Working out EVERYDAY?

Hi. I've been working out steadily for about 5 months now & I just had a quick question. I usually get in 5-6 days of about 45 mins of cardio a week & try to get in 3 days of weights.

My question is how important is it to take a day off? I can usually get back into the groove if I take 2 days off but it was hard so I just started about a month ago only taking 1 day off. I find on my 1 day I don't work out (Sundays) that I still have so much energy & I feel like such a bumhead if I don't work out.

Must I take it off completely? Can I take a short 30 min walk? Or is it absolutely necessary to take it off....

I do my best to just relax & enjoy my day off but I get enjoyment from working out. I get so nervous that if I take it off I'll not want to do it Monday. I was so sedentary before I absolutely DON'T want to be that way ever again.

?

Very interesting post! Certainly, I can relate, at least a bit.

Exercising has become like an addiction to me. I used to do it, not wanting to. Now, it is something habitual and I feel lost without doing it. Of course, I don't do weights and all. I really only walk/jog. But still, it is a habit and I feel terrible if I take a day off. It has become more than just an exercise.. It is a time of self-reflection and really helps clear the mind!

I'm a bit confused though.. I never in my life heard that we should take a day off. Most runners I know run daily. Many people who exercise do so daily. Never hear that they are supposed to take a day off.

Certainly there is no harm in walking for 30 minutes on your day off.

But, keep in mind I am just an average Joe who is not a health nutritionist or anything. So, I am hoping someone more knowledgable can help answer your question. I am just giving my two-cents. :-)

I don't think you have to be completely sedentary on your day off. I know what you mean about feeling full of energy on your day off but I do believe your body needs a rest day from formal workouts. Use the day to do other things that need to be done. I use the day to clean and get things organized, pay bills, read. Think of your rest day as part of your workout. Rest is just as important as working out.

I workout 6 days a week, cardio. HIIT 3 of those days and I also do weigh/strength training 3 days. I find that my body actually does better with a complete rest day. You can stretch that day. I stretch everyday but on my off days a little more stretching is excellent for you.

As a Pilates trainer I do my own morning workouts with Yoga Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I do a Pilates hour Tuesdays and Thursdays. I power walk once a week and swim once a week. Now that the weather is getting better I will cycle once or twice a week as well. I take the stairs and walk everywhere I can, as well as teaching during the day.

The idea "to take a day off" is valid to rest your muscles and rebuild them. I however believe that if you have the energy, something simple like walking is not a sin.

As a former ballet dancer I know that stretching is really underestimated by the average person. Making sure that your muscles stay supple is really important. One-sided training isn't good for the body.

The key is "balance". Like with food, having a well balanced diet is important. Therefore, stretching, weight training and cardio are also important to balance you out. Remember be kind to your spine and ease gently into your workouts.

I used to workout 6 days a week, all lift days, on the one day off I would do a decent cardio.  Sometimes, during the lift days I might end it with a light cardio...

I used to workout 6 days a week, all lift days, on the one day off I would do a decent cardio.  Sometimes, during the lift days I might end it with a light cardio...

Until recently, I was working out 5 days a week, doing 63 minutes of cardio a day and weightlifting for 30 minutes on 4 of those days. It was a lot, but I was addicted. I cut it down to 4 days of ~60min cardio (and stuck with the 4 lifting days), and I actually *lost* weight (fat, not muscle, as far as I can tell).

Sometimes we need to shake up our routines a little bit.  Give it a try!

I also recently revamped my workout schedule to do it the Body For Life schedule.  That calls for one complete rest day a week.  I feel the same way about it you do!  I may start doing a light stretching video on Sundays.

On days I don't go to the gym I've been working with the stability ball at home.  Nothing too stenuous.  Come the summer I'll be doing some running outside, too.  I have started to do yoga one day a week and pilates one day a week.

Honestly?  I don't know from balance.  I go all out.  I find if I take off more than one day in between my w/o days, I find it difficult to go back.

Since I do a lot when I am working out, I DO need to remember I don't have to do more or better than the time before.

Today I was on the elliptical for over an hour, working at a pretty good pace.  And then close to an hour with weights and then some stretching and stability.  Tomorrow I'll go a bit easier on myself.   I like to change it up so my body doesn't really know what to expect from one time to the next.  I also run on the track and will start treadmill tomorrow.

I agree that I feel much better on days I do work out.  And I do have less of an appetite.  On days I don't work out I eat out of boredom.

On my "rest day" I either walk for 30 minutes (light walking) or do something /completely/ different.

My completely different thing is roller blading.  It works out different muscles than the other days work out, so they aren't tired the following week.  I have been roller blading for years (since I was 11, so 14 years now?  Sheesh), so I guess it's a little different, since my muscles are so used to that, it barely feels like execise.

If I don't do anything that day, I get restless, and my husband gets onto me (kek).

On your "rest day" you should take it easy, but you can still do light exercises like a short walk. It is important for your body to rest so that you don't strain any muscles and can eventually to injuries that can make you inactive for a while. Just do not be as intense as you are on your workout days.

If you're body feels like it can work out on your "rest day" and you enjoy working out.. just do it!  I work out 7 days a week for 2 hours a day. Mind you, this can't fit into everybody's schedule.... but I try extremely hard to work it in to mine.  I am a student, and I have a couple of part time jobs  So depending on what my day's like, I make time to go whenever.  You can find me at the gym at 11am.... you can find me there at 11 pm.  I feel like if i take days off... I'm a the risk of "getting lazy" and just never going back.  I've literally worked out everyday since Feb 14th with a friend of mine who is training me.  So I do an hour of weight training with him Day 1 Legs + Shoulders, Day 2 Chest + Back, Day 3 Arms, Day 4 Abs (this I do on my own for 20 min) and then immediately after I do an hour of cardio... which is usually running.  And this is in constant rotation.  After a month and a half I have no complaints about feeling too sore, or in pain or anything.  I feel great! and in shape!  So just listen to your body!  and do what you wanna do.  Everyone is different.  We can't all take every generic piece of advice to heart.

I've been a certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor for almost ten years.  Personally, I feel that you should have at least one rest day per week to let your body relax. I think it's also good mentally.  Clients who give themselves some free time during the week do not seem to burn-out as frequently as those who exercise every single day. 

Also, if you are weight training, you should give select muscle groups at least 24 hours to rest.  This is why I recommend working specific muscle groups individually as opposed to full-body weight routines all at once. 

Ultimately, whatever you do, you should listen to your body.