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Skipping your rest days can be tempting, especially if you’re really enjoying your workouts and seeing fine progress. However, efficient training is all about balance, and occasional resting periods are an essential part of a weekly routine. So, no matter how you enjoy your gym workout in Vacaville, CA, it’s time to find out why incorporating easy sessions and rest time is important for both your well-being and sustained progress. Read on!
Rest allows time for both your mind and body to adapt to your workouts and grow fitter and stronger. Here’s why it’s important and how to incorporate it into your routine for best results:
When you exercise, your muscles experience two types of stress: mechanical stress, resulting from the physical damage to your muscles’ protein structures, and metabolic stress, resulting from exploiting the energy that’s stored in muscle cells. Your body primarily breaks down glycogen, and keeping it on an adequate supply is essential for maintaining steady sugar levels and for your training.
Rest gives your body time to recover and replenish energy stores. It typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to restore the lost fluids. However, more resting hours are necessary to maintain proper body hydration.
As for the mechanical damage, fibroblast cells use recovery time to build up and repair your muscle tissue, which helps it heal, grow, and get stronger.
Overtraining diminishes your performance even when you try to push yourself. You may be less agile, feel less energetic, and react slowly. On the other hand, after enough recovery, you can avoid exhaustion, experience an energy boost, and have your body well-prepared for consistently successful workouts.
When you push yourself to exercise when your body is tired, it results in a higher risk of stumbles, trips, and bad form. Moreover, as your muscles don't have enough time to repair themselves, and they’re under constant strain and stress, you’re also risking overuse injuries. A study has shown that these injuries were among the most common in elite athletes, resulting in a minimum of 3 weeks out of training.
Make sure you allow yourself enough time to rest if you’d like to avoid weeks or maybe even months of being unable to exercise.
We’ve probably all experienced that feeling. You’ve just completed 30 seconds of intense exercise during your HIIT workout and you feel like you couldn’t do another squat ever again. Yet, less than half a minute later, you’re all ready to kick hard again. That’s exactly what rest days mean to your body.
With sufficient rest, your mind and body have enough time to recover, recharge, and rest. Your muscles will be less fatigued and sore, and you’ll be able to invest ample effort and energy in your following workout.
The amount of recovery days is individual and largely depends on your training program, current level of fitness, and biological factors. However, it’s recommended to have more rest time after intense workouts.
If you’re wondering how your workouts affect your mental well-being, or you’ve reached a plateau in your progress and need help overcoming it, lean on our expert team at Maximum Fitness. Our experienced and highly committed professionals are here to listen to your goals and help you craft an effective plan to reach them. Whether you live around Pleasants Ranch or across the area, stop by our center and start your journey. Get in touch with us today!
