Rest & Recovery

Many of the clients that I work with have vacillated between watching everything they eat and exercising every day, and ignoring diet and exercise completely.  They really struggle with achieving balance, particularly when it comes to exercise, but they need adequate rest and recovery to meet their goals.  Inadequate rest can stall weight loss and increase the risk of injury.  

After a certain point, which differs for everyone, more exercise is not better.  We all need some rest and recovery to maximize our performance and our nutrition goals.  If you work out every day, you likely aren't going to achieve your physical or nutrition goals as quickly as if you give yourself a day to relax and recover once or twice a week.  That doesn't mean you need to be a couch potato, but try to have at least one day a week where you do not elevate your heart rate or lift weights.  Yoga, gentle swimming or biking, and long walks are all great for recovery days.

How do you figure out what balance is right for you?  Well, take notes!  Keep a log of how you feel and recover, as well as what your weight is doing if weight loss is a goal, for a week or two with one workout schedule, then add another day of recovery in and see what happens over the next two weeks.  Keep tinkering with that schedule until you feel like you are maximizing your performance and your nutrition goals, and adjust as needed over time.  Remember, adequate rest and recovery will allow you to make the most out of each workout and each meal.