THE IMPORTANCE OF REST AND RECOVERY DAYS AS PART OF A TRAINING REGIMEN | AFFINITY HEALTH
According to Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, rest, and recovery days as part of a training regime are crucial for maintaining good health and fitness. They allow the body to repair and rebuild muscle tissue, replenish energy stores, and reduce the risk of injury.
What Are Rest and Recovery Days?
Rest and recovery days are typically defined as periods without any training. This is usually around 24 hours between workouts for most people. However, recovery is distinct and might range from a few minutes to many hours (such as taking a short break during training between rounds).
Why Is Rest and Recovery Important as Part of a Training Regimen?
Countless scientific studies demonstrate that rest days are essential for maintaining good health and fitness.
Affinity Health Highlights Some of the Benefits of Having Frequent Rest Days.
Allows For Healing Time
Rest is necessary for muscular growth. Microtears form in your muscle tissue because of exercise. During rest, however, cells known as fibroblasts rebuild it. This promotes tissue healing and growth, which results in stronger muscles.
Reduces Muscle Pain
Exercise depletes the glycogen stored in your muscles. Muscle tiredness and pain will occur if these stores are not replenished.2
Reduces The Possibility of Injuries
Regular rest is vital for exercising safely. When your body is overworked, you are more prone to lose form, lose weight, or make a mistake. Overtraining also puts your muscles under repeated stress and strain. This increases the likelihood of overuse injuries, necessitating more rest days than planned.
Enhances Performance
Overtraining reduces performance resulting in decreased stamina, delayed reaction times, and poor agility. The opposite impact of rest is observed. It boosts energy and reduces exhaustion, preparing your body for continuously excellent workouts.
Promotes Restful Sleep
While regular exercise might help you sleep better, rest days are also beneficial. Physical activity raises levels of energy-boosting chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline. Constant exercise, on the other hand, causes an overproduction of these hormones, which can result in trouble sleeping, exacerbating lethargy and exhaustion. Rest can help you sleep better by restoring your hormones to a balanced condition.
How To Schedule Rest Days
Each person’s ideal rest day is different. The intensity and frequency of your regular activity and lifestyle outside exercise determine it. However, there are broad recommendations for mixing rest days into different regimens.
Cardio: Rest days aren’t usually required for light cardio. This includes activities such as walking, light jogging, and swimming. Unless your doctor advises differently, it is safe to do it daily. If, however, you engage in moderate or strenuous aerobic activity, it is recommended that you take a day off every three to five days.
Running: Running is a type of cardio demanding a distinct strategy for rest days. If you’re new to running, start with three days a week. Excessive running too soon can result in muscle pain and strains. If you’re an experienced runner, it’s best to consult a personal trainer or running coach who can advise you on how to rest based on your objectives.
Bodybuilding: Bodybuilding, often known as weight training, includes rest days by alternating the muscles that are worked on. Allow one to two days of rest after exercising a specific muscle group. This allows your muscles to mend and heal. One method for scheduling rest days is to designate one day for each body part. Monday, for example, maybe leg day, Tuesday, chest day, and so on.
To Lose Weight: Even if you attempt to reduce weight, you should still take rest days regularly. Rest gives your muscles time to repair and grow. And having more significant muscle allows you to burn more calories – even on rest days. This is because muscle consumes more energy than fat. Furthermore, if you feel renewed, you are more likely to stick to your exercise schedule.
What To Do on a Rest Day
Consider the following to make the most of your rest day:
Eat Enough Protein and Complex Carbohydrates: Even on rest days, getting enough protein is critical. Adequate protein consumption promotes muscle regeneration during rest. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that a person eats between 1.2-1.7 g of protein per kg of body weight per day. Consume complex carbohydrates to replenish your glycogen stores. Depending on your activity level, you’ll need three to 10 grammes per kilogramme of body weight daily.
Hydrate: Even when you’re not exercising, drinking plenty of water is critical. Staying hydrated avoids muscle cramping and ensures that nutrients are distributed throughout your body.
Consider Yoga: Yoga is one of the most recommended activities on a day off. It is fantastic for increasing body awareness, breathing, and flexibility. It also aids in the development of strength while releasing the muscles.
Do Low-Impact Exercise: Low-impact exercise is an excellent rest day activity. Low-impact workouts allow you to keep active while not overworking your body. They also allow you to enjoy exercising in a more relaxed manner.
About Affinity Health
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