The Value of Rest

[BarbeyGirl]

I got to thinking about this in relation to the Grokking Through the Seasons thread, but I think it's different enough to merit its own post:

What part does rest play in your primal lifestyle? Is more rest advisible?

We all know that we need regular days off to recover from tough workouts. (I tend toward a 3-on, 1-off schedule, personally, subject to some variation based on workout difficulty and other life factors.) Sometimes, it pays to take 2 days off on in a row.

But what about more extended breaks? Is it important to give our bodies occasional, longer periods of rest to repair damage? Or do long breaks (two weeks or a month) do more harm than good? Obviously, factors such as leanness and diet will affect each of our answers to this question.

As an endurance rider, I know that it's critical for me to give my horse at least 2 weeks off after a 50-mile race. A couple months' winter break for a fit competition horse is a very good idea, too...but equine physiology is quite different from human physiology. For one thing, horses retain their fitness much longer than humans do -- a three-week break will have virtually no aerobic or strength impact on an equine, whereas most humans will surely lose ground in that amount of time.

Still, I do wonder whether we hard-training types should take occasional, extended breaks from our constant striving for more strength and speed. Thoughts?

[Posy]

Well I don’t now how hard core I am really. I normally like weighted workouts five days a week with two days off in a row. I keep them under an hour, 30 minutes being ideal. Longer “rest” periods come in where ever they fall with what happens to be going on in life at the time. Right now some remodel, so a break from my usual this week. Or last year we had company for a week…things like that. Now in summer though, exercise is much different too. I’m outside with projects so not so much of the traditional workouts then either. Last summer I went months without an inside workout. On the other hand, I did a lot of rock and boulder moving, planting of trees etc, etc so everything didn’t come to a halt, the activity just changed. Guess I pretty much just wing it and don’t try and follow breaks and rest periods to any set deal...more about how I feel and what's going on!

[pkafka]

My answer is a lot like Posy's... I never really say "o I need a day off," my days off just happen when I have other stuff going on. However, there are days when I say "wow, I really need to go to the gym today." All in all that really works for me. Now when I was playing tennis, I would purposely take days off with the intention of being well rested for matches, etc. But at this point, I don't need to be well rested for workouts that I choose to partake in. Most importantly for me is eating healthy, and well on my days off. I feel like when the average person takes a day off from the gym, they also take a day off from their diet. This, I feel, would be very detrimental!

I always try to sprint up stairs, lift heavy things in the real world, etc, etc... honestly, I do not think that stuff makes a difference though.

In the end, rest is necessary, but I feel like it will happen when it happens. I do not allocate days for it.

-pk

[BarbeyGirl]

My answer is a lot like Posy's... I never really say "o I need a day off," my days off just happen when I have other stuff going on. However, there are days when I say "wow, I really need to go to the gym today." All in all that really works for me ... But at this point, I don't need to be well rested for workouts that I choose to partake in. Most importantly for me is eating healthy, and well on my days off. I feel like when the average person takes a day off from the gym, they also take a day off from their diet. This, I feel, would be very detrimental!

I always try to sprint up stairs, lift heavy things in the real world, etc, etc... honestly, I do not think that stuff makes a difference though.

In the end, rest is necessary, but I feel like it will happen when it happens. I do not allocate days for it.

-pk

Seriously, you don't take scheduled rest days? Huh. If I don't self-mandate rest days, I find myself feeling overtrained within 10-14 days. As my workout partner (not the canine one) says, you only gain interest (build muscle) when you leave the money in the account (rest). However, I don't have any problem sticking to primal eating during days off; if anything, I'm more strict when I don't work out.

How many rest days per week "just happen" for you? Perhaps we're simply taking different roads to the same destination. :)

Also, I'm curious about why you think making a little extra real world effort doesn't make a difference. Why wouldn't it?

[pkafka]

Barbey - Thanks for challenging me. I think you nailed it when you said that
Perhaps we're simply taking different roads to the same destination. :). I that when I have say three hard workouts in a row, I do not plan to take the fourth day off, it just so happens that my sense of urgency to get to the gym dissipates. I find myself doing other things, and before I know it, it is dinner time! Thus, some weeks I will take no days off, and others I could easily take 1-2 off. I think that my days off are dictated by two factors "What I have done in the gym, and what I need to do out of the gym." If I have been working hard, but have a lot of other things to do, then I might take a day off. If I have not been working hard, but have a lot of other stuff to do... I will make time! I think this final conditional is what makes me differ - if I have been working very hard, but have plenty of time to go to the gym... I still go, and find something to do.

So I guess my rest just happens when it has to. It is based on external factors, however, and not internal ones.

Deep down, I think that real world effort does make a difference, but not a difference I can notice or feel... Although I have never not made real world effort, so I might not really know the answer to this.

Did this clarify at all???

-pk

p.s. - I like your friend's bank analogy.

[BarbeyGirl]

I that when I have say three hard workouts in a row, I do not plan to take the fourth day off, it just so happens that my sense of urgency to get to the gym dissipates.

Deep down, I think that real world effort does make a difference, but not a difference I can notice or feel... Although I have never not made real world effort, so I might not really know the answer to this.


Yes, this makes sense -- just a different way of going about it, I think. I like the "listening to your body" aspect, even though it plays out differently than my method, which is to make a conscious decision to take a rest day when I feel my body getting weary. I usually take about 2 rest days per week, usually seperately but sometimes in a row.

I hear you about not knowing the difference re real world effort. I, too, have always been quite active whether or not I'm officially "training." I believe it is precisely this baseline level of activity (plus a clean diet) that has allowed me to remain relatively healthy and lean even through less workout-focused periods in my life. I compare this to my co-workers who take the elevator, drive 3 blocks to buy a latte, and circle the parking lot for 10 minutes rather than just walking from a few blocks away...and egads, what a difference! I don't envy their pound-packing, sugar-crashing, muscle-wasting, flexibility-compromising ways! It's sad, really. But you can't tell people what they're not ready to hear. :(

[iluvthors]

I compare this to my co-workers who take the elevator, drive 3 blocks to buy a latte, and circle the parking lot for 10 minutes rather than just walking from a few blocks away...and egads, what a difference! I don't envy their pound-packing, sugar-crashing, muscle-wasting, flexibility-compromising ways! It's sad, really. But you can't tell people what they're not ready to hear. :(

This is o so true, and o so sad... People won't listen until catastrophe strikes.

[tribecalledfit]

What about napping? Mark Sisson has devoted some attention to this topic, and I find it interesting that we evolved as polyphasic sleepers (a.k.a., "nappers") much like many of our mammal friends. Unfortunately for nappers everywhere, the Industrial Revolution came along and ruined all that. I suspect I'm like a lot of others in this regard: I will take a nap if the mood strikes and I can afford the time, but the opportunity very rarely presents itself.

[BarbeyGirl]

Ahhh, napping. I'm like you, TCF. I'll nap if I'm tired and happen to be in a nap-appropriate environment, but that doesn't happen often. Also, I tend to sleep too long (1-2 hours instead of 20-30 minutes) and wake up groggy. Ick.

I've been putting some real effort into getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep per night. This means going to bed quite early, because I get up at 4:30 most days, but it's worth it. I also try to take a "sleep in" (until 7 or so) day at least once a week.

[62shelby]

I was one of those kids that hated being put down for the obligatory nap in the afternoon, then as now, it effects the quality of my night time slumber....so I avoid napping....the only time I ever effectively managed napping was many years ago when I was working evenings and was doing a full immersion language course for two weeks during the day.

[pkafka]

What about napping? Mark Sisson has devoted some attention to this topic, and I find it interesting that we evolved as polyphasic sleepers (a.k.a., "nappers") much like many of our mammal friends. Unfortunately for nappers everywhere, the Industrial Revolution came along and ruined all that. I suspect I'm like a lot of others in this regard: I will take a nap if the mood strikes and I can afford the time, but the opportunity very rarely presents itself.

We are on the same page...

Yes, when I think about this point,I think about my dog's life... nap, eat meat, and sprint. The good life!

-pk