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So why exactly is working out daily so bad?

RachelsReboot
RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I don't do the same workout every day but I do workout daily.(1 to 2 hours) So far for me it is working, I have been doing this for 19 days and have only lost 10 lbs but over 13 inches. I am tired at the end of the day and sleep hard through the entire night, which I have never done before in my life. I wake up refreshed and ready to go mentally, and while my body may be a little achy on some days, it's nothing like the pain this weight is causing me.

I look at this journey of mine right now as a job or training for a marathon, it is my job to restore the perfect body I was given so that I can carry on with the plan my creator has for me and set an example for my children, and I am training for this marathon we call life. The way I have been living isn't going to get me anywhere.

Sorry for rambling.

So really, am I harming my body by pushing myself every day?

Replies

  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    It depends on the intensity of the workout. One danger is that you can burn yourself, and improvements can stagnate or acutally go backwards. Even if that doesn't happen, at some point you reach the point of diminishing returns.

    My personal philosophy is that if you don't fell like you NEED a couple of rest days per week, you probably aren't pushing yourself hard enough.

    That being said, if you're making progress and enjoying yourself, keep doing what you're doing. Just understand that your rest periods are something you might need to look at changing if progress stagnates.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    The only thing I'd watch for is tiring yourself out and stress on your joints. We are more prone to injury when we're overworking our bodies and our joints really do need recovery time after high impact activities. If you notice that your knees, ankles or shins are bothering you the first thing to do is to take a rest day.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Rest is when your body recovers. If some of those days are a lower intensity exercise, like walking or yoga, then doing something every day isn't a problem. But if you're pushing your body to your limits every day, you're on the road to injury or burnout.
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    Oh I feel like I need to rest sometimes, but I am afraid if I don't push through then one day leads to two and two becomes three and so on and so forth. If I am feeling a little soreness from the previous days workout I try to change to a completely different set of muscles. My knees seem to be the only thing giving me problem so I do go a couple of days between squats, lunges, etc... to give my knees a rest.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,147 Member
    Working out everyday is okay as long as you're getting sufficient rest and recovery. If you're always feeling tired, or burnt out, then you're probably not getting enough rest.




    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    ...what niner said.

    Quit posting before me Niner (yes I'm calling YOU out!!!), I want to sound knowledgeable too dammit!
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    If you feel like you need to rest, your body is trying to tell you something. Rest is how we get stronger. We damage our bodies when we workout and the rest/recovery is how we heal. Sometimes when the scale is stuck for me I will take a day off and it starts to move again. Your body will make you rest one way or another. Listen now, so you don't end up hurt.

    I like your strategy of training for a marathon, but even when you do that...you rest at least 1 - 2 days per week.
  • madmickie
    madmickie Posts: 221 Member
    Depends on how hard you are working each day. Gentle exercise each day won't do you any harm - remember we have evolved to be active everyday.

    BUT if you are putting in hard sessions doing weights or running you will need intermittent rest or at least very easy sessions to recover (and get fitter) and to wash your kit!
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Oh I feel like I need to rest sometimes, but I am afraid if I don't push through then one day leads to two and two becomes three and so on and so forth. If I am feeling a little soreness from the previous days workout I try to change to a completely different set of muscles. My knees seem to be the only thing giving me problem so I do go a couple of days between squats, lunges, etc... to give my knees a rest.
    As long as you're working different sets of muscles on consecutive days you'll probably be okay. I would still take one rest day per week, though. Make it a PLANNED rest day. If you know that Saturday, for example, is going to be your rest day, then you shouldn't have any problem on Sunday picking up with it again because it's scheduled. You might even think about making up a little calendar. For example:

    Sunday - core work
    Monday - leg work (squats and lunges)
    Tuesday - arms and back
    Wednesday - core work
    Thursday - leg work (squats and lunges)
    Friday - arms and back
    Saturday - rest
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    So really, am I harming my body by pushing myself every day?

    Of course not! Our bodies are meant to move and move often. Exercising everyday is good for you. Humans have been doing it for millions of years. It is being sedentary everyday that will hurt you.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    Oh I feel like I need to rest sometimes, but I am afraid if I don't push through then one day leads to two and two becomes three and so on and so forth. If I am feeling a little soreness from the previous days workout I try to change to a completely different set of muscles. My knees seem to be the only thing giving me problem so I do go a couple of days between squats, lunges, etc... to give my knees a rest.

    For me at least, planned rest days (or conscious light days-I usually swim or do the elliptical for those) are less likely to result in a break from a workout regime than forced rest days from exhaustion.
  • robinogue
    robinogue Posts: 1,117 Member
    no reason why you can't work out daily. I do, but generally two days I do a light workout to give my body a little resting time. But when I'm feeling tired and burnt out I don't push myself.
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,810 Member
    Working out everyday is okay as long as you're getting sufficient rest and recovery. If you're always feeling tired, or burnt out, then you're probably not getting enough rest.




    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    This is pretty much what I go by as well. I take a rest day when I feel like I need one, which at this point is roughly every 10 days or so. I'll probably start taking one once a week though since I've upped the intensity of my workouts. Listen to your body! Rest is very important :)
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    I work out 6 days a week. Cardio/weights/cardio/weights/cardio/weights/rest - it works just fine. I don't even do full body lifting programs, so it's a full week in between upper body days, for example. My three lifting days are chest/back/arms, abs/core, legs/glutes.
  • marbit
    marbit Posts: 108
    Ok, so......I feel like perhaps I have been doing this all wrong. I was working out for an hour every morning (at least) and giving it my all. 3 days a week I did weights. And yes, I was really really tired, I found myself getting burned out every 7 days or so.

    So....I should basically cut it down a bit?

    I know to some people this is easy, but I dont know why its like rocket science to me.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    I'd also say that if you feel like you ought to be doing *something* every day, you could schedule a day or two where you do nothing but walking. It should be light enough.
  • criscricket
    criscricket Posts: 69 Member
    For me... resting once every 7 days or so does wonders mental and physically.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    Ok, so......I feel like perhaps I have been doing this all wrong. I was working out for an hour every morning (at least) and giving it my all. 3 days a week I did weights. And yes, I was really really tired, I found myself getting burned out every 7 days or so.

    So....I should basically cut it down a bit?

    I know to some people this is easy, but I dont know why its like rocket science to me.

    It depends on what you're doing for the other 4 days of the week. And what lifting program you're doing.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,147 Member
    ...what niner said.

    Quit posting before me Niner (yes I'm calling YOU out!!!), I want to sound knowledgeable too dammit!
    Part of being a stay at home dad and working only part time is I get to post first.................



    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    your body needs to rest in order to properly heal. If you working out every single day is working for you, then kudos! Your body will let you know if you need to pull back and take a day off.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    Part of being a stay at home dad and working only part time is I get to post first...............

    :)
  • BlessedShauna777
    BlessedShauna777 Posts: 118 Member
    I loved your ranting lol. It was very motivational. Thank you and keep up alll the great/hard work ;)
  • LeanMeanFitnessMachine
    LeanMeanFitnessMachine Posts: 659
    It depends on the intensity of the workout. One danger is that you can burn yourself, and improvements can stagnate or acutally go backwards. Even if that doesn't happen, at some point you reach the point of diminishing returns.

    My personal philosophy is that if you don't fell like you NEED a couple of rest days per week, you probably aren't pushing yourself hard enough.

    That being said, if you're making progress and enjoying yourself, keep doing what you're doing. Just understand that your rest periods are something you might need to look at changing if progress stagnates.

    This - especially the part about how "if you don't feel like you NEED a couple of rest days, you probably aren't pusing yourself hard enough." Thats whats important when taking rest days into account: intesity. Your body uses rest days to rebuild the muscle that has been torn down during exercise (espeically strength training workouts). Believe it or not, working out is actually really hard on your body!

    Like he said, if what you're doing now is working for you, keep at it! There isn't one set rule on how to lose weight.
  • loseweightjames
    loseweightjames Posts: 360 Member
    So really, am I harming my body by pushing myself every day?

    No. The reason they say *not* to work out daily is because muscles need time to repair themselves so they grow. The "don't workout daily" really applies to bodybuilders or powerlifters, not mere mortals simply trying to shed lbs. It really means "don't work the same muscles daily", since you'll often see weight lifters working out daily but they'll work back and legs one day, arms and chest another, etc.
  • TinkrBelz
    TinkrBelz Posts: 866 Member
    I teach Zumba 8 times per week (2 classes on Wednesdays) I add some wegihts to a couple of songs, but mostly our muscle work is done by dancing while in squats, boxing arms, punching...and such.

    But, I do it every day. I love it because I can eat more and it is keeping me healthy and fit. Very important once you hit your 40s and your body wants to go to crap!! haha!

    I know my DH works out 5-6 days/week...but her alternates weights and cardio.
    That being said, if you're making progress and enjoying yourself, keep doing what you're doing. Just understand that your rest periods are something you might need to look at changing if progress stagnates.

    I agree with this 100%
  • Laura8603
    Laura8603 Posts: 590 Member
    My only concern for you is that is this realistic for the long haul? Or if you miss a day or two or three are you going to get so disgusted with yourself that you quit completely? Realistically, I can only fit in 3 gym workouts a week. They are 2 hours long and I push myself to the max. Anything more than that is gravy, but if I set unrealistic expectations for myself and I do not reach them, then I get discouraged and quit. Just take care of yourself mentally and physically.
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    My only concern for you is that is this realistic for the long haul? Or if you miss a day or two or three are you going to get so disgusted with yourself that you quit completely? Realistically, I can only fit in 3 gym workouts a week. They are 2 hours long and I push myself to the max. Anything more than that is gravy, but if I set unrealistic expectations for myself and I do not reach them, then I get discouraged and quit. Just take care of yourself mentally and physically.

    Hmmm, I don't know why it wouldn't be realistic for the long haul. I have a home gym set up so I don't really have to go anywhere to work out and the point is not to miss a few days, but I've learned if I hit a glitch just hit my reset button and start over. My journey for me is about no more excuses. I've had a lot of things stacked against me along the way but ultimately this is my life and my body and the only person responsible for it is me. God gave me a perfect body, it was me and my decisions that screwed it up. My actual workouts may change when I finish my degree and have a different job, but I know what my priorities are and I understand my disorder now and I know exactly what it is that I have to do to keep myself healthy.
  • Smilejoelle1
    Smilejoelle1 Posts: 41 Member
    If you feel like you need to rest, your body is trying to tell you something. Rest is how we get stronger. We damage our bodies when we workout and the rest/recovery is how we heal. Sometimes when the scale is stuck for me I will take a day off and it starts to move again. Your body will make you rest one way or another. Listen now, so you don't end up hurt.

    I like your strategy of training for a marathon, but even when you do that...you rest at least 1 - 2 days per week.

    "Listen now, so you don't end up hurt."

    I love it! Strong old School advice!
  • 70davis
    70davis Posts: 348 Member
    bump
  • alikat42
    alikat42 Posts: 213 Member
    ...even God rested on the seventh day.

    :)
This discussion has been closed.

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