When was the last time you took a break from exercise? No, I don’t mean an active rest day where you still exercise but with less intensity than your normal workout.
I mean an actual rest. Where you wake up, take your time making breakfast, lounge in your PJ’s for a while, and take it easy the rest of the day.
Another question. When was the last time you took more than one day of rest per week? Two days? Three days? An entire week?
Most of you probably can’t remember the last time you did that. I’ll be honest, before my week off from weight lifting recently, I couldn’t remember the last time I took longer than three days off the gym.
After finishing round one of Body Earned, James advised everyone to take a week off from pumping the iron. He said after doing an intense program, or usually after about 12 weeks for anyone else doing intense exercise, that you should take time off to let your body properly recover.
I trust him completely, so that’s exactly what I did. Sure, most days all I wanted to do was lift weights and do HIIT because I love working out. I am one of those people that thrive on exercise – It is my lifestyle and my hobby. I love the feeling of endorphins and feeling sore the day after.
However, I knew I needed to let my body recover, especially since I didn’t take a week off weight training after Live Fit. So, I restrained myself from doing anything strenuous. And let me tell you, I am SO glad I did.
There are a few reasons why the break from weights has benefitted me and may benefit you as well.
- I feel stronger. Towards the end of Body Earned, I felt my strength decline. I knew I needed a break, and it showed during my workouts. I couldn’t lift as heavy, but now after the break, I feel stronger!
- I’m more energized. Towards the end, I was also just sort of going through the motions. Don’t get me wrong, James kept each day different which helped a lot with motivation, but I still just needed a break.
- My burn is higher now. How many calories I burned never really concerned me, but I noticed within the first few days of starting again this week that they are much higher. I am burning about the same amount with practically NO cardio.
- It is relaxing mentally. Not having to think about pre/post workout food, what my workout is, when I’m going to workout, etc. was nice for a week or so. It also helped that I was on winter break, so I just got a break from everything.
- Your muscles will grow. When you workout, you are tearing your muscles down. The time that you spend outside of the gym is actually when the muscle repairs and grows.
- It will shock your body. This is especially true for people who have hit a plateau in their training. After your week off, your body will respond a lot better and allow you to break past the plateau that you have hit.
Oh, and that first workout back at the gym will be the best feeling ever.
Have you ever taken a week off from lifting?
Did you feel stronger after?
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I’ll admit – I probably haven’t taken a week off from lifting.. since before I started lifting seriously. I should probably change that. I know how beneficial it would be, but sometimes, I just get caught up in routine!
Cait @ Beyond Bananas recently posted..Friday Facts
Haven’t taken a week off, but I’m not a heavy lifter! I do take at least 1-2 days off a week and I may take a few days off from running soon (which is my go-to exercise) and give my tired leg muscles a break!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } recently posted..Weekly Workout Wrap-Up
Thank you for posting this. I haven’t taken more than a day off (and even that has happened probably once in the past few years) in…I actually can’t remember how long. I have this need to go for a walk, do abs, go to power yoga, do SOMETHING to make up for the fact that I’m not running. I know I’m going to need a significant amount of time off but it’s reassuring to read posts like this from people who have actually done it.
Sarah recently posted..Meet my Friend! And becoming a fashionista!
I’ve done this before and while it is definitely a challenge it feels amazing to get back! Good for you for listening to your body and giving it the rest it needs!
Danielle @clean food creative fitness recently posted..Paleo Turkey Meatloaf
Yes! I just did this for the first time last month. The first couple days were the hardest, but after 8 full rest days there was nothing like that first day back at the gym. Also, little aches and pains I’d been experiencing miraculously disappeared. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Annie Heiss recently posted..Weekly Eats, PV Body #2, and Workouts
I took 2 weeks off around Christmas, and it was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. I’ve felt so much more energized in the gym this week! Our bodies need those breaks once in a while, both mentally and physically. Although, after doing a heavy lower body workout for the first time in almost 3 weeks – today I’ve got DOMS like nothing else. Ow.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted..Five Thing Friday.
LOVE this post. Rest days (or breaks) are SO important. I agree with the feeling stronger part too.
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family recently posted..Fitness Friday & Active by Old Navy
I couldn’t agree more, after the holidays I did just that, almost four days of nada. it was needed so that i could feel my best going into training People don’t realize how necessary it is
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted..It’s Ok: Get a Helmet
Rest is a complete necessity for me. I take rest weeks probably 5 or 6 times a year and they help so much! You come back reinvigorated and my love for the gym and working out is stronger than ever! If you don’t rest you get burned out waaay to easily so i am a big proponent of longer breaks for sure!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! recently posted..Search Terms, Steals, and Silliness!
We take a deload week every 4 weeks, we go light & spend alot of time stretching, by doing this every 4 weeks as apposed to every 12 weeks, we avoid having to take a complete week off and continue to progress.
Love this, Brittany! I used to be one of those people who worked out 6-7 times a week and had the hardest time taking any rest days. As a result I suffered some serious overtraining and my workouts started feeling like a chore. Taking time off really helped my body heal and changed my perspective on working out. I wish more people would just take the chance and see that rest will only do them good!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted... eating more, but snacking less .
Look at those arms!!! Something must be working cause you are looking ripped!!
yes we have taken long periods of rest days before, even though we might actually be working out we still try to be a little active, but we agree rest is soooo important!
look good girl!!
xoxo
purelytwins recently posted..Day 7 daily eats and poop talk
so wise and so needed! i took 8 months off. well besides walking and yoga. I needed it, my body healed from a lot, and at the same time, i got stronger!
lindsay recently posted..Dear Abby Friday & Chocolate Rum Macaroons
The thought of doing this is terrifying to me, but I think it may actually be something I need to do every so often. I know for a fact that I push myself too hard and taking a step back may be just what I need
Devon @ Health in Equilibrium recently posted..Friday Five and New Workout!
I just took a rest week, I think we had ours at the same time! You are so right about all those things, and it benefits our bodies so much! Yes to shocking the body! It’s so important to change it up. Our bodies should be treated properly, so rest is needed every few months! I always feel stronger coming out of a rest week.
Ah it’s nice to hear someone taking a week off. I do that occasionally when my body just feels fatigued and I can’t get up out of bed. Especially working night shifts throws me off big time and I can’t always get up and lift because I’m just so exhausted!
Alexis recently posted..Just keep smiling
I love taking time off! It feels so good! I’ve taken 4 weeks off now due to being sick, so I’m ready to get back to it!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..Friday Five
Guilty…
I can’t remember my last rest day. LOL.
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..P&G eStore
This is a good point! I’ve never actually done that unless going on a trip where it was impossible to workout; but often times (especially mid semester) I would bet my body would thrive off a few days of rest. Did you take off just from weightlifting or working out completely?
Amanda
Amanda recently posted..Full body strength!
Such a great post. I think the longest I took off was a week, and you are correct with EVERYTHING you said. I felt the exact same way & it was amazing.
Have a great weekend
xoxo
Jessie recently posted..Cold, Packers & BMF
I’m really bad at “relaxing” like, physically and mentally. But its SO good when I do! I come back to the gym feeling refreshed and ready to tackle my workout!
Liz @ iheartvegetables recently posted..Cooking Demo @ Kitchen Thyme
Exactly!!
Fantastic post, Brittany! This is a topic that I think many healthy living bloggers (myself included) feel extremely torn over. We all *know* that we need rest time –often extended periods of it — yet, we’re fearful that it will result in muscle loss. The irony, as you said, is that giving our bodies time to recover truly makes us stronger!
The last time I took a long break from the weights (two weeks) was when my body forced me to. Last fall I hit a wall and was without *any* energy for almost a month. The doctors thought I had mono, but that fortunately wasn’t the case. Looking back on it, I realize that I was just pushing myself too hard in the gym!
Very true!!!
Great post and very interesting. Something to consider!!
The little ecard about the pants is totally me, verbatim!
I take at least one week of a year from running; I feel so much better when I come back!
Tristen recently posted..Running is…fun?
I just found your blog and girl, your arms are so cut. I am envious! Love the flexing picture.