Today is a rest day AND I AM GOING CRAZY. I’m all irritable and melancholy
I don’t know why rest days are so hard. Maybe because it’s a change in routine (what on earth are you supposed to do with the 2-3 hours I usually spend training? there are lots of things to do but I don’t like them as much as swimming and running!), the lack of endorphins… it’s just HARD to rest. I woke up early, had breakfast, then went back to sleep… now I’m trying to do homework… I would like to know why I am so hungry if all I am doing is resting
Running and swimming (I even cycled 2x this week) are going really well and I would LIKE to train, except my shoulders and arms and legs are very sore and could use a day off. I know that tomorrow I should feel all fresh and really good but that thought is not helping very much right now!
I don’t know what I need… maybe just to know I am not the only completely obsessed, training-addicted person around here… or I’d take some hugs…
I think ever since I started doing triathlon, I find it impossible to sleep in on my days off. I definately find a change in routine really hard as well. I had a rest week a few weeks ago and the following week just felt really hard to get back into things. Though I find that with my day off during the week, I work all day anyways, and it works out okay. I guess if you can keep yourself busy with something on your off days will help, or maybe make it movie day? Happy training.
I definitely sympathize with the hunger. It seems like when I’m not training all I can think about is food. I’m sitting at my desk just reading and I’m getting ridiculous ADD thinking about something to eat every 2 sentences.
When I was young, I really struggled with them. Now, I really need them. I still feel guilty about not doing something or I make them very “easy” days instead.
With a month until IM CAL 70.3, it does make it more difficult to take those rest days. I feel your "lack of "pain.
A few long injuries seems to make it easier to accept rest days. Not that I would wish an injury an anyone, but it helps one understand the “rest” day.
Go stretch, walk in a park, or take a short hike!
I do a rest day once every 4 weeks. I often go to get a massage on that day. I also walk my dogs every day so sometimes I go a little longer if the weather is not too bad. I never schedule a rest day on weekend. Between work, commuting, walking the dogs, and sleeping, I get a few hours of down time, which is nice for a change.
I always feel like crap the day after. Even when I don’t get a massage, so it is not necessarily that.
Let me throw in another weird aspect of the weekly rest day.
I never feel like resting on my rest day, but the next day I have no energy at all. Does this happen to you?
There has to be a physiological reason. Note: I think the reason we feel hungrier on the rest day is not only that the body still needs the nutrition but also that exercise tends to dull the hunger pangs.
I love a good rest day. Today is my first one in two weeks and it is snowing after being in the 60’s all week. I can say on a nice sunny day it is hard to not get out and do something…
With a month until IM CAL 70.3, it does make it more difficult to take those rest days.
I’m struggling with taking a day off now. I had a 13mi run and a swim planned for today. I “might” be coming down with a cold(: I’ve been training hard for Cal 70.3 and like you said the race is four weeks from yesterday. So I’m thinking take the day off and if I do have a cold it would be a smart move. But I don’t feel that bad and it’s a really nice day…
Let me throw in another weird aspect of the weekly rest day.
I never feel like resting on my rest day, but the next day I have no energy at all. Does this happen to you?
There has to be a physiological reason. Note: I think the reason we feel hungrier on the rest day is not only that the body still needs the nutrition but also that exercise tends to dull the hunger pangs.
We’ll see tomorrow if I am still aching to train!!! Maybe it’s an inertia thing. Objects in motion stay in motion objects at rest stay at rest unless acted on by an unequal force… REST DAY being the unequal force!!! Sometimes after a rest day I will still feel a little ‘off’ - but if tomorrow doesn’t feel perfect, Tuesday will.
agreed that exercise can suppress appetite. (trying not to feel guilty about eating so much today )
Fast forward 10-15 years, throw in a couple of kids, a spouse, and a demanding work schedule. I promise you’ll find yourself unable to define the term ‘boredom’. Enjoy the option of doing absolutely nothing. I’m not complaining in any way, but w/ #4 due any day I would pay big $$ for a few hours of nothingness…
Until the day that I read all the good books in the world , see all the movies, get in touch with all my friends and families, have no work left to catch up with and all my clothes are of this type, I can always use a few extra hours every now and then
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I kind of feel like if I go for a walk, I am not resting. It is still exercise.
Is that black-and-white thinking?
I’m at home on break. If I were at school, I wouldn’t purposefully go for a walk because I’d be walking around campus to classes and stuff (my legs would get stretched out a little).
Currently I am occupied doing homework (it is interesting exercise phys hmwk so that’s good) but maybe I will go for a walk later.
Perhaps consider an easy 30 min spin on the trainer on your rest days? Not enough to affect your recovery but just enough to keep your schedule and body from going out of wack. Plus, cycling is your limiter so every little bit helps.
