recovery day needed?

thenursisin
thenursisin Posts: 6 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Good Morning friends,

My routine is every other day I strength train 60 minutes full body. Then the opposing day I run 4miles in the morning. I didn't think I needed a recovery day and don't feel like it. My nutritionist questions whether I should take a recovery day once a week....Thoughts, expertise greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • CherylG1983
    CherylG1983 Posts: 294 Member
    From what I understand, you will see better results, and faster, if you give your muscles time to recover and recuperate. Here's a great article that explains it: http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/9-reasons-skip-your-workout-sometimes
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Good Morning friends,

    My routine is every other day I strength train 60 minutes full body. Then the opposing day I run 4miles in the morning. I didn't think I needed a recovery day and don't feel like it. My nutritionist questions whether I should take a recovery day once a week....Thoughts, expertise greatly appreciated!

    Nutritionist does not mean that they are qualified to give workout advice.

    If you don't feel like it, don't take it. Will you need one? Yeah, but you can do that by feel. It really comes down to the intensity of the workout and what you're doing.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    Good Morning friends,

    My routine is every other day I strength train 60 minutes full body. Then the opposing day I run 4miles in the morning. I didn't think I needed a recovery day and don't feel like it. My nutritionist questions whether I should take a recovery day once a week....Thoughts, expertise greatly appreciated!

    Nutritionist does not mean that they are qualified to give workout advice.

    If you don't feel like it, don't take it. Will you need one? Yeah, but you can do that by feel. It really comes down to the intensity of the workout and what you're doing.

    +1
  • AdventureFreak
    AdventureFreak Posts: 236 Member
    Good Morning friends,

    My routine is every other day I strength train 60 minutes full body. Then the opposing day I run 4miles in the morning. I didn't think I needed a recovery day and don't feel like it. My nutritionist questions whether I should take a recovery day once a week....Thoughts, expertise greatly appreciated!

    Nutritionist does not mean that they are qualified to give workout advice.

    If you don't feel like it, don't take it. Will you need one? Yeah, but you can do that by feel. It really comes down to the intensity of the workout and what you're doing.

    +1

    +2 - go beast mode and when you get cranky, stiff, fussy, crazy hungry, and or tired take a solid day off. One a week is too much I feel.
  • wpayers
    wpayers Posts: 69 Member
    You really should insert regular recovery into your routine. Now only does your body need to repair but so does your mind. Based on your posting you don't appear to be losing steam but watch out - burn out can sneak up on you at any time.

    I recommend at least 1 off day a week. If you can't stand being inactive enough for a day try something new like yoga or a stretching class.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    +2 - go beast mode and when you get cranky, stiff, fussy, crazy hungry, and or tired take a solid day off. One a week is too much I feel.

    Yeah. I woke up today feeling like all that. :) So today's a rest day, only going to do a swim workout.

    When the intensity is up and you're doing doubles or so, you'll know exactly when you need a rest day.
  • czardastx
    czardastx Posts: 127 Member
    I'm a firm believer in a rest day. 4 days out of the week I'm at the gym in the mornings. 4 days a week I'm running anywhere from 7 to 12 miles. 3 days a week I'm cycling 2 to 3 hours. As you can see I'm pretty intense in my workouts as most of my week involves a workout in the morning and again in the evening. If it weren't for my rest day I'd be too dead to do anything.
  • workshardplaysharder
    workshardplaysharder Posts: 44
    My rest days are on the weekends for the most part. If I am particularly tired and sore during the week I'll skip the gym.

    It all depends on how you feel.
  • bikegeorge
    bikegeorge Posts: 19 Member
    I'd recommend a day a week, even if you don't feel like you need one. You only get stronger when you incorporate rest in your schedule. It's called the stepladder effect. When you allow muscles full healing they rebuild a bit better than before . By alternating running and weights you are taking alternative days off already, however with no real rest day you might get stale and not see the gains you'd desire. On my end when I ran (i was not going to the Gym) I always took 2 days a week off. That kept me fresh and able to get stronger and faster. (That was for me and might not suit everybody).. Good luck with your program :-)

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