Cathe, How Much Rest?

T

trevor

Guest
Hi Cathe,
I have read alot of differing views on rest time away from working out and was wondering what your opinion is on this. Do you recommend taking, say, a week off now and then to refresh oneself or do you think it is better to just do lower intensity "resting" type workouts? Or does this just depend on the individual and how you are feeling? If you take time off from lifting and cardio how long is it before the body starts to lose any gains made from working out? Lastly, what do you do as far as rest time?
Thanks for any advice you can give and I hope this has not been asked before.
Have a great holiday weekend.
Trevor :)

"Refuse to lose." -- Jeff Gordon and the #24 DuPont Chevrolet Team.
 
Hi Trevor! Not Cathe but just wanted to say Welcome Back!! I thought we lost you forever! Ha! When I'm feeling terribly fatigued I usually take 2-4 days off. Not much help but just wanted to say Hey. Have a great weekend! Kathy:D
 
Me too Trevor!http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img]http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img]http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img]

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Hi Trevor,
I agree, it is good to see you back. You have given many informative posts here. Not Cathe, but I have taken a couple of weeks off here and there and have come back refreshed. Usually I am more motivated to try something new or put more effort into my workouts.
Diane Sue
 
Not really back....

because I never left the "Ask Cathe" part of this site. Just the Open Forum. But thanks for the kind words. :)
Trevor
 
Hi Trevor --

Of course, I'm not Cathe (but aspire to be like her :))

I truly believe it depends on the individual, which could explain why we always hear differing opinions. For the longest time I kept hearing (and reading) the opinion that you need to take at least one day off per week. I kept trying this approach and hated it. I didn't feel good on that day. I felt like I needed some type of exercise. My mood suffered. Many times that single day off turned into several days off. One day I just decided -- "hey, if I don't want to take a day off -- I'm not going to". Now I'm much happier and I believe I have had much better results too.

As for rest -- I now incorporate a combination of different strategies. If I feel that I need a day off completely, I take it (but this happens very rarely...only in cases when I am sick or perhaps traveling). Otherwise, I incorporate what you called a "lower intensity resting" type workout. I mix cardio, strength, flexibility, and endurance throughout the week but try to pick one to focus on for a given week. For example, if my focus is flexibility...I feel that it gives me a rest from really intense strength workouts and cardio sessions. The next week I might focus on strength and so on.

I cannot take a week off completely (meaning absolutely no exercise). I feel too tired and my mood suffers if I do. I do have less intense weeks though. But, for some people, a week off is fine and it makes them more motivated when they get back to it.

When I have taken an extended period of time off from working out (a week) -- I can tell that I have lost gains (strength, cardio, and endurance). But they quickly come back. I would say the time it takes to get it back is probably somewhat proportional to the amount of time you take off.

So...as always, find what works for you.

have a great weekend,
Shonie
 
Hey stranger!! You okay? It's good to see your name here!! :)

I take a week off now and then all the time, and it seems to do no real harm. If anything, I'm more refreshed and can lift better and step longer when I take rest breaks now and then. I believe Cathe has said on here before that it's good to listen to your body and give it a rest when it tells you it needs one.

Hope everything is all right!!

Carol
:) :) :)
 
I agree with Shonie, I think it depends on the individual. I need 1 total rest day per week and 1 active rest day (I just take a long yoga class with some sun salutations). So that's almost 2 rest days per week. But the other days I workout 1-2 hours a day at a high intensity. I might not need as much rest if I moderated the other days.

I periodically take 1 week off of weight lifting about every 2-3 months depending on how I'm feeling. I have never noticed a drop off in my lifting or definition, in fact sometimes it actually gets better after the week off. I also take a week off of activities sometimes, but I sub something else. For example if I notice my swimming is off, I'll take a week off of it and sub some other cardio then come back to it. That gives whatever muscles and/or tendons that are over-worked a chance to recover without losing the calorie burn of cardio.

Hope some of this helps! I think it's a lot of trial and error to find out what works for you. Both my Physical Therapist and Nutritionist have told me you don't HAVE to take a day off each week unless you need it. I need it, you might not.
 
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