Take a Break From the Gym From Time to Time to Keep Progress
Regardless of how high your fitness goals are or how little time you have, you still need rest. Bumping into the ground all the time is (unsurprisingly) unacceptable and can actually nullify your progress. That’s why.
Like any other type of work, exercising and losing weight are considered stressful factors for your body. Think about it: when you exercise, you create tiny tears in your muscles that your body has to repair (literally by grinding ) without supplying the body with enough nutrients to do so. If you don’t give your body enough time to recover, the effects can accumulate and stunt your progress.
To prevent that from happening, here are three main ways to incorporate more rest into your workout routine.
- Organize your workouts wisely. If you plan to work on a specific body part more than once a week, set aside at least a day between these workouts. If you cannot afford this time, at least try to alternate the intensity of work, choosing a “hard” / intense workout for a lighter one.
- Take a day off (or several). Any training plan should include at least one day of rest. It doesn’t have to be clearly scheduled – move it around the week according to your mood, motivation, and schedule. If for some reason you feel unwell about the day off, consider a) getting life (I have my own advice here) or b) outdoor activities where you can find time for low-intensity activities that you usually do. no time for hiking or yoga.
- Unloading Unloading is pretty much a bizarre fitness way of saying you need a little rest. They usually last about a week, but in some cases they can last up to a month. Athletes usually use them if they have just completed an intensive program and are physically and mentally exhausted. It’s important to keep moving forward while your mind and body are depleted, which can compromise your immune system and leave you vulnerable to injury. You may not be a professional athlete, but the same principle applies. If you feel demotivated for a while and / or find yourself getting injured or sick more often, take a week break.
It may seem counterintuitive to give yourself a break when you still have a job, but remember that the job won’t get done if it hurts, gets bored, or unwell. So don’t be afraid to allow yourself to rest, because sometimes you need to stop to keep moving forward.