Rest days

[Stebby]

For my rest days, I don't ever really "rest". I won't exercise to a video, instead I will walk. I find this type of "rest day" a lot better for the body than actually sitting and lying around doing nothing. I personally believe the body needs to stay in motion. But yeah, there is always 1-2X/week that I lay off the weights and cardio.

Natasha

I do this too now - it's a relatively new habit for me! These days I am taking 2 rest days each week and I walk. I do a fairly gentle walk on these days so I can fully recharge - no big hills - but I aim for 10,000 steps which takes me about 1 hr 20 minutes. I started doing this in the fall, and I've found that it brings big psychological benefits also; it clears my mind, gets rid of work-induced anxiety, and I think it helps me stay on track with eating properly. Last night we had a light dusting of snow in the evening - I took my daughter with me on my walk and it was a very quiet and calming experience for both of us.

Natasha, it's funny you mentioned sitting and lying around doing nothing and how that's not great for the body - for me, that does bad things for my mind also. I get anxious and irritable, and I end up eating junk, not drinking enough water and just generally losing ground. Took me a lot of years to figure out that wasn't working for me.

Stebby

 

[ebonynicole]

I typically workout 6 days a week so I willdefinitely take at least 1 rest day. Some weeks life happens and it may be more but on average it is 1 day rest.

 

[mrsprincess07]

I'm the exact opposite. Now that I exercise every day and take 1 or 0 rest days--I am never sick, I rarely injure myself and when I do it's a pulled muscle that heals quickly because I modify for it. I am more energetic and in a better mood on days I work out than days that I don't--in fact, when I do take a rest day, I feel more sluggish. And the only aches and pains I ever have are DOMS!

I think a lot of people are in your boat which isn't at all uncommon. I have FMS which makes things more complicated on my end. Before I had this disorder I too, was very much the same.

But all that is thrown out the window as right now... I have the flu. HUbby brought the bug home to me and now every joint in my body is screaming. And here I though I increased my weights too much on Thursday. I haven't had the flu I think in close to 10 yrs. This is not cool!

 

[mini-natty]

I do this too now - it's a relatively new habit for me! These days I am taking 2 rest days each week and I walk. I do a fairly gentle walk on these days so I can fully recharge - no big hills - but I aim for 10,000 steps which takes me about 1 hr 20 minutes. I started doing this in the fall, and I've found that it brings big psychological benefits also; it clears my mind, gets rid of work-induced anxiety, and I think it helps me stay on track with eating properly. Last night we had a light dusting of snow in the evening - I took my daughter with me on my walk and it was a very quiet and calming experience for both of us.

Natasha, it's funny you mentioned sitting and lying around doing nothing and how that's not great for the body - for me, that does bad things for my mind also. I get anxious and irritable, and I end up eating junk, not drinking enough water and just generally losing ground. Took me a lot of years to figure out that wasn't working for me.

Stebby

Stebby,

Ahhh, I could rave all day about the benefits of walking . I feel the EXACT same way as you. I find walking (especially outdoors) very therapeutic. Not too long ago, remember when we got that 1st hefty snowfall? I went walking with my daughter. Even though it was cold, we bundled up well, and out we went. Everything looked so beautiful and serene. All anxiety and stress virtually melted away as we took that walk. I find walking provides me with endless benefits, and fills a void that no exercise DVD could full. It's a wonderful thing .

I'm also incorporating several Leslie Sansone indoor walking programs into my exercise regime (mostly in the evening) when it has just been far too cold to walk outside. You walk at a nice brisk pace of 4-5mph! It's great .

Good luck Stebby . Enjoy those walks

Natasha

 

[cokonkel]

I think a lot of people are in your boat which isn't at all uncommon. I have FMS which makes things more complicated on my end. Before I had this disorder I too, was very much the same.

But all that is thrown out the window as right now... I have the flu. HUbby brought the bug home to me and now every joint in my body is screaming. And here I though I increased my weights too much on Thursday. I haven't had the flu I think in close to 10 yrs. This is not cool!

Oh man, that happened to me one time! I got the flu with all the associated muscle aches and I swore it was DOMS from my previous days workout. It took me like a day and a half to figure out I was actually sick! D'oh!

 

[breathe]

not sure how to insert a quote here, but thank you to Natasha and Stebby for the reminders about all the benefits of walking and the idea of easy walking as a rest day. I've been so excited about all the new workouts (and new to me workouts) that I've been neglecting getting outside. This reminds me how important it is for me on so many levels. Truly appreciated!