Days off?

DaniellePF
DaniellePF Posts: 308 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I have read many opinions that contradict eachother on this one. What are your thoughts on taking one day out of the week off from exercise? Some say it is important to do so in order to give your muscles a chance to repair themselves, ect. I exercise for at LEAST an hour per day, always doing something different than I did the previous day. The problem I have with this is that if I do take a day where I don't run or I don't get to the gym, I get really down/freaked out/feeling like a fat blob and I wonder if it is worth it. I do NOT, however want to suffer an athletic injury and not get to work out AT ALL. Is it such a big deal that I need to make this a daily thing--or are these periods of rest really that crucial? Thoughts?

Replies

  • spaingirl2011
    spaingirl2011 Posts: 763 Member
    I find that I'm more energized after a day off from exercising. I also find that I tend to drop weight faster if I take breaks once a week.
  • ItsMeLori
    ItsMeLori Posts: 346
    Its important to give your muscles a rest. A day off is good for recovery, if you want to walk on a rest day its ok. That's my opinion anyway. I am taking 2 days this week, my Achilles is bothering me. I have over 300 miles on my sneakers so its time for new ones.
  • mycatas
    mycatas Posts: 20
    I hate taking days off too, but I've also gotten stress fractures from too much running in the past. It's way worse if you get an injury and can't workout for a few weeks. Stress fractures can take up to two months to heal.

    I take at least one day a week, but I always try to do something active like taking a walk with my dog or yard-work, so I don't feel like a total slob.
  • hm_day
    hm_day Posts: 857 Member
    Like the other two said, it's important to let the muscles recover to avoid injury. On a rest day, walk. Or maybe do some light stretching to increase flexibility. But don't go and do a hardcore workout every day.
  • Sonchie
    Sonchie Posts: 259 Member
    I just posted earlier that I dont like taking days off either. I cant wait to get back in the gym when I do. However, as a mom and wife sometimes its necessary for me to give that day to my family. I dont know if its beneficial to take a day off completely, especially if we stress about it(LOL), but for most of us its necessary.
  • medoria
    medoria Posts: 673 Member
    It totally depends on what your goals are. If you want to progress and for instance up the weights if you are weight training you need to always push yourself to the limit and if you do that everytime you train you cant train everyday, and you wont have to either cuz even if you train less, when u train you max out and will burn just as much in two or three occasions as you would in six easier sessions.

    if you dont feel sore or anything you should start thinking about how you can challenge yourself more.
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
    Well I only exercise twenty minutes a day, so I do it every day. However, towards the beginning I definitely took a rest if I needed to. Sometimes you gotta listen to your body. But now I find I'm not even sore anymore, at least not as much, so I just don't feel a need to take a day off anymore.
  • DaniellePF
    DaniellePF Posts: 308 Member
    Thanks, everyone!:flowerforyou:
  • Justjoshin
    Justjoshin Posts: 999 Member
    I take days off from my serious routine, but make sure I do something extra like take my daughter for a walk that day.
    Otherwise I get ridiculously antsy and restless come night time.
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    I take 1 day off a week. I feel refreshed and energized. But because I take a day off doesn't mean I just lay around all day. lol I'll take a walk and short hike.
  • MelC2564
    MelC2564 Posts: 182 Member
    I'm the same, if I take a day off I feel so lazy. Sometimes even if I work out first thing in the morning, I'm feeling lazy again by dinner time.
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