Dreading rest days?

[Kristine36]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-02 AT 02:20AM (Est)[/font][p]I just dread the rest day. I realize that a good, rounded exercise regime includes: strength training, aerobics, stretching and rest, but I find that I just don't like to have to take that rest day. I know (and have talked to others about this same subject before) that it's an integral part of any workout program. I know that for the muscle to recuperate and repair and build that it needs to take a break, but I feel as if I have a momentum going when I'm working out and when I have to stop that momentum (almost like a ball rolling -- when it stops, you have to push it to get it to start rolling again), it tends to be harder for me.

I also think I'm addicted to the endorphins I feel when working out. It's such a stress reliever, it relaxes me, gives my muscles the feeling like they worked, I feel like I've accomplished something noteworthy and that I've progressed a little farther.

I actually used to look forward to my Wednesday or Sunday (rest) - do any of you do a light Pilates/Yoga tape on your rest day? Would this be a viable alternative without stressing your body? I don't feel as if I overdo it on my workouts (I mix my cardio -- 1 day of kickbox, 1-2 days step, 1 day lower intensity cardio, 1 day hi/lo and 2-3 days strength), and I'm certainly not up to where many of you in regard to cardio endurance or strength, but I certainly look forward to my 1 hr. a day with Cathe. I've been feeling kind of run-down lately, i.e. fatigued, sore throat, weaker, etc. and I'm attributing it to the fact that I've been working out sometimes 7 days a week.

Anyone else go through this?

 

[honeybunch]

I think you figured right that your run-down feeling is due to no rest days. How long has is been since you took a week off? You may want to consider that. You're really not doing yourself any good by overexercising like that.

 

[starbuck]

I agree with Honeybunch too often we overdo things not giving our bodies the time to recover and rest. Look at it this way if you don't factor in rest periods and accept them you may find that you will HAVE to rest for a very long period due to over exercising.

I read an interesting article in Fitness mag about a ballet dancer who became addicted to exercise to keep her weight down. In the long run the damage she did to her body meant having to have surgery on her knees and having to quit dancing.

Its a short period 24 hours just get through it you may have to force yourself for a time but after a few months if you allow yourself you may come to look forward to it. Your attitude is important as well don't view it negatively and plan something in the place of exercising something non exercise related so that you don't dwell on it.

My 2 cents.


Babs

 

[Bernard]

Hi there,
Just to let you know what I do on my rest days, I turn them into pampering days ! I have a long soak in the bath, body scrub, self tan, give my feet a pedicure and paint my toe nails, and tidy up my fingernails. Don't forget the hair, deep condition your hair. Make the pampering a once a week thing - it will soon become a routine, and you will look forward to it as much as exercising. At the same time as well, your rest day becomes a day when you look after yourself but in a different way to exercising. I can't stand it if I don't pedicure my feet, and it is important to look after them, think of all the pounding they get. Put on a movie while doing your pedicure. Enjoy yor rest day !

Hope this was of some use

Anna

 

[kweller]

I know what you're talking about, Christine. i have the same dilemma that i deal with week after week. Some weeks I have are higher enrgy, and some are lower, but I always see my workout week as an arc, where once I get going, things are great, and then the rest day time comes around, and I hate getting off the workout mill because I, like you, have trouble starting up the engine again (it starts slowly!). BUT, I have learned that for my body, a rest day is so very important. If I don't take the rest day when my body asks me to, then I get a good surprise the next day, and my body won't take no for an answer. So, I always take a rest day, sometimes two, and it is unusual for me to even do yoga on a rest day. Rest is rest, and when i do any workout activity, I like to give it my all as much as possible, even yoga. So take the rest days, like medicine, if necessary. You're body will thank you!
Kathy

 

[Kristine36]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-02 AT 09:59PM (Est)[/font][p]Thanks for the replies, all. In regard to how long have I been over-exercising, I should have probably been more clear on that one. I've been working out consistently for 5 years with 1-2 week breaks here and there. In April of this year, my family suffered some losses with 2 deaths in the family, and I fell off track with my exercise program (that was the last thing on my mind). Just these past 2 months have I started exercising seriously (6 and sometimes 7 days a week) again, and these past several weeks I've been noticing that I'm feeling run-down. I realize this is not doing me any good, and I plan on taking your suggestions. Today was my scheduled rest day, and I took it and plan on doing so from now on. I did MIS upper body and cardio yesterday, and my arms were incredibly sore today, so I didn't even need convincing.

Anna, I like your idea. I already exfoliate, self-tan (at the same time I do a deep conditioning treatment), manicure/pedicure, so I may just do these things all at once on my rest day, it will give me something to look forward to. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[starbuck]

Kristine

Can I add you have had a lot to contend with this year, have you allowed yourself enough time to deal with all that has happened. When my sister died it took me the best part of a year just to come to terms with what had happened (and we were expecting her to go).

Pampering is good but go with your body I took 2 rest days this week one after the other because my body said it needed them.

Babs