[jokemo]

Is it okay to do toning exercises every day, or should you rest every other day as if doing free weights?

I use 4-lb hand weights when I do my arm toning exercises.

Thanks!

[nelie]

It would depend...
Do you feel sore at all? Are you able to do 12-15 easily? For some, 4 lbs isn't much but for others it is a lot.

If you are actually reaching muscle failure, then you need to rest days. If using 4 lbs is fairly easy and you could go past 15 easily, I would first suggest upping the weights. If you are just doing it not to build muscle but as part of some aerobic weight training program and don't feel sore, then you probably wouldn't need rest days.

If your overall purpose is to build muscle (aka tone), then yes you need rest days and you need to make sure you keep your muscles challenged with different weight sizes.

[jokemo]

Thank you, nelie

I was using 3-lbs, but I recently switched to 4's. When I get to about rep 8, it gets harder for me to lift them. The 3's were getting too easy, and 1 pound may not be much to some people, but it is somewhat of a challenge as I get higher into my reps. I do plan to go to 5, then 8 eventually. And yes, my purpose is to build muscle. I have been doing them every other day, but lately I feel like if I skip a day of something, then I am cheating myself of exercise I could have done. It is good to hear from someone else to have rest days.
Thanks, again!

[baffled111]

Not cheating yourself at all; the opposite really--if you are working your muscles to the point of exhaustion, you absolutely need to give them a day to repair themselves. I'm not an expert on this, but I think part of building muscle (toning) is breaking the muscle down and allowing it to rebuild. The day of rest is crucial to the rebuilding.

[jokemo]

Thank you, baffled!
Today is a rest day for me... I had a wisdom tooth pulled this morning, so I'm taking it easy today.

[Meg]

Exactly right, Baffled.