Is it okay to have an extra rest day this week?

fangmouse
fangmouse Posts: 119
in Fitness and Exercise
For the past 2 months, I have been exercising 6 days a week for about 1-2 hours each day and it was always consistent. However, this week I had the flu on Monday and I still went for a run on both Monday and Tuesday. IIt's Wednesday today and I really feel giddy and tired and totally not up for a long run. I feel really guilty and annoyed at myself because of that but even yesterday as I was running, I had to walk a little in between the runs because I was just so tired.

Saturdays are my usual rest days and the rest of the week has to have some sort of vigorous activity somehow or I'll feel depressed

I had to skip my workout today and I doubt I can exercise on Saturday too.

I'm really afraid I'll gain weight because I skipped a workout and what more, I ate a little more than normal: feeling super hungry for some reason, which sucks. I tried not to snack because I already had my planned meals but I ate a bit of tofu and some more veg and fruit. They are healthy but they still have calories.

I don't know what's wrong with me :(

Replies

  • TamaraKat
    TamaraKat Posts: 533 Member
    Of course it's okay to have an extra rest day - there are lifters I know at the gym that have an entire rest week! Just do what you feel right because if you don't have that motivation pushing you then chances are that you won't perform very well at the gym...
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,589 MFP Moderator
    Relax a little bit, if you were sick then you need to take a few days off and get better. Weightloss takes dedication but you don't have to be perfect either, and don't drive yourself crazy over it!
  • TamTastic
    TamTastic Posts: 19,224 Member
    Listen to your body. When you are feeling a need to rest...then rest. It's not that lazy, I don't want to go to the gym feeling....it is your body truly telling you it needs a breather.

    One of the keys to weight-loss, fitness success is not making it feel like a chore. And to not let one or two days derail you completely. The gym will be there tomorrow and you can get there and get back into your routine. And allowing your body the time it needs to feel better will only help you to keep the motivation up in the long run.

    Exercising when your energy and body aren't feeling right can lead to injury. Never good!!

    Rest! Get better! :smile:
  • S3r3knitty
    S3r3knitty Posts: 159 Member
    I don't know what's wrong with me :(

    Nothing wrong with you except that you are obviously sick!

    Don't exercise when your body tells you it's too sick for it. It needs all the energy it gets for getting healthy and fighting the sickness. You won't get fat because you don't exercise for a couple of days and any pound you gain during these days will be gone once you restart your excercise schedule.

    Being sick is very exhausting for the body because of all the effort it puts in getting healthy again. Don't fight against it.
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    If it's really the flu, you need more than one extra rest day. You need a few days, or you could end up with pneumonia! Happened to me. I continued with my normal routine when sick and ended up missing 4 weeks of running during training for my second half marathon.

    Head colds are different though, if you don't have a fever or any chest symptoms, just headache, runny nose, congestion, you can exercise through those symptoms.
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    Please speak to a medical professional. This thread along with this one: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1118233-feel-obligated-to-eat-less-than-1000-kcal-per-day is really concerning. Please take care of both your physical and mental health :flowerforyou:
  • Unknown
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  • runningcat76
    runningcat76 Posts: 82
    Please speak to a medical professional. This thread along with this one: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1118233-feel-obligated-to-eat-less-than-1000-kcal-per-day is really concerning. Please take care of both your physical and mental health :flowerforyou:

    This ^^
  • ChristineinMA
    ChristineinMA Posts: 312 Member
    Listen to your body. When you are feeling a need to rest...then rest. It's not that lazy, I don't want to go to the gym feeling....it is your body truly telling you it needs a breather.

    One of the keys to weight-loss, fitness success is not making it feel like a chore. And to not let one or two days derail you completely. The gym will be there tomorrow and you can get there and get back into your routine. And allowing your body the time it needs to feel better will only help you to keep the motivation up in the long run.

    Exercising when your energy and body aren't feeling right can lead to injury. Never good!!

    Rest! Get better! :smile:

    This ^^
  • MoJokes
    MoJokes Posts: 691
    Nothing againts the OP, but I am getting pretty tired and fed up of people killing themselves. If your sick, rest and take a break from your usual routine. A couple of days off here and there is not going to harm you.

    Your mentality will though!
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Let me tell you this....what you're doing is doing no favours to your body. You will burn out. I did this exact same thing...obsessing with food, exercise...in the gym 1-3 hours a day 6 days a week, 1200 calories. All it left me was tired, run down and weak. Eat an appropriate amount of food, do SOME exercise and enjoy life. Dont obsess over a silly number on the scale.
  • zumbalinda22
    zumbalinda22 Posts: 182 Member
    Hi. Not trying to be mean or offensive, but looking at some of your past posts, I think you are quite possibly headed in the direction of an eating disorder. Your fear of eating above a certain amount of calories, and the obsessive exercising are not healthy, physically or mentally. It sounds like you might still be in school. Is there any possibility of talking to a counselor there and getting a referral for some help? You're too young to be living such a restricted, guilt-riddled life. ( not that ANYONE should!) I had an eating disorder when I was young, and it was horrendous. Please get some help before you sink any deeper into patterns that are hard to get out of. All the best....
  • allprobeginner
    allprobeginner Posts: 5
    It's completely normal for feel more hungry when you're sick. Your body is likely telling you it needs more nutrients, in this case.
    However, hunger is not a reliable indicator, at all, of your body's needs. Stick to solid facts. Be consistent in your logging.

    When you're sick, sometimes eating at maintenance helps your body heal faster.
    Depending on how you feel, really try to rest. I don't suggest doing any strenuous activity.
    Running your body down only prolongs it, making it worse.

    Use other ways of releasing the serotonin.
    sunshine
    music
    buy some concert tickets, and go when you feel better
    the best deals are in advance anyway
    healthy, comforting soup
    reading, mmorg, whatever your favorite way to escape.
    and sleeep. you need it.

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