BAM Fitness Coaching

Image by Chris Gin via Flickr

This has been a week off for me.  I haven’t taken any significant time off since our family vacation at the end of July, so this has been a welcome rest.  I played tennis on Monday and Tuesday, and that has been all the activity for me for the week. . . no lifting, no kickboxing, no circuits, not even a walk.  And, it has felt good! 

Rest is important. . . it helps the body heal from injuries.  It provides time to repair and recover from hard work.  And, for me, it not only helps me physically recover, but it also helps me mentally regroup.  I get burned out from working out hard all the time.  And, I’ve discovered that taking time off makes me want to come back with renewed motivation.  Taking a week off makes me WANT to exercise again.  The oddest part about all of the time off I’ve taken over the past year is that I’ve always either maintained or lost weight.  This week, my weight is down a couple of pounds . . . bonus! 

One of my problems when I was heavier was that I took “rest weeks” a little too often.  I’d workout faithfully for a couple of weeks, then slack off a week, work a couple, slack, etc. . . I wasn’t consistent and I had more rest than work.  Now that I’m consistent with my exercise program and workout 5 times a week, taking an entire week off is actually a good thing.  I don’t feel guilty.  I don’t “feel fat”.  And, I know that the time off is well-deserved. 

How often do you take a rest week?   Does it make you feel good or guilty?