Rest Days

I went 3 months with not taking a single rest day.. I was doing sooo much cardio and I didn't think I needed a rest day. But I was really run down and I could feel myself getting sluggish.

I took my first one a few sundays ago. LOVED IT! Now, I'm doing once a week. Usually on Sundays.

Rest days are when the magic happens. You need to give your body time to repair itself!!!

Your body does need rest. Resting at least one day a week is recommended. When strength training you need to take at least 48 hours rest before working the same body part again. When you strength train with the appropriate amount of weight, (i.e., you overload your muscles) you create micro-tears in your muscle fibers. Your body repairs these muscle fibers during rest periods which causes your muscles to grow (hypertrophy). Hypertrophy is the goal of weight training because muscle is metabolically active tissue burning 10% more calories than fat - even at rest!

Regarding cardiovascular exercise:
If you are training steady state (e.g., running, walking, stair climber or elliptical on the same level) then 4 - 5 days a week will help you make fitness gains. However, if you are interval training (taking your heart rate to the point that you are breathless....craving air more than water...for 30 seconds and then recovering for 60 seconds over several sets) then at least one day of active rest is recommended between interval sessions. (Active rest = exercising at a moderate steady state pace)

Are you over training? Your heart rate will tell you.

Establish your resting heart rate (RHR) by taking your heart rate/bpm before getting out of bed in the morning over several days and then calculate the average number. That number should remain relatively the same or begin to drop slightly as you become more fit.

A higher than normal RHR can be indicitive of over training. (amongst other things)

I take between one and two rest days a week depending on how tired I am.

You can rest when you're dead!

Ok, just listen to your body. I often run 10+ days without a rest day (at 50+ miles per week).

think of this as a table. one leg is nutrition, one is cardio, one is strength training, and one is rest. you need all four.

I take a rest day maybe one a month and I always feel guilty for missing a day. I go to the gym for about a half hour during work days but the weekend I go for 1-2 hrs a day. I think you should just listen to your body. If you feel fine go for it, if you feel you need a day off that is ok.

I take 1 or 2 days off a week. They say the rest days are just as important as your workout days. It helps heal muscles, etc. Plus - it prevents burnout. I totally agree that I some days I don't want a rest day...but our bodies need it!! I've even read it's good to take a whole week off 1or 2 times per year just to let the muscles heal--and you come back stronger!!! I've done it before and yes, it is hard not to head to the gym for my workout "high", but again, we have to take care of our bodies! That's my two cents!!

Rest days are important.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/513887-do-i-need-a-break-day-when-exercising/

I typically exercise Monday - Friday and try to get one workout in on the weekend. If I don't get one, I don't beat myself up about it, I resume back with my normal schedule on Monday again, no harder than usual.

Really informative and gives several logical reasons for a rest day or two a week. Thanks for sharing. My hubby and I traditionally rest 1 to 2 days a week and he performs different exercises each time (working different muscles each day). I alternate between running and pilates and the elliptical exercise.
REST is important for all around good health and happiness.

Depends on how I'm feeling, but If I'm not wearing myself out enough to really feel like I need a rest, then I'm not working hard enough. That's just me personally, and I usually take at least one or two days per week.

think of this as a table. one leg is nutrition, one is cardio, one is strength training, and one is rest. you need all four.

Great analogy !