Rest day- with or without cardio?

littled1986
littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
edited November 14 in Fitness and Exercise
This is my first week of working out and tomorrow is my rest day (finally!). My question is when you take a rest day do you do cardio, or do you need to take a day off from cardio too? I would love to know what you guys are doing. I would love to take a day off from cardio, but I don't want to lose momentum towards achieving my goals.

Replies

  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    Rest days don't need to be inactive.
    I use my rest day to do yoga, foam roll, and leisurely walks
  • littled1986
    littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
    I plan on cleaning my entire house and doing some yard work so I won't be lounging around all day. I'm just wondering if I should hop on the treadmill first thing in the morning or not.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    My rest days only consists of light activity. I don't do any moderate or vigorous activity. I guess it would depend on how vigorous your cardio is...most of mine is moderate to vigorous.

    I usually just go for a walk on rest days...do some stretching and foam rolling, etc. Yoga is something else that I would like to explore more, but I would make sure it's a recovery type of yoga...

    Recovery is important...that's the whole point of having a rest day. Exercise is good for you, but it also breaks down the body and you need rest to repair.
  • littled1986
    littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
    @cwolfman13‌ Thank you! I'll do a YouTube search of recovery yoga and do that in the morning instead of the treadmill (I'm more relieved than I thought I'd be with this decision). I'll consider house cleaning and yard work as "light activity", but that can get pretty vigorous too. Lol
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    It really depends on how intense you’re working out on the other days. Sometimes rest and recovery does need to be inactive. If you do anything, it should be very, very light or better than cardio, address other areas like mobility.
  • littled1986
    littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    It really depends on how intense you’re working out on the other days. Sometimes rest and recovery does need to be inactive. If you do anything, it should be very, very light or better than cardio, address other areas like mobility.

    What do you mean by "address mobility?"
  • kpw818
    kpw818 Posts: 113 Member
    I personally do a rest day as a rest day with only stretching and foam rolling, but I workout the other 6 days of the week (4 days running, 2 days strength). The rest day follows my long run day.
  • Beautifulbridgittlee7
    Beautifulbridgittlee7 Posts: 352 Member
    Hmm you could do some gardening or yard work or just for a walk, do some yoga stretches,etc
  • littled1986
    littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
    kpw818 wrote: »
    I personally do a rest day as a rest day with only stretching and foam rolling, but I workout the other 6 days of the week (4 days running, 2 days strength). The rest day follows my long run day.
    I'm new to all of this and apparently have a lot to learn. What is foam rolling?
    Beautifulbridgittlee7 wrote: »
    Hmm you could do some gardening or yard work or just for a walk, do some yoga stretches,etc
    This is good advice, thank you! It actually sounds like the perfect day off (not just from working out, but from work too). :)
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    littled1986 wrote: »
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    It really depends on how intense you’re working out on the other days. Sometimes rest and recovery does need to be inactive. If you do anything, it should be very, very light or better than cardio, address other areas like mobility.

    What do you mean by "address mobility?"

    We each have limitations on our ability to move properly. For example, my ankles won’t let me go into a deep squat. I also struggle to get into a proper front squat position due to mobility issues in my shoulders and wrists. So, on the days I’m not training, I work on stretching and self-myofacial release to help improve my mobility in those areas.
  • littled1986
    littled1986 Posts: 101 Member
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    littled1986 wrote: »
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    It really depends on how intense you’re working out on the other days. Sometimes rest and recovery does need to be inactive. If you do anything, it should be very, very light or better than cardio, address other areas like mobility.

    What do you mean by "address mobility?"

    We each have limitations on our ability to move properly. For example, my ankles won’t let me go into a deep squat. I also struggle to get into a proper front squat position due to mobility issues in my shoulders and wrists. So, on the days I’m not training, I work on stretching and self-myofacial release to help improve my mobility in those areas.

    Ash, I see. That sounds like a good way to improve on a recovery day. Thanks AllanMisner!
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