ymmitt said:How essential are *total* rest days, really? I've heard you should
take at least a day a week, to prevent overtraining.
My exercise routine goes something like this:
Day 1 - full body strength training, 1 hour
Day 2 - cardio, elliptical trainer interval work, 1/2 hour
Day 3 - repeat day 1...
Is it totally necessary to plan for a day off? Like, today, I haven't
taken a day off in 7 days & feel a little sore, but mostly okay.
Should I be making myself rest today (although I don't really want
to) or can I plug along as long as my body's not really screaming at
me?
I guess I don't understand if 1) "rest" means "do nothing", or just
"don't using the same muscles the same way two days in a row", and
2)if it's really that necessary to fully rest anyways.
So, with that, I open the floor for you all to tell me how stupid I
am. 🙂
Megan
I plan on working out every day, but usually end up with a rest day once a
week.
Do you need one? I suppose. The main thing is don't burn yourself out.
And it also depends on how hard you train. There are times I feel a bit
tired so I just don't push it. For me, it's more important to maintain the
habit of going to the gym, even if it's only a 30 minute workout because I'm
tired.
It also depends on if you're a noobie or veteran. If you've been training
for several years non stop and feel that six hard days per week is
sustainable, you're fine. Personally, I think that would be too much for
someone starting out.
The other part of this answer is diet and sleep. You need good fuel to run
pushing yourself like this, so eat right. And (for me anyway), make sure
you get plenty of sleep. I need eight hours or I'm dragging. If I'm not
working out, six is fine.
Ultimately, it's what works to keep it as a lifestyle for you. Exercise
should be a change you make for the rest of your life. So, increase or
decrease your activity in order to sustain it without burning yourself out.
--
-Larry
