Rest Stress

[runnergirl]

Rest days stress me out...

When I ran highish mileage rest days didn't really bother me, since there's only so much pounding the joints can take, even the pros take a full rest day every 7 days.

Cycling-being way easier on the body-doesn't make me feel like a need day off, and it seems like even at the local competative level total rest days are unusual-it's more about "active recovery." I rode 186 odd miles this week, ran 15 miles, 3x30min eliptical, and 3 weight training sessions, but I am totally stressed about rest days. I feel like what ground I gain training wise, I lose weight loss wise...

How often should I have a total rest day? Should it every be TOTAL rest (ie, no eliptical, no run, no nothing?) How do I not stress about it without trying to starve myself that day?

(btw, I am not an eating disorder type, I am 10-15 lbs above my ideal weight with a contrary metabolism)

[Dianyla]

How often should I have a total rest day? Should it every be TOTAL rest (ie, no eliptical, no run, no nothing?) How do I not stress about it without trying to starve myself that day?

(btw, I am not an eating disorder type, I am 10-15 lbs above my ideal weight with a contrary metabolism)

Newsflash... overweight people have eating disorders, too. It has more to do with your attitude about food and eating than whether your body looks anorexic or not.

I find it helpful to track calories consumed and expended. This helps me eat appropriately on rest days and fuel myself adequately on exercise days. IMO, a rest day is a rest day. As in... absolutely no planned exercise at all. If you just can't stand the thought of this, you may need to reconsider your attitudes towards food and exercise and body self-image.

[nuthatch]

but I am totally stressed about rest days. I feel like what ground I gain training wise, I lose weight loss wise...

I know THAT feeling! It's just another manifestation of my obsessive/compulsive nature. Harkens back to that puritan guilt of being idle, I guess. What rest days do for you is make you a BLUR of speed when you get back on the bike the next day. I just have to talk myself off the ledge on those rest days. It really isn't constructive to skip your rest days - gotta give those muscles a chance to build themselves.

[han-grrl]

are you training for something specific? it sounds like you are exercising a WHOLE lot.

Remember the training gains occur when the body is AT REST, not while actually training. training is applying a stress to the body, and while hte body is not training, the body adapts physiologically, so it improves. You have to make sure that you are eating enough calories. if you aren't losing any weight with all this exercise, it is likely you are not eating enough. your body knows but one thing, protect what is inside. if you are putting your body through that much stress in training, and not eating enough nutrients and calories, your body will resist shedding off extra pounds.

Your attitude towards exercise reminds me a lot of exercise addiction. You might want to read up on it. (i am not trying to offend in any way and i apologize if i do).
http://www.rrca.org/publicat/addict.html

[betagirl]

As long as you don't pig out on your rest days, you should be fine. In general training regiments recommend lowering calorie intake on days you're not doing a whole lot. I try to eat more fruits/veggies on my off days and keep my calorie intake low (around 1500 calories).

[CorsairMac]

a suggestion might be to plan something on your rest day like a movie or shopping. Something that will keep you busy without taxing your muscles.


(now if CorsairMac would just Take that little piece of advice she just Gave......)

[Tess851]

At least one rest day per week, yes, total rest. It's a day for your body to recover, adapt, and re-fuel, so starving yourself or skipping rest days is counter productive. Skip them at your own risk, and risk overtraining, and long term enforced rest from it, if you can't relax.

Consult a nutritionist if you don't think you can get the balance between what your asking of your body and re-fueling it.

Active recovery is good in between days of hard training, again to allow the body to adapt. Active recover also plays a role in between efforts in a set of intervals. Active recovery on the bike means pedalling without feeling like your putting in any effort.

Just because it doesn't feel hard doesn't mean it isn't doing you good.

Pros take rest days too - no-one's immortal.

You only have one body. Respect it. Treat it well and take care of it.

BTW, you don't lose your fitness in one day, nor do you turn into a blimp in one day

[Dogmama]

(btw, I am not an eating disorder type, I am 10-15 lbs above my ideal weight with a contrary metabolism)

There is a website called FitDay.Com where you can track your activites, calories, etc. each day. You might want to start there. If your metabolism is contrary, you are probably not eating enough (as somebody else mentioned.)

You need at least one total rest day/week. I take an active rest day, i.e., light weight lifting, flat, easy cycling or a slow jog. I don't work out NEARLY like you, however, so I can get away with "active rest." I probably spend more time in the weight room than you, so my muscles let me know when they've had enough!