I don't know if you have noticed from my Weekly Workout Recaps, but I have been very sneaky about my rest days. I take 2-3 complete lower body rest days per week. That's actually really good, and I know my legs are thankful for those days off! But those aren't complete rest days. I lift upper body- either back or chest- on those days. I know ideally I should set aside one day per week as a COMPLETE rest day, but this is what I am doing for now, and it is working.
However, on Friday, I did take a complete rest day. I was feeling sick and had zero energy. So a complete rest day it was.
Truth: I didn't enjoy it. It just does not seem natural to do nothing.
Oh well, that's the way it is. And I want you to remember that. I am sure there are times when you have a scheduled rest day and you are very thankful for it. You can't wait for a day off! But I am sure there are also times when you have a scheduled rest day, and whaddaya know? The sun is shining, you have tons of energy, and all you wanna do is go for a run! It sucks, but rest you must. And you do. Because you know tomorrow will come, and you will have a TON of energy and freaking tear up your workout!
Are you normally thankful when a rest day is on your schedule, or are you dying to run/hit up the gym?
After years of never a rest day, I had to finally learn to take them. Sometimes they are not bad and other times I struggle w/ them. But I always take them. One thing that helps is I plan a lot of things to do during the time I would normally be working out. I grocery shop, bake, work on art, do a home organization project, etc. It does help to stay busy for sure (I would sleep in but my body isn't capable of that, apparently).
ReplyDeleteThose are great strategies. I also find the busier I am the less I care about it being a rest day. Normally I clean the house on a rest day! I also find that once I make it until 3pm, I am golden. I normally workout in the morning or the early afternoon (if it is a weekend) so once I get past the only times I would ever be working out, I am fine.
DeleteI go through phases with my rest days. There are periods where I don't take any full rest days, and then periods where I really look forward to at least one full rest day. I think it mostly has to do with outside factors -- how busy I am at work and so on. Sometimes I am mentally exhausted and really need that day where I am able to just come home and lay down on the couch for the night!
ReplyDeleteAlso has to do with what I'm training for I suppose. Last summer when I was marathon training I was running 6 days a week, and my off day from running was the day after my long run. It just made sense for me to still workout the day because my legs would get stiff if I just sat around. Plus it was the only time to get in a high quality upper body lifting session!
I don't like my legs feeling stiff either. I rarely ever do a rest day on the weekend for that reason. If it is during the week, I am walking all day at work anyway.
DeleteUsually when I am training I am ready for a full rest day (which I usually take on Sunday). But when Im not working out intensely I feel likeI always want to move in some way- otherwise I just feel sluggish! So days that I know I need break but still want to move I try to do some walking or really easy yoga.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea. I think it's definitely good to at least MOVE each day. I mean that's what our bodies are designed to do.
DeleteMy body has been REALLY beat up lately. I haven't been treating it very nicely and I think I am possibly over-training. I took a complete rest day on Friday because I was going to run 21 miles on Saturday. Then, I ran 21 miles, but got a nagging knee pain at mile 17 and stupidly ran through it. Saturday night, I spent in the bathroom throwing up and Sunday I could not get out of bed. I slept probably 15 hours on Sunday and the most exercise I did was walking outside to at least sit in the sun. That was a TRUE rest day. My body still hasn't been up to really working hard. I tried to run 4 miles on Monday and my knee was killing me. The next day, my running partner wanted to run again, so we went .5 mile and he checked in with me and forced me to stop. I sat in the sun icing my knee and feeling sorry for myself. Then I got my ass up and went and killed it with weights. I'm going to be a freaking body builder by the time my knee is better! ;-)
ReplyDeleteDang I am so sorry you were so sick and lethargic. And your knee! Do you have any idea what is wrong with it? You already are a body builder. :)
DeleteI HATE rest days!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have forced myself to rest this week - 5 days with only my daily move of the day. It hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be but I'm so ready to get back at it!!!
5 days is a lot! You are going to feel AWESOME when you have your first run. :)
DeleteMost of the time, I really hate rest days. I do not have scheduled rest days, but take them as needed. This is partially because a lot of the exercise I do is very moderate/low intensity. I primarily run (more like jog), but the pace is very comfortable. I do challenge myself, but just in short bursts. I also do lots of walking. I exercise mostly for my mental sanity, not to change the shape of my body, so that makes rest days even more challenging!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the mental aspect of it! I am similar to you in that I don't schedule them, they just happen. It also helps that I lift. It essentially forces me to take a break from running because I do NOT run on lifting days,
DeleteI am taking a rest day today!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice! Give Lola cuddles :)
DeleteI need it too!!!
ReplyDelete