A fitness query for the gym experts:

[LaraMN]

So I missed six straight days at the gym. Between my kids having time off from school, my husband working overtime, and JackMN being sick, I couldn't get there at. all. I usually go 4-5X a week.

I went back last night, and I did BETTER than I normally do. I mean CONSIDERABLY better. I could up my weights on the machines, I did a tougher workout on the elliptical, and it seemed to require no more exertion than my usual routine.

What's with that? Did my body just NEED a break, or what?

:shrug:

[Hosnon]

1. Yes...you really should only work out every other day. Cardio is something you can do

often but the weights should be spread out.

I do 4 times a week which I feel is a bit much. Also, those sessions should not top 60 minutes.

The "Golden" zone is however infrequently you can do it without causing soreness everytime.

[LaraMN]

3. So I've been told.

I'm a wee bit addicted to the adrenaline effect of it, I think.

[Hosnon]

5. Yeah me too...so go run everyday. That acts as my daily "fix". nt

[LaraMN]

6. My issue with running is that I HATE the treadmill,

and there's nowhere else to run around here. It's WAY too cold and icy outside. Maybe I'll just try to do pilates, instead. That always makes me feel good.

[Hosnon]

7. Yeah I hate the treadmill as well. Perhaps the bike or pool? nt

[Left Is Write]

13. I don't mind the treadmill as long as I can watch TV or read while on it.

It's hard to read when going really fast, though. I usually use the treadmill or stepmill for my cardio at the gym. I have an elliptical at home. How do you feel about ellipticals?

[LaraMN]

14. I love the elliptical. I do about 30-40 minutes on that every time I go.

We don't have teevees at my gym; but I can read on the elliptical.

[SPKrazy]

16. Ellipticals and Stairmills Are Great

especially stairmills- they will kick your butt if you go at the level that you can do without being too out of breath, but not so slow that you aren't the slightest winded.

30 min on stairmill

30 min on elliptical, or 20 and 10 on treadmill walking to cool down.

then some strength training, training different muscle groups on different days

we have tv and I always put on my ipod, or get lucky enough to find someone to talk to there and the time passes by quickly. Played Jeopardy with a young lady while we stairmilled today which made the monotony of it disappear :evilgrin:

[SacredCow]

8. Agreed....

That's why you commonly see people isolating muscle groups if they want to work out every day. It's an oversimplification, but lifting weights damages the muscles, and you need a rest cycle for them to rebuild and become stronger or bigger- whichever you're going for.

[billyskank]

2. Just reading your post made me feel tired

[LaraMN]

4. Well, I'm sitting down, now.

If it makes you feel any better.

:D

[Schema Thing]

9. You obviously haven't been resting enough between workouts

Not that I'm an expert, but I do think much about the perfect rest to exercise ratio :P~

[cwydro]

10. I run everyday

and find a day off every now and then really is a good thing...

[SPKrazy]

18. Yes, A Day Off Is Good

but I hate it!

I want to exercise every day

something is terribly wrong with me!

I never used to be this way but it feels GOOD

:7

[Orsino]

11. If you're working to muscle failure, or nearly...

...you need at least a day off to build new muscle. In the Army, we generally alternated upper- and lower-body (i.e., running) workouts. Resting up helps, too; after leaving Basic Training and getting some real sleep/food, my fitness scores shot way up.

[Left Is Write]

12. Possibly.

My trainer told me two years ago that if I feel like I'm reaching a "fitness plateau" that I should take a week off (cardio, at any rate; she advised me to continue weight lifting during the cardio break).

[Feron]

15. I always do better with a break..

Exercising five days a week with weekends off works well for me.

I also do my long run on Mondays and take it easy the rest of the week. Since running on the treadmill can be boring, I liven it up a bit by running one minute up front by the console and then dropping to the middle/back of the treadmill for the next. And I repeat it until my time is finished.

[SPKrazy]

17. Probably Did Need A Break

muscles get better over time, and exertion rest cycles are important.