how much do you "rest" on your rest days?

BeautyFromPain
BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,

so just wondering.... with rest days... what do you do?

Is it okay say to do pilates or just a long walk or does it have to be absolutely nothing??

Replies

  • TiffaniBarrett
    TiffaniBarrett Posts: 369 Member
    If it is a true rest day then you wouldnt do anything, but I know some people feel guilty if they do absolutely nothing - so go for a walk for an hour or something :-) x
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    I usually rest, but I'd go on a walk if I wanted to. Sure. It would be a fun walk though, not pushing myself. It would be for leisure.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    Yeah I tried pilates for the first time tonight after being recommended it by my GP as I have scoliosis and I found it really fun.

    And I'm using it for core strength, posture, etc not calories burned really.
  • odeshee
    odeshee Posts: 74 Member
    on my rest day i don't even drive by the gym, no guilty thoughts just clear my mind and start again the next ay
  • Martucha123
    Martucha123 Posts: 1,089 Member
    on my rest days I don't work out
    I do walk, I tend to walk everywhere, and my walks are like 1h 4 miles/h (fe to work)
    If I feel like I bike, but for leasure, not kcals...
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    depends on the rest day. If its a day between strength training, then I try to do some cardio, although not as much. If its like a Sunday, try and get me out of bed!
  • johnwhitent
    johnwhitent Posts: 648 Member
    Active rest is the best rest! A walk, slow bike ride, or similar promotes healing and rejuvenation for tired muscles through oxygenation and other benefits. There are lots of studies to be found that demonstrate this. Google active rest and you will find pages and pages of articles and studies.
  • santamommy
    santamommy Posts: 88
    I get my blanket and get in my recliner and watch movies, Later I give myself a pedicure and a long hot soak in the tub. It's a true rest and pamper me day because I know I deserve it after a long week of working out. Besides, while your body is healing you are also getting results faster.
  • Shannie93
    Shannie93 Posts: 7
    I go for a walk or do yoga :)
    If my body aches to much because I need a serious rest day, I just relax in the bath and on the sofa and do the occasional spot of cleaning, so I'm still at least a smidge active :)
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    bump
  • jonbairam11
    jonbairam11 Posts: 37
    I think it depends on your workout days..if you you work out really hard then a rest day could be walking a little or swimming or just going about your business. If you training is a little less intensive then you should probably just walk and on rest days.

    I tend to work out quite hard on training days as I am forced to do not a lot on rest days but be in the car and the office.

    I believe the main thing is not to stagnate, do not think you have to be still on rest days or ever for that matter. Our bodies are much more robust than we think they are.

    thanks what I think anyways
    j
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    I think it depends on your workout days..if you you work out really hard then a rest day could be walking a little or swimming or just going about your business. If you training is a little less intensive then you should probably just walk and on rest days.

    I tend to work out quite hard on training days as I am forced to do not a lot on rest days but be in the car and the office.

    I believe the main thing is not to stagnate, do not think you have to be still on rest days or ever for that matter. Our bodies are much more robust than we think they are.

    thanks what I think anyways
    j

    okay sweet, well atm i am doing

    m : 45 minutes weights, 45 cardio .. plus an extra 2-3 hours in class and i try to give everything my 100%
    t : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    w : 1 hour cardio
    t : 45 min weights, plus 2 hours of exercise classes plus 2 or so hours of prac
    f : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    s : active rest day - walk, bike ride, etc
    s : 1 hour cardio, 45 minutes weights plus abs
  • Keegansmum6
    Keegansmum6 Posts: 193 Member
    I don't work out,I have a toddler so i wouldn't say i get to fully rest like id want to.
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    I do cardio workouts (20-50 minutes) on my rest days. You can do cardio everyday and no rest is needed. Rest is only needed if you're doing heavy strength training.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    It has a lot to do with what you're resting from and what your goals are. If you are lifting heavy to build strength then you really need the rest. If you are pushing high-intensity cardio (like training for some event) then you'll need some form of rest, too.
  • oceanamy2287
    oceanamy2287 Posts: 19 Member
    I go for an easy walk around the lake in my development.
  • vmclach
    vmclach Posts: 670 Member
    having a rest day isn't an excuse to lay around all day! Of course you can go on a walk and do piliates.

    On my rest days, I do a lot of yoga, situps, pushups, walks, etc.
  • WhittRak
    WhittRak Posts: 567 Member
    I usually do a bit of weight training, very light, and perhaps a walk...other than that..I am relaxing.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    I workout on my rest days and rest on my workout days.
  • tinamatteson
    tinamatteson Posts: 125 Member
    My rest day is Sunday, and I don't even give the gym a thought. I do all my normal Sunday activities... sleep in a bit, go to church, have lunch and spend time with the family... It's SO lovely. :love:
  • jonbairam11
    jonbairam11 Posts: 37
    [/quote]

    okay sweet, well atm i am doing

    m : 45 minutes weights, 45 cardio .. plus an extra 2-3 hours in class and i try to give everything my 100%
    t : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    w : 1 hour cardio
    t : 45 min weights, plus 2 hours of exercise classes plus 2 or so hours of prac
    f : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    s : active rest day - walk, bike ride, etc
    s : 1 hour cardio, 45 minutes weights plus abs
    [/quote]

    I would say a rest day on Saturdays is not a bad thing, you are pretty active all the week and to properly feel the benefits of all the training you need to rest your body. We are not designed to go hammer and tongs all the time Our bodies respond well to rest and to exercise. It is better to do less training and make it better quality than to train all the time for hours and hours in a second rate fashion. 1 hour of good quality training is enough on any training day. If you are training correctly. More than this can become counter productive. it is easy to stay in the gym for hours but half the time is spent chatting and the other half looking in the mirror (guys do this alot).

    J
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member

    okay sweet, well atm i am doing

    m : 45 minutes weights, 45 cardio .. plus an extra 2-3 hours in class and i try to give everything my 100%
    t : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    w : 1 hour cardio
    t : 45 min weights, plus 2 hours of exercise classes plus 2 or so hours of prac
    f : 45 minutes cardio and pilates
    s : active rest day - walk, bike ride, etc
    s : 1 hour cardio, 45 minutes weights plus abs
    [/quote]

    I would say a rest day on Saturdays is not a bad thing, you are pretty active all the week and to properly feel the benefits of all the training you need to rest your body. We are not designed to go hammer and tongs all the time Our bodies respond well to rest and to exercise. It is better to do less training and make it better quality than to train all the time for hours and hours in a second rate fashion. 1 hour of good quality training is enough on any training day. If you are training correctly. More than this can become counter productive. it is easy to stay in the gym for hours but half the time is spent chatting and the other half looking in the mirror (guys do this alot).

    J
    [/quote]

    When I'm in the gym I train hard?
    and if you read it properly you would notice most days I have more than an hour training it is because I have to do it for school..
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    My rest days are gym days that just didn't work out.
  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    I am an utter animal in the gym. I train 90 minutes to two hours when I train, so on my rest day, I rest like a lazy bum. Pajamas, movies, naps. I give my muscles optimal use of the calories I consume to repair and rebuild themselves without making them compete for the calories with activity.
  • Learnin2LuvMe
    Learnin2LuvMe Posts: 465 Member
    I don't do anything!! I stay in bed and enjoy with no guilt!!
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    I always take 1 rest day a week usually 2. I try to do nothing on those days minus taking care of kids, cleaning house and working full time so I don't think many people get a true rest day :laugh: if I'm feeling restless and need to do something it will be some very light cardio for only 30-40 minutes.
  • Artemis_Acorn
    Artemis_Acorn Posts: 836 Member
    I listen to my body and take the cues - I might go for a nice long (or short) walk, do some deep breathing/meditating, soak in the tub, take a nap, read a book, watch a movie, do some housework, shop, call friends on the phone, drive up to the canyon for a short hike / nature walk - whatever feels right on the day in question.
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