Advice Please: Resting vs. Pushing

[Beth1]

I am too compulsive and need advice please.
Wednesday I did Boot Camp, Thursday - High Low Aeorbics and today Lower Body Pyramid and Sunday back to Boot Camp. Tommorrow I plan to do Yoga in the morning and then was going to hit the gym for cardio (elliptical, tread, Stair climb etc). Thing is I did that last week and my muscles were screaming on the machines. Should I just do Yoga tomorrow, stretch and then just leave my muscles alone so that they can grow and repair. Everything I've been reading lately has made me think that I need to learn how to back off a bit - that I could actually be working against myself by pushing too hard.
Like I said I'm compulsive when it comes to working out - do take off one day a week (usually - sometimes do yoga or pilates on my rest day)and I take that day off by forcing myself to, since I read that your muscles need at least one full day to repair and rebuild.
Any advice you have, anyone has will really be appreciated.

 

[hippahips]

That your muscles "were screaming on the machines" means your body is telling you something. That you're thinking about backing off and resting means you're aware of your body's demands. That you know you're compulsive and are actually asking for advice means you're fighting your compulsions to do more.

Been there before.

Stretch, rest hard. The more you push yourself, the less your workouts work for you. Muscles need more than 24 hours to repair and rebuild. If you look at Cathe's rotations, she puts about 48 hours between body parts. In my experience, especially when I lift real heavy or when I'm starting a new workout of hers, I put a full three days between body parts. Don't waste away by doing too much too soon. Take time off. You'll come back stronger. Hope this helps.

Pinky

 

[Soosan]

Listening to my body has really helped improve my overall fitness. As you've already realized, pushing too hard is counter-productive.

 

[Beth1]

Thank you, your answer helps so much. Especially the "rest hard" phrase, I know you're right, I need to learn that resting is part of the workout equation when you are lifting heavy. I don't know why it is, but I can listen to someone else better than myself - I think this comes from years of pure laziness. I started working out about 12 -15 years ago, but before that did nothing - I'm in my forties (big surprise), had struggled with weight (more than I wanted) for years. None of that is true anymore yet I can't get that girl out of my head.
Tonight is a big deal for me - I just started to allow myself to have something I banned from my diet years ago (but love)once a week and tonight it's Ben & Jerry's pistachio ice cream. So, of course I feel like I must spend all day tomorrow paying for it. Of course I did it last weekend (the first time I've had ice cream in 3 years, rigid was definitely the word for me), the world didn't fall apart - I didn't suddenly wake up overweight, absolutely nothing changed. So, thank you, because my body does want a break and I am going to give it one starting now - do a yoga stretch in the morning and then on to "resting hard" all day.