What does "rest day" mean to you?

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  • ShibaEars
    ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
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    If I'm taking a rest day, the most I'll do is to walk my dog. If I didn't have the dog, I wouldn't do anything.
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
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    It totally depends on how I feel. If I physically and mentally feel good, then I'll do a really light cardio workout and some yoga. If I''m really physically tired or if I am starting to have cravings, then I'll either do nothing or some stretchy kind of yoga. Or sleep. I usually have one of the nothing days once every month or two. Lighter days generally once a week.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
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    non purposeful exercise. For example today is a rest day for me. But I have 10k steps in, will go home clean up a bit, eat, have a bath, do my nails...in the summer it's a light stroll with my husband might be 2miles might be 5 but it won't be a hard walk...that to me is a rest day...easy.
  • Deena_Bean
    Deena_Bean Posts: 906 Member
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    It varies - this weekend, Saturday ended up being a rest -day for me. I did a whole lot of not much. Just regular weekend stuff like walking around a store, going to my sons basketball game and my bonus-sons soccer game. When it's nicer out I could easily walk 2-4 miles without thinking of it as a workout....even though it sort of is.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
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    My rest day means no targeted exercise. It may be a couch potato day or I may go for a hike or bowling or whatever. More often than not, it is the day I clean house and do laundry.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
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    JoRocka wrote: »
    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?

    They'll lose all their gainz....
  • allaboutthecake
    allaboutthecake Posts: 1,531 Member
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    Rest day for me usually just lands on Sunday. Lots of sitting (church, movies) & the occasional nap. Walk around the block, walk at the grocery store. But usually its a total brain-dead kinda day.
  • DymonNdaRgh40
    DymonNdaRgh40 Posts: 661 Member
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    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    It means no rigorous work. I will usually still walk my dog and what not on a rest day...walk around the zoo with my kids, etc. Walking around doesn't really impede recovery...but I don't lift, I don't ride, I don't run, etc. I basically take it pretty easy

    This.
  • kazaargrandcru
    kazaargrandcru Posts: 152 Member
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  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
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    Rest day for me is doing absolutely nothing. ;)
  • luluinca
    luluinca Posts: 2,899 Member
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    I generally walk or swim on rest days, but every now and then, I take the entire day off. I'm in the middle of a 6 day gym break right now but still stretching and doing some light calisthenics at home and walking the dog 2-3 miles every other day or so.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
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    JoRocka wrote: »
    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?

    With a sedentary job, I can't just sit still otherwise. Never could. I always feel the need to do something. My philosophy has always been: I'll get plenty of rest when I'm dead. So I usually only do nothing when I hit that I am absolutely exhausted point, which happens rarely.
  • lpendleton58
    lpendleton58 Posts: 285 Member
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    No weight training. What I end up doing, that depends on how I feel; yoga, walks, or being a coach potato because I'm hungover. More importantly, rest days (Sundays) are my meal prep days.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
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    i don't typically take a rest day. my daily running keeps me sane. i cherish the mental clarity it gives me.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    SuggaD wrote: »
    JoRocka wrote: »
    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?

    With a sedentary job, I can't just sit still otherwise. Never could. I always feel the need to do something. My philosophy has always been: I'll get plenty of rest when I'm dead. So I usually only do nothing when I hit that I am absolutely exhausted point, which happens rarely.

    Lol I guess my philosophy is the same but I look at it the other way around... I work a desk job- a dance gig- and a desk job at the studio- and I lift 3-4 times a week.

    When I sit down. I sit down and do NOTHING- which is funny- because I say the same thing "i can sleep when I'm dead" I'm VERY busy... but I think that's why when i sit and do nothing- I genuinely sit and do nothing and NEVER feel bad about it.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
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    Today's a rest day for me - so just a light 10-20km bike ride.
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
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    JoRocka wrote: »
    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?

    Well, for me, I hate a break in routine. So, since I normally get up around 5:15 and workout before leaving for work around 6:50, still doing SOMETHING lets me stay on my normal routine.

    And I also like to eat. And I'm OCD and I hate seeing red numbers on MFP, so doing something allows me to eat more.

    I get pretty stiff if I don't do ANYTHING.

    Lastly, I don't generally make time for yoga at any other time because it's slow and I want to be burning calories. So using it to stretch out on my rest days helps me feel like I'm doing something, helps with my soreness, helps my flexibility, and hopefully will help prevent injury.



  • gio14
    gio14 Posts: 57 Member
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    Rest day = mobility work, stretching, cuzi, steam/sauna room, maybe some light cardio. Rest day is a body-reboot day.
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
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    JoRocka wrote: »
    I have a question- as this is on the list today....

    why are people so afraid of actually doing NOTHING on their rest day?
    that seems to be a common issue... (not saying it's OP's) but what's the fear there?

    It's not fear (in my case, at least). It's an optimization of a training system.

    Some people with the exercise habit get anxious if they don't at least move a bit. And, because for a lot of us sore muscles feel better with gentle exercising than simply not doing anything.

    My current coach doesn't prescribe me absolute rest days during training cycles (there are some full break periods). But I have some experience experimenting with what works for me. And my aims are very precise (cycling related), not just feel well/look well/lose weight.

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