Live Fit Tip: How Rest Day Can Save Your Workout

(This is our everyday, right?)

Just kidding. I know, I hear it all the time.... there are simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done in our personal or professional lives. However, taking time to rest can make or break your workout. 

Here are the facts:

Strength training will reshape your body on a metabolic and musculoskeletal level. If you are looking to change your body, you must strength train. 

Every time we exercise with resistance (our own bodies, additional weight, equipment, etc), we break down our muscle fibers. This breakdown releases hormones and eventually builds stronger, calorie-burning muscle tissue. 

Muscle fibers need time to recover. 

If muscles do not get a recovery, they will revolt against you. This is called overtraining. Overtraining can cause depression, weight gain, sluggishness, fatigue, and can result in injury. 

Don't overtrain. 

Give yourself a day to rest, especially when you are building or beginning an exercise routine. If you are adding more to your workout, you will absolutely require more sleep. Your body is actively repairing your muscles overnight. If you are feeling any of the above symptoms, take a rest day or dial it back.  Go for a walk, stretch, or swap your workout for a nap.