how important is recovery week?

[Melclear]

Hi folks -

I could really use some advice. I am trying to squeeze in Meso 1 and 2 before having foot surgery in mid-June, which will take me out for 6-8 weeks. But I don't have enough days to squeeze in the full rotation if I take the recovery week. I have already compressed each Meso to do only 2 days of cardio (so I alternate STS with Shock Cardio for 5 days, then day off, then the next 5 days), but I still can't quite fit it in. As I see it, I have 2 options: 1) keep doing what I am doing, take only 3 days off in between Mesos, and squeeze in both Mesos before surgery, or 2) take the recovery week, and end somewhere in the middle of Meso 2 without completing it.

Which option seems like the healthiest, best, safest option? Thanks in advance!

 

[Catchick65]

Wow, I thought the recovery week was very important. At least to me it was. The mental and physical "beating" of STS was great, but I appreciated that week to recover. And it was a very active one, each time. Lots of cardio and stretches. Also a mental prepartion for the next STS phase. After STS I took a few "easy" weeks before starting Cathe's October 2009 rotatation which incorporates STS. Very tough, but I'm loving it. I will be finishing that up this week and am now wondering....what next?

But, ya know, if I was you, I'd squeeze it all in...as much as possible before that surgery. Looks like you'll have plenty of time to "recover" and "rest". Hope all goes well with that, and you'll be back at full strength in no time.

~Renee

 

[Melclear]

Thanks. The first time I did STS, I did take the recovery weeks and loved them. But I think I am going to power through to get in as much as possible before my rest months.

You asked about what to do next, and I wanted to mention that after I completed STS, I did Insanity and I thought it was an awesome complement to Cathe's STS program. It's all cardio endurance and body resistance only, no weights, but it was super challenging. And now, returning to STS, I can really feel how my endurance and strength increased, but in really different ways. So now back into STS, it's just as hard as the first time (which I love). Anyway, I just thought I'd mention it as a possible next step for you.

 

[Autumn68]

yup, you need one. IMHO, Just do cardio and yoga. - Autumn

 

[MDolfiniReed]

I'm with CatChick65 (also my sister). We did STS together and we definitely needed those recovery weeks. Sister has kept going strong after STS; I needed more recovery time afterwards, but I was dealing with some minor boomeritis issues through STS (sore elbow, sore achilles tendon, etc). Gave my body time to get totally rested and now I'm ready to roll again. Doing S&H right now, plus a mix of cardios.
~michelle