From the article: How Long Can I Take a Break From Exercise Without Losing Fitness?
If you're a veteran exerciser, you probably exercise most of the time. You're fit, you're in shape and you probably follow a regular fitness routine. What you may have trouble with is taking an exercise break, even when know you need one. Taking a few days or even a week off can be refreshing and energizing, but every exerciser takes a different approach to rest and recovery days. How often do you take breaks from exercise and how do you get back on track after a break? Post your story and tell us how you deal with breaks from exercise. Share Your Stories
Over Training
- While I live for exercise, I once struggled to even get up off the sofa. Once I made the decision to change the way I was treating my body, I started feeling better and better about who I was on the inside and the outside, and exercise became a main priority. Although this was a great transformation, I did have to be careful not to over train, which is very common wen athletes ignore signs their bodies are sending them. If I feel like I have pushed my body past a healthy limit, I will know right away and so will you. Over training can be dangerous and it's important you give your body time to recuperate. While it may be difficult or discouraging to have to take a one or two-day break from your workouts, it is far better than being forced to rest for weeks due to injuries from over-training.
- —Guest Harry Johnson Jr.
taking a break from exercise
- i have not done much exercise for the past 6 months owing to high cholestrol and headaches, i only take the dog for short walks
- —fitjean57
Enjoy the Feeling
- When I go back to exercising after a break, I focus on the good things. For example, I'm refreshed and my technique is often better. I'm also in a place to make and see changes in my form that I couldn't when I was in my routine. It doesn't take that long to get strength and flexibility back - a few weeks maybe - so I don't worry about that.
- —Guest OMPilates
One Exercise-Free Day per Week
- I was placed on a twice a day 45-minute power walk schedule when I adopted an adult dog with behavior issues. I loved the changes I saw in my body, but then I got a bad case of bronchitis I just couldn't shake. I now take one exercise-free day a week (my son walks the dog). My bronchitis cleared up, I am not catching colds, and my body feels very healthy.
- —Guest bab
