Hi I was wondering how often everyone here excercises, I excercise 5~6 times a week. I was asking because my husband told me I should excercise everyday, and I thought you were suppose to give your body a day ortwo of rest. Any feedback would be most helpfull.

I exercise 5-6 times a week too, and the day off is really crucial for me to keep at it. I find that the day I don't exercise, I'm hungrier, and tired and lethargic, so it's a great reminder to me for WHY I exercise in the first place. I couldn't do it every day, I think I'd get burned out.

My two cents!

Jodie

Hi, Caseyboo!

I also exercise 5-6x a week (in my gym) for an hour at a time. Then I take classes (yoga and Tai Chi) 3x a week. Then I go rollerblading with my husband during the week, but that's just for fun and I don't consider it exercise (it is, just not formal). It sometimes works out that we blade on the days I'm not in the gym, but since it's just fun in my mind, I don't worry about it.

I'm also a personal trainer, certified by ACE (American Council on Exercise). The "have one day of rest" thing is entirely right. If you are doing a formal, challenging workout, then your body needs that one day (or two days) to recover. When you're strength training you're tearing muscle fibers microscopically--they heal themselves a little bit stronger, and that's how you develop your muscle strength.

Probably what your husband is getting at is the idea that our bodies are made to move, not to sit in chairs all day. If what you do on your 6th and 7th days is regarded as "fun", if it's just playtime for you, if it's not formal and rigid, and if it doesn't involve any intense muscle development, you're fine to do something. No one's saying you have to lay in bed on that off day! Take a walk if you'd like, go to the park and play, ride your bike around the neighborhood to visit a friend. All that is okay. But definitely take a break from muscle work (weight lifting). And, if your body is telling you "I'm exhausted, please don't make me play today. Let's take a nap," then listen to it and respect what it's telling you!

I think the day off your hubby is talking about is mainly for weighlifting. If you are doing strength training, you should let your muscles have a day off before doing more. Of course, you could strength train everyday as long as you didn't train the same muscles 2 days in a row (i.e, do upper body one day, lower body the next). I don't think there is anything at all wrong with doing cardio training daily.

Just my $0.02.

Debbie

It is good to give your body at least one day of rest, or at least one day at a lower activity level--walking or yoga for example. Overtraining can cause health problems.

Myra

I agree with Debbie even though I don't practice what I preach. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing cardio everyday. My husband works out 7 days a week & he looks & feels great. He does cardio & weightlifting. I exercise 4 days a week but would love to go for at least 6. I'm working on it

Have a great weekend everybody

Essie

Unfortunately becasue of health reasons I was unable to do much exercise while I was losing - as a result it took me a very, very long time to lose my weight. I do know that my friends who did do the exercises lost a lot more quickly than I did and are certainly in better physical condition.

Ginaki--in response to the "better physical condition" thing, here's an example to illustrate how valuable exercise is:

I exercise almost daily, and have for years. My weight is high, yes, but I have lots of muscle too. My body fat percentage is about 27.5% right now. A little high, but still healthy. A friend of mine came to my work to get tested. Her weight was almost exactly the same as mine--I was 1 pound heavier--but her body fat was 39%. She does no exercise, at all. That was all I needed to see to convince me to keep up with my exercise routine!