Fitness

I typically go to the gym or go running everyday.  I mean EVERYDAY.  I rarely, if ever, take a day off.  My schedule is usually something like this...

Monday - run OR 45m kickboxing class
Tuesday - run
Wednesday - 45m weight training and sometimes tennis (when people don't cancel on me!)
Thursday - run OR 45m jump rope and kickboxing class
Friday - 45m weight training
Saturday - run OR 45m kickboxing class
Sunday - 45m-60m weight training and sometimes run afterwards

So, I guess my question is, do I need to be taking a break? 

You may overtrain your body and actually lose energy as a consequence. This happened to me so I started taking one day a week off.

I usually take a break if I feel tired or weak. I believe in listening to your body it will tell you if it can take it or not. make sure you don't confuse that with laziness though :)

It's really easy to get an overtraining injury--IMHO, the worst kind, by running every day. It takes a long time to injure a ligament with just overtraining, but once you have done it (and there is no warning, no "event" like falling or something), it is a problem forever. Ligaments heal really slowly and badly from overtraining stress/swelling. They remain prone to reinjury. You really only know when it is too late. So prevention is the best "cure."

Talk to a trainer about which muscle groups might be at risk from the sports you are doing. Maybe you could substitute something that is equally vigorous bt emphasizes different muscle groups--swimming, maybe even walking fast.

My favorites are soccer, hiking, and trail running. I use walking on my "off" days to burn a couple hundred cals and get some fresh air. I don't take a day off everyweek, but a lot of weeks I do. It just depends. I try not to be obsessive about it but when you love your sports, it's hard not to be!

Original Post by mkculs:

 I try not to be obsessive about it but when you love your sports, it's hard not to be!

Thats so true!  People think I'm nuts, but I actually enjoy my running, tennis, kickboxing....I think that's why its so hard for me to take "off" days. 

I'm going to try to come up with a schedule that gives me a day off at least once every two weeks and see how I feel after that.  Thanks for the input everyone!

Original Post by misty1993:

I typically go to the gym or go running everyday.  I mean EVERYDAY.  I rarely, if ever, take a day off.  My schedule is usually something like this...

Monday - run OR 45m kickboxing class
Tuesday - run 
Wednesday - 45m weight training and sometimes tennis (when people don't cancel on me!)
Thursday - run OR 45m jump rope and kickboxing class
Friday - 45m weight training
Saturday - run OR 45m kickboxing class
Sunday - 45m-60m weight training and sometimes run afterwards

So, I guess my question is, do I need to be taking a break? 

OK, let's simplify this a little.

Monday - Cardio

Tuesday - Cardio      

Wednesday - Weights and sometimes tennis

Thursday - Cardio

Friday - Weights

Saturday - Cardio

Sunday - Weights and sometimes cardio

It loooks to me like you are doing weight training 3 days a week and cardio 4-5 days a week. If you were running every day or weight training every day then maybe you might have an overtraining concern. I personally don't think I could workout every day of the week without mentally burning out but if it feels good to you, keep it up. As was stated above, listen to your body. If you need a day off, it will let you know.

I personally don't take a single day off from "training" either....I don't think I could if I tried....I would be sitting around just aching to go rock climbing or rowing on the lake or biking on the trails.....it's the way I live my life. It's not like I consider exercise to be something to dread and I don't understand people that do.

...You just have to be smart about it. I ran 8-10 miles every day in college when I was on my school's rowing team and I used to pitch a bitch at the coaches that they were going to destroy our knees making us do that.

...Find a couple of cross training activities that give you the exercise that you desire but allow your "running joints" (hips, knees....and all 33 joints in the ankle and foot) to repair themselves. Try finding a climbing gym in your area!! It's an amazing workout and motivation tool at the same time. The only thing that is required is that you can support your own weight. There have been several moves that I've ALMOST made that I thought "if I were only 3 or 4 pounds lighter, I would have nailed it!!!!" and then kicked ass on the track, came back lighter, and succeeded.

I believe you do. Your body needs recovery time. I was like that for a long time 7 days a week, never missing a day and I developed overstraining syndrome. I really messed myself up. Now I lift/strength train 3 days a week. Never 2 days in a row and do cardio 6 days a week with one day off completely. You will see better results by taking the day off. My muscle tone has actually improved because of the day off. I have not gained any weight either.

Just do it and maybe make it your cheat day with food also and totally enjoy the day. Life is too short.

Thanks you guys.  I was going to make yesterday a day off, but i just couldn't do it!  I love my kickboxing to much :).  I have decided, after reading everyones advice, that I will take tomorrow off.  At least from formal exercise.  We just bought a new house and have plenty to do around there, so at least I'll be moving around and won't feel guilty about skipping the gym!  My mother-in-law is going to be in town too, so I'm sure I'll be busy with all the "family" stuff..... :)

Not to be a downer or anything, but my dad ran every morning for years, and around age 45 he developed horrible arthritis in his hips from the repeated joint stress years earlier. He eventually had to have a double hip replacement surgery.... So, yeah, running can sometimes have negative effects when overdone. Definitely watch your impact level when working out. Your legs might thank you when you're older.

Good for you. I know it was really hard for me to get to the point where I could do that but it really is good for you. Think of rest as part of your fitness routine. If you don't rest one day you will not see the best results. Instead of thinking of it as a day off think of it as a workout day just in a different way.

i just started running twice a week and then doing step class and toning the rest of the days...this week i was so tired i cud not think straight...on wednesday night i was so tired i dint realise i had lost my purse the day before...i took thursday off from working ouit and u would not believe how energetic i was at 11 in the night....so i think its best to take a day off if you need it...