Wed Feb 9
Exercise: Yes dog walk and 30 minutes Body Step workout
Tracked all: Yes
Calories under: Yes
(0 pass days used so far)

I think it depends on a lot of factors, and I think it can be tricky for some to know for sure when to rest or stay active.

When long distance running was my goal I had a rest day each week. I now feel that as an over 40 runner (50 is over 40, right?) who never really ran at all until after age 40 that this might be a requirement. I was never able to successfully run daily for more than a few weeks, and depending on the load (was I building mileage or trying to improve pace?) I even found struggles with one day of not running but staying active with high step counts or walking on those rest days. I gave my older, not athletically developed as a youth body a lot of stress during the week and wasn't giving it the time it needed to heal by still pushing my "gait" on a rest day.

That said, for a situation like mine, I feel that doing exercise in some form 7 days/week is reasonable as long as the activities vary or the load isn't strenuous. If too much focus over the week is on one, strenuous activity, like running for example, then that off day shouldn't impact gait as well as lower body or core. I think walking 7 days/week, even fairly long walks like 2-3 hours per day 7 days/week is fine, although I will caveat that by saying that if you run 6 days/week you might reconsider your walk on that rest day depending on whether or not you can handle it. I apparently can not.

I guess the best way I can compare it is trying to do a certain strength routine more than 3 times per week. That's likely going to be problematic for many (perhaps not everyone). For core and gait, those seem to be able to handle a lot more so going higher than 3 times/week is more attainable, and many do something like run most days of the week, or do planks regularly, etc. At that point it's more unique to what the individual can handle.

Again, this is just my "feelings" on the matter after many periods of various routines, loads, and injuries.

I marvel at some, like @SummerSkier, who can run every day. I know some others who do, some of whom do ridiculous amounts of running every single day, and have been for years. They are amazing, inspirational, and obviously built far better than I was. I may have been able to train to the point of running within one calendar year 3 full marathons and around 10 half marathons (I'd have to look it up and will adjust later once I do, because I know I will), but even after doing that I was still unable to run daily, even if it was just one mile on that "rest day".

Oh, rest days. I want to schedule them and I try, but then (like today which should have been a rest day) I realize the weather is way nicer than it has been and opt for the chance to run outside instead of on a dreadmill. Or I eat something I wasn't planning on and need the deficit. Or I don't close my rings if I don't exercise, that feels like losing, I feel guilty about it, and it becomes bad for my mental health.

Sadly my body knows I'm 38 and would love a rest day a week (defined as yoga or walking). My brain - aka: her majesty my eternal guilt complex - will not buy into the fact that we're not 24 anymore. So while logically I can admit I need them... in practice I can never make it longer than 2 consecutive weeks taking one.

I always land in a spot where I convince myself that my strength days are rest days from running, and my running days are rest days from strength. So I'm totally having rest days. That's how it works, right?... 😬

✅ Exercise: 110+ mins
✅ Calories: under goal
✅ Tracked

Remaining pass days: 3️⃣

I’m retired, and have the time to keep active. I do take ‘rest’ days when I don’t do intensive workouts, but I still like to move about regularly, and hit my step goal.

I tend to listen to my body. At 76 years of age it’s the sensible thing to do 😝

2/9
Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? 👍🏻
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? 👍🏻
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? 👍🏻

Used 0
3 passes remain

February goals
1 Miracle Morning ~ S.A.V.E.R.S
2 Wake up EARLY for meditation
3 Yoga (5/6 times weekly)
4. Minimum sweets (work them in my calorie goal)
5. 30 day squat challenge 6. No late night snacking
7. Daily journal logging

Wednesday

Exercise 60
Tracking complete
Calories under
Pass days left 3

2/9
Exersised yes
Caleries yes
Logged-yes

✅✅✅
1 pass day used. Call it a rest day 😂😂
Interesting comments and insights today my friends. Much food for thought ♥️♥️👏🏼👏🏼

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes. This was a recovery day for me as yesterday was a push day. I did 23 minutes of a stretching workout with Pahla B.
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes.
I am doing some sort of moderate workouts everyday and recently I am adding 2 40 minute workouts. I am trying to meet my step goal of 8,000 steps. I have a desk job and some days I am trying to get my steps by 8:00 pm

I've been running for 14 and a half years now, since the age of 47, and am now 61. These legs of mine need at least one day of rest a week--Sunday, and Thursday is usually a rest day as well. Although some Thursdays, if the weather is nice and my quads aren't feeling too achy I might go get a short run in on a nearby trail, just to take advantage of the nice day.

Because of the UAC rule I try to at least get a 20 minute walk in on rest days, but some Sundays I decide to not even do that, I want my legs to have a full rest. I would like to get back to going to the gym twice a week to get in strength training, the pandemic screwed that up. Maybe next month... In the meantime I should use my dumbbells here at home but I tend to forget.

Today I did a 4 mile run. The weather was a comfortable 49 degrees. 🌤🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Also successfully tracked and stayed within my calorie target today. 🙂

I've used 2 Pass Days so far.

Exercise-walked 30min on treadmill
Tracking- everything
Calories- under
Passes remain: 2