The REAL Reason You Take Rest Days
- C Morales
- May 1, 2016
- 1 min read
For some people, this idea may seem common sense, but for the majority of people I talk to, I have noticed that they seem to think more is better when it comes to fitness. They think that working out at their maximum effort every single day is what is going to build muscle.
FALSE.
Training is simply the STIMULUS that tells your muscle to grow. Training creates microscopic tears in the muscle and as the tears are repaired with protein and a good diet, the repaired tissue (think scar tissue) is stronger, and the muscle becomes bigger.
It is at rest when this repair occurs. If you don't rest, you won't build your muscles.
Sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to outperform everyone and we feel that in order to change we have to push it all the time. Not only can this outlook lead to overtraining and inflammation, but it really takes the fun out of exercising.
If you aren’t feeling it, your body feels tired, and everything hurts, take the hint. Your body may be telling you to take a break. After the break, the repairs will be made, your muscles will be stronger, and you will be able to hit it even harder.
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