five day rest does wonders

jnka825

jnka825

Cathlete
Hey all,

I had been working out 5-6 days religiously since after Christmas (I so slacked off in December :eek:). Well, this week due to "that time of the month" and just not feeling it, I took a 5 day break. Usually, I feel guilty about this, but I just finished a workout and I feel great. I think I just needed the break. How many of you do this every once in a while? How long of a "break" do you take? Is it good for the body to do this or is staying steady for weeks on end with only one or two rest days per week the best way to go?

Kristin
 
STS has a week off after every 4 weeks. It was really nice and was supposed to be necessary. I have added rest week to most rotations.
 
I normally take a rest week every couple of months. I think that most out here do. As you're experiencing, it's incredibly restorative! It's good to give your body a break from time to time, and just as good for the mind!
 
I just finished a 6 day break. Worked out today and feel great. I had so much energy. True believer in occasional rest week. It is so important to listen to what the mind and body are telling us.
 
i REALLY need to do this more. i do not take enough time to recuperate. but, in march i am keeping the g/kids for a week, and i will have NO TIME to work out, so i will have that week off. now, how much a rest i'll get, that is questionable. LOL! , but we will have fun.
 
A rest week is so restorative. I had to be convinced the first time I did this and did feel some guilt. But I got over that feeling when I went back to working out and realized I had gained energy and endurance and hadn't lost any strength. It really made a big difference in my workouts. Now I am guilt free about taking a week off. I really feel it is necessary for your body to have this rest if you want to see progress.
 
Back when I was exercising religiously (not now, on my way to fixing that) I used to log my workouts. It turned out that every 8 weeks, I would have an unplanned rest week. I just wouldn't feel like working out, and didn't, and felt guilty. It was only when I looked back over the year's calendar that I noticed that it was every 2 months like clockwork that I didn't work out, well, I figured my body needed it!
 
Govtgirl said:
Back when I was exercising religiously (not now, on my way to fixing that) I used to log my workouts. It turned out that every 8 weeks, I would have an unplanned rest week. I just wouldn't feel like working out, and didn't, and felt guilty. It was only when I looked back over the year's calendar that I noticed that it was every 2 months like clockwork that I didn't work out, well, I figured my body needed it!
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You know, looking at my calendar on the workout manager, I see a similar pattern. About every six to seven weeks, I will slack off. Instead of working out 5-6 days that week, it is 3-4 days and the workouts are shorter, premixes and what not. I think we are on to something.

I am just glad that I have no guilty feeling and that I am back at it. I feel just as strong and healthy. I guess I really just needed the break.

Kristin
 
When you guys say a rest week are you talking absolutely no type of workout AT ALL? No stretching, yoga,core.... NOTHING??? :confused:
I'm not sure I could do that. Not criticizing at all mind you, just trying to understand. This would obviously be different than an active rest week which is what I thought the rest week in the STS rotation referred to.
I have been having some knee issues, nothing major but I know it could lead to something more serious if I'm not careful!
Do you modify your eating during this complete rest week to allow for calories NOT being burned?
Maybe this is what my body is telling me it needs...now if I can just get my head to agree :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I, personally, don't have STS, so I don't know what that rotation is about.

When I take a rest week, I don't workout at all. Nothing. I lay on the couch. :)
It's glorious! But also hard to talk myself into the fact that it's good for me. That's a struggle I have like the others, which is why I only do it every couple of months.
 
Some times I really need to take a couple of days off. I know I feel so much stronger when I start back up. :) I also have to watch the extra calories on those days as well.
 
Jann said:
Some times I really need to take a couple of days off. I know I feel so much stronger when I start back up. :) I also have to watch the extra calories on those days as well.
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A couple of days sounds more doable for me that a week...to start anyway :rolleyes: There's a strange thought - someone afraid of NOT working out. I'm donating blood next Friday so the wk following that would be a good time to give the body a break.
Thanks for your help ladies!
 
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