Reps, sets, calories burned — for a fitness buff like you, all of these things matter greatly. However, there is something that a lot of people who are enthusiastic about remaining healthy and fit seem to forget, and that is resting.
According to experts, it generally takes about a couple of weeks of being sedentary before there is a noticeable drop in one’s fitness and performance level. In other words, resting for a day or two won’t hurt. In fact, taking rest days can actually work to the advantage of you and other fitness buffs. That’s because:
It Gives Your Muscles Plenty of Time to Get Repaired
Exercises that involve resistance and weights essentially break down muscle fibers. However, your body repairs them, and this is what causes them to become bigger and stronger afterwards.
Having those muscles repaired doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye. Experts say that it’s a good idea to rest your muscles for a minimum of 48 hours. Otherwise, they will fail to get completely repaired.
It Helps Lower Your Risk of Getting Injured
Working out muscles that are still going through the repair process can put you at risk of ending up injured. For a fitness buff like you, an injury is a complete no-no as it can certainly put your goals to a halt.
Refrain from engaging in forms of exercise that target the same group of muscles you intensively worked out the day before. If there’s pain during the activity, it’s a clear sign that your muscles are screaming for some rest.
It Keeps Your Immune System From Becoming Weak
Your immune system is a role player not only in fighting off invading microbes that can cause infections and diseases, but also in having your body repaired — the muscles you exercise included.
Keeping your immune system working non-stop by not taking rest days can eventually weaken it. As a result, you become more susceptible to ending up with a health problem, something that can keep you from being able to exercise.
It Lets You Enjoy a Good Night’s Sleep
Every fitness buff knows that sleep is important as it’s that time of the day in which the muscles get deeply repaired. Too much exercise can put your body on a high alert all the time, saving you from being able to sleep.
Without enough sleep, your muscles are deprived of the opportunity to get repaired by your body completely. Lack of sleep can also leave your mind fatigued, which may rob you of your drive to get fit.
These are some of the reasons why having rest days is actually good for you. It’s a great idea to consult a certified fitness expert so that you may know how much rest you actually need according to your goal, current fitness level and workout intensity.
