Rest days- do we really need them?

ccclay
ccclay Posts: 28
edited September 29 in Fitness and Exercise
Just wanted to gain some general opinions on the good old rest day- do we really need them? Truth or fallacy?!

Replies

  • ehte_h
    ehte_h Posts: 297 Member
    If I didn't have a rest day, i'd go nuts! However coming back from 4 days off is a big struggle and i'm suffering! I can't lift or run very far lol
  • chridow
    chridow Posts: 178
    i beleive that we do need rest days. in exercise, work, friends, family...sometimes you just need to take a step back and regroup. if you're working your body hard it has to have time to recover and jump back in. i don't have any science behind that, no articles to link. but it just makes sense. if we didn't need rest days in general people wouldn't go on vacation, take mental health days or even sleep for that matter, lol!
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Just do whatever feels right to you. If you are tired, take a day off. or if you feel the need to work out, then go for a light jog or walk. Its all about what works and feels best to you.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Your body does most of its improvements (strength and muscle growth) during the rest periods, so I would say they are a must.
  • wendyannie1976
    wendyannie1976 Posts: 205 Member
    its essential really though not as much as use to be thought in previous years, depends on the type of exercise, level and duration that you do though
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    It depends on how hard you're working out, how accustomed you are to exercise, how much variety there is in your routine, etc.

    I think most people do benefit from rest days to let the body recover and to avoid mental burnout. Some more experienced exercisers can get away without them if they sufficiently vary body parts worked so they can recover between workouts.
  • kappy_hollowell
    kappy_hollowell Posts: 399
    To be honest..... I don't have an educated answer on this. Some say yes, some say no.

    In my opinion, my rest day is not at all a rest day. I usually do something. I at least take a long walk, walk the dog, do some housework, maybe a little yoga. Not necessarily a rest day, per se, but an "easy" day.

    My workouts are usually TurboFire workouts, so I do think I need an "easier" day, but I hate taking rest days. I don't feel like they help. Just do something light on your rest days.
  • fitsaxon
    fitsaxon Posts: 57
    It depends on how hard you are working out -- if you strain yourself too many days in a row, you could become more susceptible to injury.
    Be safe :) you know your body the best!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I think it depends on the person and the type of workouts you are doing. Some people work their bodies so hard that they probabaly do need time to recoup. Others simply need it as a "mental health day".
  • kuhristeee
    kuhristeee Posts: 100 Member
    I need them, personally. There's just no way that I could do something every single day, exercise or other, without taking a small break to recharge every now and then.

    Also, when weight training it's important to let your muscles rest and give them time to recover from the damage. :)
  • janiebeth
    janiebeth Posts: 2,509 Member
    Speaking strictly about toning/strengh exercise, the idea behind rest days is to allow your muscles to rest and repair from the work you did the day before. If you never rest them, you don't get the same benefit of the exercise.

    However, if you mix up your routine, it is possible to work different muscle groups on different days and allow the repair to occur. With cardio, it is similar, although I think even the most hard core athletes take one slow day a week.

    ps, I am not a registered exercise physiologist, but this is just what I have heard..
  • jerseygirlnva
    jerseygirlnva Posts: 7
    Personally I think it depends on the person. I have to take a rest day to avoid inurying myself again. I think it all depends on what you want to get out of your exercise. I know for runners that it varies but the rest days are truly recommened. Not sure if I answered your question or not.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Just wanted to gain some general opinions on the good old rest day- do we really need them? Truth or fallacy?!

    Yes, you really need rest days, but maybe not in the way you are thinking. You need to rest the muscle groups. Example - you run hard 6 days a week, on day 7, does that mean you can do no exercise? No. You can some strength training activities on you upper body, you can swim, you could probably even work in a very light run or walk even if it is the same muscle group. Your muscles need time to repair, and if you work the same muscle groups with the same intensity every day, you don't give them time to recover.
  • CaptainAmerica1970
    CaptainAmerica1970 Posts: 435
    REST = DAY OFF! Your body rebuilds itself during this time. If you do not you could crash, burn out, injure yourself. Be smart. I know your ambitious and anxious but be smart.
  • Gary6030
    Gary6030 Posts: 593 Member
    Yep you need the rest day. All the major athletes and body builders always take a day of rest in between sessions to allow their body to repair from all the changes from the prior days workouts.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Just wanted to gain some general opinions on the good old rest day- do we really need them? Truth or fallacy?!

    Yes, you really need rest days, but maybe not in the way you are thinking. You need to rest the muscle groups. Example - you run hard 6 days a week, on day 7, does that mean you can do no exercise? No. You can some strength training activities on you upper body, you can swim, you could probably even work in a very light run or walk even if it is the same muscle group. Your muscles need time to repair, and if you work the same muscle groups with the same intensity every day, you don't give them time to recover.
  • kappy_hollowell
    kappy_hollowell Posts: 399
    Yep you need the rest day. All the major athletes and body builders always take a day of rest in between sessions to allow their body to repair from all the changes from the prior days workouts.

    Wow!!!! 180 lbs lost! Congratulations!!! That's awesome and very motivational! Keep up the great work!
  • ccclay
    ccclay Posts: 28
    Thanks for your insights y'all! Really helpful! :)
  • jellybaby84
    jellybaby84 Posts: 583 Member
    No expert knowledge here but personally I'd say it depends on you exercise routine.

    If you walk the dog for an hour every day - no you don't need to have a day off from that.
    If you do 3 hours of cardio with weight training - fairly sure you do need a break!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories