I'm feeling unusually tired or sore, I'll have a relaxed, low-impact day, maybe with just some mild pilates or a hike or walk. But usually something comes up once every week or ten days that prevents me from getting to the gym or sucks up my exercise time, so I don't worry about it unduly.

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