does anyone else feel guilty..

J

JACLYN H

Active Member
When they take a rest day from exercise? I have one heck of a time talking myself into not working out on any given day. There are days I'm just flat out tired....then after an internal struggle with myself to "couch it" or blow it off,I find myself lacing up my shoes and working out.
I always find that I feel 100% better after a good sweat.
Problem is, I also drive myself crazy trying to find time and energy on a daily basis to workout. I just read on another thread that if you workout too much you're doing more harm then good. That your body actually begins to hold on to fat! I seriously think this is starting to happen with me. I'm working out too much and in response my body is craving a ton of food. I'm pretty sure I've gained some weight as a result. It's getting to be a viscous cycle! I guess what I'm looking for is some re enforcement to take at least one day a week off without feeling bad about it. Does anyone have any insight, or is there anywhere on Cathe's forum listing signs of overtraining and the impotance of taking a rest day.



Thanks,
Jackie
 
Jackie,

I used to have a really hard time with taking a rest day from exercising. I knew I had to take them but I was afraid that if I missed one day then I would skip the next day too and then just stop working out altogether. I have since learned that it is necessary to rest your body at least 1 day a week. This allows your muscles to rest and actually will help in the building of muscle. You also risk the chance of injuring yourself due to over training. It's funny that you bring this up today because I was talking to my friend (who is also my trainer) about it this morning. I was doing a boot camp class last night and did terrible. We were working with kettle bells and doing walking swings (which are really hard) and I had trouble keeping up with everyone, which is unusual. I had to go to a lower weight which I hated. He suggested that I was overworking myself and we discussed how both of us hated to take a rest day but that it was necessary.

I have really come to a good place on this and always take at least 1 rest day a week, sometimes more depending on my schedule. The problem I have is that I love working out. Now I remind myself that taking a day of rest is just as important as working out and eating healthy.

Hope this helps!
 
<I have one heck of a time talking myself into not working out on any given day.>

I'm sorry to say I have never had to talk myself out of NOT working out. Unfortunately it's the other way around for me. x( And my workouts lately have proven that I've not been doing enough. But the guilt feeling I can relate to. Last night I couldn't do the step portion of MIC - I was just too whooped from the hi-low before it. I started the step portion and the sashaying just did me in and I had to call in a night. I felt like a loser but I was listening to my body.
 
I used to feel that way, but I realized after a couple injuries that it is more damaging to overtrain then to take days off for your body to recover.

Katie
 
I feel guilty - even when I work a 13 hour shift, if I don't do even a 20 minute core max, I feel guilty.....I know better, but its being a maniac...and devotees of Cathe have that tendancy don't we?
 
Cathe puts at a day off each week in the rotations she puts out. Overtraining can lead to burn out and injury. Rest days are just important as workout days, that is when your muscles repair and grow. Don't neglect your rest days.
 
I used to never take a rest day... it was 7 days a week for me. Then, my old bulldog died, and a 1 1/2 yrs later, we now have 2 hi-energy dogs that I walk 45 minutes - 1 hour every day. I'm telling you, the walking has really changed my approach to working out. I now feel comfortable taking 1 - 2 rest days a week, because I know I've walked my dogs, which is excellent low-impact (and low-intensity) exercise, which my body and joints appreciate.

At the same time, I've really tried to clean up my diet, especially in the sugar department. Upping the vegetables, good fruits, and low-fat proteins, as well as high-fiber grains has helped tremendously.

So don't feel guilty about taking a day or two off! There are lots of ways to exercise your body... think outside the box.
 
I do know better than to keep going and going...but I do it anyway! I guess its the adrenaline rush or the feeling right after working out that keeps me hooked. Or, if I take days off I'll get in a rut and not want to workout period (has happened a few times in the past). On days I do nothing its almost like my brain is in a fog, I don't feel myself....crazy huh? I'm just hoping with all your great input and re enforcement I'll get over this phase I'm in. Funny thing is, last year I was feeling very burned out and took 2 or more weeks off and actually lost weight!! So I do know better, but it just helps me to put things into perspective to hear how others think. Please keep your great comments coming, they're making the point more valid for me somehow...and I find that I'm not alone in my passion for exercise and fitness.

Thanks!!!!!!!!
Jackie
 
Some weeks I take a rest day and some I don't. My body usually tells me in subtle ways when I need a day off. I just looked at my workout journal and notice I didn't take any days off in Feb. This month I've slowed down a little and only worked out 5 of 7 days. Today I have a terrible cold and have chosen not to do my scheduled workout. I used to feel guilty about rest days. Now I take them in stride.
 
I schedule one rest day a week & don't feel one bit guilty about taking it off, my body needs it. However, if I am sick or have to miss another day for any given reason, yes I feel guilty & that rarely occurs because I can't handle the guilt I feel...I know, I have issues! :)

I would say try to "schedule" one day a week as a rest day & think of it as important as the days you "schedule" working out.
 
why heck no! I try to take two a week,however the past couple of weeks I've been fighting blisters and feel VERY guilty when I can't workout that day*sigh*!
 
Hi Jackie.

You are not alone girl! The truth is though that rest days are essential in a fitness program. Some folks take/require less of them then others but during rest is when the body gets stronger. You really need to give your body some down time. I used to really struggle with rest days. I don't so much anymore. I have learned to appreciate them these days. The only times they really bother me anymore is when I get bored--my first thought is to work out cause I enjoy it!--or when I'm feeling bloated/uncomfortable because my eating was bad that day or the day prior. Otherwise I welcome my rest days with open arms. If you really have trouble taking a complete rest day, why not try one day per week where all you do is stretch, do yoga, or take a leisurely walk outside? That could feed your need for movement w/o having to do a strenuous work out.

I hope it gets easier for you!:)
 
I long ago got over that feeling of having to always work out. I usually take two rest days a week. One during the week is usually on a day where it would simply be crazy to fit in a work-out because of other obligations. The other is usually Sunday, which is a total slug day! I love my rest days as much as my work-out days!
 
No, I don't feel guilty. I look forward to my "rest" day because I've got so much to do everyday, it's nice to have a night where I can just take it easy. Of course, "taking it easy" is going to Tae Kwon Do class without lifting weights first. I don't think there's actually any day during the week where I don't do at least a little bit of exercise.
 
I used to until I hit my goal weight, now I just exercise to maintain what I worked so hard to get too. About 4 days a week usually does it for me, sometimes 5.

Rhonda:7
 
No.
Not at all.
In fact, I might feel more guilty NOT taking a rest day, because I know how important recovery is.
I actually don't feel 'guilty' about much of anything (I would if I shoplifted, or lied to a good friend), but I do feel 'bad' when the "day off" starts to lengthen into 2-3 or more days.

Remember that a rest/recovery day doesn't have to mean doing nothing. Some stretching or yoga, a walk, all of those can fit into a recovery day and still have you doing 'something'.
 
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