How important are days off?

[pugsrule]

Hi Cathe, I was just looking at your rotations and I noticed that all or most of them incorporate at least one day off. I never take a day off and I was curious if you think that may be detrimental? I really would like to get superlean and I feel that no matter what I do I still don't look the way I want. Thank you!!

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Pugsrule! In my opinion a day off a week should be viewed as part of your training program. One day of rest is just as important as a day doing cardio or lifting. Your body is repairing and responding to the overload that you have placed upon it on your rest day. If you don't allow your body that time to recover, it will continue to break down and invite overtraining, which leads to potential injury.

If I can't talk you into one day of rest then perhaps I can talk you into making that one day a week a flexibility training day (in addition to stretching on other days too) since it is less taxing to the body and will help restore the body.

 

[dukechick]

Hi Cathe,

I, too, do not take a day off, and was wondering--if I was to start taking one day a week off and could convince myself that it is "part of my training program", would I need to make adjustments to my diet, i.e., lower my calorie intake, for the day I am not exercising, in order to not gain weight as I go from 7 days a week of exercising to 6 days a week?

Thanks so much for your thoughts,

Melissa aka Dukechick