How often do you take a rest day?

renae161
renae161 Posts: 334 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
How often do you take a rest day either in general, from an accident, or just in pain whether it's related or not to working out?

Replies

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    A couple times a week
  • renae161
    renae161 Posts: 334 Member
    I just don't want to get stuck in taking too many rest days which leads me to stop working out.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,630 Member
    Only when I'm sick or I'm somehow incredibly busy and just cannot slip much in the way of exercise into my day.

    I took 4 rest days between the time I started with MFP in February 2015 and the end of August 2016 (18 months).
    I had the flu on 2 of those days, 1 day I was in the air between North America and Australia (although I did walk laps around the plane, as usual), and 1 day I was on a ferry and then had to drive quickly to my parent's 50th wedding anniversary dinner (although I did walk laps around the ferry).

    Since the end of August 2016, I have taken a few more rest days because of a rather alarming and unusual illness, and then a follow-up illness. September wasn't a good month for me. But I've been back at it again since the beginning of October! :)

    That said, I do vary what I do. Some days I might only walk a couple km ... other days I'll cycle 400 km. It just depends.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    A complete rest day when I do nothing at all?

    Whenever I think necessary but seldom more than 1x a week and never 2 days in a row. I don't schedule them. I just pay attn to how I feel each day.

    If I feel fatigued and don't think I can perform the anticipated lifts or exercises properly, I just skip it w/the intention of picking up where I left off the next day.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    As per my plan requires. I take 1 rest day after my 2 power lifting days. Sometimes 2 depending on what part of my programming im on. Then I take 1 after my 3 lighter hypertrophy based days.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    2-3x per week
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    I run. On my rest days, I still walk at least 12,500 steps a day. I try to rest a couple of times a week.

    If I'm injured, I also just walk.
  • alexisslolypop
    alexisslolypop Posts: 4,593 Member
    I rest for usually 2 days a week. On the 1st day Ifully rest, but on the 2nd I do a low impact workout. :)
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    edited October 2016
    i've always done lifting programmes that called for three days a week, with at least one recovery day between. i'm technically on one now where i do four. but two of the lifts double up every week on my trainer day, so it comes to the same thing.

    so i'm typically lift-rest-lift-rest-lift-rest, with an extra rest day somewhere in there. when i'm working, i ride on the days i don't lift. sometimes i just bike all the way through the week, but it kind of depends on whether or not i feel up to it. cycling isn't really something i'm pushing for 'progress' on, so i don't rest from it. once i'm conditioned to a particular ride, it's just something i do.
  • xDesertxRatx
    xDesertxRatx Posts: 80 Member
    I rest at weekends. Strictly a Mon-Fri person. If i get the time on a weekend i may throw in a bike ride or a run but avoid the gym as too busy then.
  • frankie671
    frankie671 Posts: 51 Member
    I walk 15k steps every day, even on rest days, and lift 4x a week. If I need a day of completely doing nothing, I take one, but that's probably once a fortnight - I've always been an active person
  • curlsintherack
    curlsintherack Posts: 465 Member
    I'm on a pretty rigid schedule mondy wednesday, and friday are lift days tuesday thursday, saturday or sunday for running. which ever saturday or sunday is not for running then I try to take a rest day however I may go for a bike ride or a walk on those days as well However I have been known to absolutely torture my legs on a Saturday and just need a sunday to recover.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    Two rest days from lifting a week, although I'm typically up and being fairly active on those days.

    Actual total lazy sloth rest day? Maybe once a month.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    I never have an all out sloth day unless I'm sick. Even on days when I don't run or lift, I take a 5 mile brisk walk. That's usually once a week or so.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I generally do something every day but mix up intensity, time etc. but you should be guided by what your own fitness goals are and how long you've been exercising. Think more in terms of recovery days and do something like walking, an easy bike ride, low intensity swimming etc.

  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    One complete day off all training, but I still walk on my off day.. so really none..

    lift 5 days with additional cardio on 3.. and one longer duration cardio (run) on Saturday... I get recovery from lifting by doing no cardio on 3 days week.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    I try for active rest days 1-2 days a week (still walking 4-5 miles), but sometimes one of those days becomes total couch-monster, not-even-a-little-bit-active rest day. Maybe once a month for the total rest day?

    I run 5-6 days and throw a little strength training in whenever it occurs to me.
  • hnoyola0874
    hnoyola0874 Posts: 9 Member
    I asked my doctor how many days I should be working out a week. He replied " how many days a week do you eat"?
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    hnoyola0874 wrote: »
    I asked my doctor how many days I should be working out a week. He replied " how many days a week do you eat"?

    :huh:
  • cqbkaju
    cqbkaju Posts: 1,011 Member
    I usually take rest days on Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday.
    I take a deload week from 5/3/1 every second cycle (6-week deload.)
  • AnnyisOK
    AnnyisOK Posts: 121 Member
    Once a week. It's hard for me, I get antsy and I'm not very good at taking a rest day.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    hnoyola0874 wrote: »
    I asked my doctor how many days I should be working out a week. He replied " how many days a week do you eat"?

    Sir you should find a new dr asap. That's some of the worst advice I've ever heard.
  • Dayle1984
    Dayle1984 Posts: 70 Member
    1-2 days per week. Usually try to get a yoga class in on one of the rest days.
  • JenHuedy
    JenHuedy Posts: 611 Member
    I guess it depends on your definition of rest. I alternate lifting 3 days and running 3 days then rest on Sunday. But even on rest day I try to get at least 15,000 walking steps.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I don't take an intentional rest day unless it's after a big race, injury, etc.

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