Time to relax?

[glen]

I have heard informally that it is occassionally good to take time off from training to let your body recover. Presumably, this results in more effective training in the long run. Say if you have been training hard for 6 months straight, to stop and take up knitting for 2 weeks. I'm curious if this is true and the correct way to assess how to take time off. Does this mean that you should switch to other exercise types for the rest time (ie, switch to biking), or just work on being a couch potato?

 

Thoughts?

[Bill_Simpkins]

Just do what you feel like doing. If you get the itch to do something, your body is telling you something. If you don't feel like doing anything, turn on the tube. Your body will tell you what to do.

[nolanr]

Definitely true. When I was hardcore into weightlifting taking more than 1 or 2 days off was unthinkable to me, but that's because I was too dumb at the time to realize I was overtraining. Taking 1 or 2 weeks off to the let the body fully recover, or switching to a different kind of activity that is lower intensity for a short amount of time is a good idea.

[Courtenay]

...and if you're facing a workout and you just dread starting it, it's probably your body's way of saying to take a break and do something else. Anything that gets you moving can be useful -- even if that's going for a swim instead of climbing -- you'll be using similar muscles, work cardio in a different way, maybe even provide some rehabilitative and mental breaks effects. Cross-training is different for everyone -- for some it might be a long stroll; for someone else who prefers running, going roller blading or biking would be non-impact options. If you've gotten tired of lifting, try a punching bag or work in the yard! Still working the muscles, but in a completely different way.