Can we talk rest days?

[Anonymous]

So, rest days have always been something I’ve had a problem instilling into my life, unless I am closely following a training program that “prescribes” a rest day, and even then I really have a hard time with it.

I *know* intellectual.y that rest days will make me faster/stronger/less likely to be injured, but on those days, I really feel like a lump, more tired and irritable (which I know is kind of the reason you need a rest day). I’m also pretty metrics driven and I hate seeing blanks in my log books, or “less than” in my logs. Now that I have an Apple Watch, I feel like I constantly have the Move Goal and Move streak hanging over my head.

I’m just curious to how everyone approaches rest days in a healthy manner? I feel like I get really stuck into “doing more” and have trouble slowing down. I really enjoy fitness, and now, coming back into it after a long break, I love the momentum and motivation I have. That being said, I don’t want to break my body down too much as I’m amping things up more.

Would love some discussion on this, because I know it’s important.

[Anonymous]

Same. I only take Sunday as rest and feel too guilty taking a mid week rest.

[Anonymous]

I used to always take Fridays as rest days- but since COVID? I have taken 2 days off. What's the point? I am lifting 5 days a week (with some cardio, HIIT like workouts) and running the other two.

[Anonymous]

I stay active on my rest day- taking walks, running errands, playing outside with my kids, maybe a easy hike. 1 rest day per week, usually the day after my long run.

[Anonymous]

Rest day doesn't mean do nothing. It just means something lower/lighter impact, like a walk or yoga.

[Anonymous]

I just go for a walk or easy bike ride on rest days when I feel like a lump.

[Anonymous]

I have some sort of injury to my lower leg and I really need to take a complete rest day or more, like minimal walking even. But psychologically I'm having a really hard time doing it. I agree that the fitness tracker is not helping matters.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone ever take a whole week off when going on vacation (like the beach) and just stick to walks? I feel like I have want and need the week off. No lifting or crazy workouts. But I feel so anxious like I will lose so much muscle or endurance to get back into it. It’s only a week but so hard for me. I can’t convince myself it’s ok n

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone ever take a whole week off when going on vacation (like the beach) and just stick to walks? I feel like I have want and need the week off. No lifting or crazy workouts. But I feel so anxious like I will lose so much muscle or endurance to get back into it. It’s only a week but so hard for me. I can’t convince myself it’s ok n

You probably will lose some strength/endurance, but it will come back quickly once you resume working out. It's not like you're starting from point zero when you resume.

Rationally, that is the correct answer. That being said, I'd still have a hard time taking a whole week off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone ever take a whole week off when going on vacation (like the beach) and just stick to walks? I feel like I have want and need the week off. No lifting or crazy workouts. But I feel so anxious like I will lose so much muscle or endurance to get back into it. It’s only a week but so hard for me. I can’t convince myself it’s ok n

I just did this - combined with tweaking my anxiety meds so I’m a bit off - and I feel like i lost so much fitness! So stupid I know.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input. I usually travel with my TRX or some bands to get a workout in. But I feel some small areas of pain because I think I’ve been overworking the last few months to make up for not getting to my usual classes. So I really feel the desire to rest and recharge but not sure my mind can let me. I will probably give in and decide to do some cardio body weight a few days.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I am still doing things, but not my usual, and it’s that push that I’m finding really hard. Like an hour walk Bs a run isn’t enough - I’ll go for two hours and then feel like I still should walk to do errands, or do yoga, or, or, or...

It just feels like I push my rest days within the constraints of “not doing the same thing”, but I feel compelled to still push myself.

[Anonymous]

I was running daily but it was causing a lot of pains in my feet. I am now running every other day and the difference is amazing. I enjoy my runs a lot more now. I think maybe even just having a symbol for rest days in log books can be helpful. It just reminds you that it is also an important part of the plan.

[Anonymous]

I also find that having a really really hard workout the day before my rest day helps because I know my muscles really need the recovery time.

[Anonymous]

We have a dog, so even on rest days I'm still walking the dog.
We have kids, so even on rest days I'm still running around with the kids.

Rest days just mean that I'm not purposefully working out. But I'm still active I'm not laying on the couch all day.