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SparkPoints: (25,938)
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Posts: 2,433
11/22/09 1:28 A

yes Sundays

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11/22/09 1:22 A

I take more days off and thing that is my issue. Each week I start over and start well, but one day missed can mess up the rest of the week.

I am going to try and do some cardio everyday and do some strength training throughout the week so the muscles can heal.

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11/22/09 1:17 A

Any time I don't work out, I consider it a break. And since I only workout 4 or 5 times a week, I guess I get more breaks than I should. Unfortunately, I tend to take several days off in a row...if I miss a day, it seems much easier to miss the next...and the next...

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Posts: 48
11/22/09 12:56 A

Try to get a break so my body can regroup....

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Posts: 880
11/22/09 12:00 A

UNIQUELY_BELLA, I think one of my most workout day is Sunday as I have to climb up and down the church stairs. We have a basement and 3 floors. I sometimes have to run the stairs even in heels.

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Posts: 880
11/21/09 11:58 P

DAVWPHILL58, when I am on vacation I still exercise. I do alot of site seeing and I would use the hotel gym.

current weight: 141.0

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Posts: 185
11/21/09 11:27 P

yes .. i normally take sat or sunday off, and if i had a great week the whole weekend =]

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Posts: 880
11/21/09 11:21 P

Well KJGETTINHEALTHY, after my surgery I got up and walked the next day in the hospital. That is what the Doctors instructed and the Nurses came and took me for a walk twice the same day, then when my daughter came I walked, my doctor also walked me half the length. They say the sooner you walk the better it is for you and I really think that is true because it helped me. I came home after spending 5 days in the hospital and I still continued to walk indoor and outdoor. I would walk around my pool two times, then I would increase it the next day and so on. I would be in bed with two cans of milk or corn, due to was instructed not to lift more than a gallon of water or milk.

current weight: 141.0

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11/21/09 11:10 P

I will be taking a break tomorrow. I have logged almost 70 miles walking this week. My body is tired and needs a rest.

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11/21/09 10:49 P

Yes I always take off a few days a month.That's good for the body.It does need a rest every now an them.

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Posts: 880
11/21/09 10:23 P

VENKEY, When I am fasting I still exercise. It may not he a strick exercise but I will do some.

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11/21/09 5:42 P

all the time

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11/21/09 4:13 P

yes. if i am sick or just need ME time

Posts: 1,230
11/21/09 3:35 P

heal well!

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Posts: 3,664
11/21/09 3:03 P

i try not to take too much time off cause I walk a fine line. I've been walking it for months now. Now I am on a break cause i just had back surgery this past Wednesday. I can't exercise ie..running for 3 weeks. I can walk..but running, yoga are out for a little bit though.

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Posts: 1,230
11/21/09 2:28 P

i've learned the hard way from an overuse injury that if i don't want to be side-lined completely i have to mix it up more- so even if i like long distance running, for example, i need rest days from running distance. but instead of just sitting things out while recovering from a stress fracture am swimming. variety is the spice of life!
so rest days from certain activities doen't mean doing nothing.
at the very least i get in 3 miles of walking just in my on foot commute!

Edited by: SHEDDING123 at: 11/21/2009 (14:29)

current weight: 140.0

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Posts: 826
11/21/09 1:07 P

only when sick

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11/21/09 12:51 P

I haven't missed a workout since Christmas of 2007, but I enjoy exercising, so I'm not "beating myself up" by doing it every day. Actually, one of my biggest pet peeves is when closed-minded people tell me that I'm unhealthy, or that I have an eating disorder, just because I try to take care of myself. It's kind of hard, because I get it both ways--there are people who think I'm unhealthy because I exercise "too much," and other people who think I'm unhealthy because I eat three meals a day, and I don't look like an underwear model. But, most of the time, I try to put other people's negative comments out of my mind, and just exercise and eat healthy food to honour my body, mind, and spirit. That's a big part of the reason why I chose "Salutethesun" as my user name. I do yoga several times a week (in addition to cardio, strength training, and abdominal work), and it's taught me that exercise has more benefits than merely creating a deficit of calories. Yoga has taught me to appreciate myself as a whole person, and the world around me as well, and I think that's more important than striving to look like the latest rail-thin, airbrushed celebrity. So, in answer to the question at hand, no, I don't generally take breaks from exercising, but I do make sure that I exercise for all the right reasons.

Posts: 114
11/21/09 12:26 P

one day a week, and i usually take off a couple weeks a year when i go on vacations. and then of course there are those times when i fall off the wagon. :(

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11/21/09 12:22 P

My husband taught me to take a week off from strength training every seventh week, then I start a new routine.

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Posts: 267
11/21/09 10:22 A

yet once or twice a week-other than that i'm faithful.

Posts: 605
11/21/09 9:43 A

Way to go FONDA82. Talk to your PT or MD what you can do in terms of non-impact exercises, like the elliptical trainer ...

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11/21/09 9:35 A

I recently sprained my ankle and had to take some time off- I got bored with not exercising and the time away actually made me more creative in my workouts. Yesterday I finally went for a swim in the gym I've belonged to for 3 years!

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11/21/09 7:45 A

I think there is some conventional wisdom that recommend that you take one day off a week. If you are a beginner - two days a week ... if you have ever watched the tour de france - even those boys take a day off every week.

The other thing I can highly recommend is Chris Carmichaels book (I think it is his food for fit ness) where he recommends to changing of the intensity of exercise over the year. For example - the intensity of the workouts are much higher during the summer (competitive season) than during the winter. Or call it an on season or an off season.

I think breaks (even one day breaks) and slowing down serve a purpose. Our bodies was not meant to do hard workout every day, 360 days per year. You will create too much damage to your bones, tendons, and muscles if you do.

Edited by: JAN_FRANDSEN at: 11/21/2009 (07:47)

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11/21/09 2:36 A

yes i do take a break, when I am fasting.

Every week i will fast for 1 day, such that my digestive system will get a holiday and function well.

When i am in the travel, i will break it, but i will take less food on those days.

Posts: 984
11/20/09 11:57 P

only for medical reasons like surgery but after a week they encourage walking to recover quicker it's true,it worked for me good health food and walking now i'ts been a week and i'm up to speed again feeling great.

Ready to get with regular program just not strenuous i was told

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11/20/09 11:14 P

SHRINKING_MOMMA, it is nice to hear from a fresh sp member. Yes when we burn out we has to recuperate and start afresh.

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11/20/09 10:25 P

REDBUD1, It is great to exercise, but yes we must follow instruction once health issue or issues are a problem. That is why it is always best to check with your Doctor before starting any exercise regiment.

current weight: 141.0

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Posts: 880
11/20/09 10:22 P

BENJAMINSBABY, That is good, you know when to stop and what to do. The main thing is to never stop and don't ever re-start.

current weight: 141.0

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11/20/09 9:04 P

Absolutely. I find taking at day off every 2 or 3 keeps me interested, gives me time to appreciate how working out feels (emotionally as well as physically) and allows me to live my life and handle the things that pop up without stressing that I missed a workout.

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11/20/09 8:53 P

Yes, when I'm burnt out or sick.

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11/20/09 8:52 P

DAWNWS1, Yes I take a break at sometimes when it is called for under strick instruction. I do miss exercising when this happens.

current weight: 141.0

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Posts: 1,003
11/20/09 8:21 P

Yes I always take a week every once in awhile.

current weight: 160.0

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Posts: 826
11/20/09 8:12 P

only when I am sick

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11/20/09 7:16 P

I try not to, but now I have bronchitis and have no air to spare. Not sure what to do, but I will try not to "fall off the wagon" I just got on earlier this week.

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Posts: 918
11/20/09 6:49 P

Yep! One week I'll work out five times, and the next week only two. So I guess that's like taking a break. Motivation comes and goes, but the weight won't go if I don't workout.

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11/20/09 6:06 P

Now and then, like today, I give myself a time off from the heavy work outs. Although today I did walk about 3 miles at a 4 MPH pace. I don't allow the "rest" to last more then a day or so, as some others have said, thats when you tend to say "well I've missed x amount of days so whats another". And for me thats when I slide back up the scale as far as the weight goes. Good luck to you all over the holidays. tclady

Edited by: TCLADY at: 11/20/2009 (18:07)

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11/20/09 4:11 P

I exercise 6 days a week, then allow Sundays to do whatever I want with it. Sometimes I do no exercises on that day, other times I'll walk and/or jog anywhere from 2 - 8 miles. I might go for a bike ride, or stay home and catch up on neglected chores. Allowing myself one day of optional rest per week makes it easier to lift weights during the week which I really do not care for. I enjoy the other exercises; jogging/walking/aerobics/biking/dance/pila
tes/yoga/swimming and more.

Posts: 35
11/20/09 2:37 P

Sometimes, I do. It is never really planned or systematic, but I will take a break if I am lacking sleep and rest. Exercise has been such a part of my life I doubt I would ever get to a point when I don't exercise. So I don't mind taking breaks when I need my rest. My sleep and rest is just as beneficial as exercise. This also encourages me to stay on top of my sleeping habits so that I don't intefere with my ability to workout.

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Posts: 253
11/20/09 1:00 P

I am afraid to take a break of more than a day or two because with my previous weight loss experience, once I stopped I never got started again.

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11/20/09 12:31 P

Yes I take breaks. After a month or so of focused exercising I usually take a week of "active" rest. In other words instead of an hour of Turbo Jam and 20 mins of strength training per day/x5; I would incoporate movement in my daily activities. Park the car further and walk, dance to a good tune, run around with the kids even more, etc. Change things up a bit.

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11/20/09 10:13 A

Today was the first break I have taken in about a month. Just not feeling well, I hit many plateaus, so I wonder if I need more breaks?? Anyone know any truth behind that :)

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11/20/09 10:13 A

I take a break on weekends. Or, if I feel really run down one day during the week (I have a 3 year old and a 2 month old), I will make it up on Saturday. I always do my housecleaning throughout the week. I break my cleaning into one thing everyday. Like Monday, I wash my and my husbands clothes, Tuesday, I wash my kids clothes, Wednesday, I will dust the whole house and mop the floors, Thursday, I will vacuum downstairs and clean the downstairs bathroom, and then on Friday, I will vacuum upstairs and clean the two upstairs bathrooms. That way, on the weekends, my husband and I can spend some quality time together with our kids and I don't have to worry about trying to fit in a workout or cleaning the house.

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11/20/09 9:40 A

Yes, I do take a break from exercising because I have noticed that if I do not, I tend to hit plateaus more often on my weight loss and I tend to slack off if I work out too much. I generally do circuit training 3 days a week and then stretching exercises 2 days and I take weekends off to let my body recuperate.

It pretty much depends on your body and whether or not you feel you need take the time off. Listen to your body and it will always tell you what it needs.

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11/20/09 9:36 A

I have this mind problem, where I think if I take a break from exercising that I will gain all the weight back overnight, so personally I don't like to take a break because I feel like my body is taking the oppurtunity to trick me and store the fat that I ate the day before. If I pushed myself the day before working out to hard, then I simply do an easy workout, such a bisk walking the neighborhood, or even just light weight exercises. Once you get in the hang of working out everyday, it's like second nature to keep going!!

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Posts: 212
11/20/09 9:34 A

Yes, if I've not had enough sleep, I'm likely to hurt myself. For instance, today, I had only 3 hours sleep, so I did not go to the gym. I did, however, make sure to do crunches and push-ups. It depends on how I feel.

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11/20/09 9:32 A

I plan a 7 day workout but I generally do the scheduled exercise 5 times a week. After running behnd a two year old racing from school to school and home to home on my job, then returning home to care for my mom, I believe I exercise in my sleep, at least it feels like it the next morning.

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11/20/09 9:00 A

I have five days a week that I view as 'mandatory' and two optionals. Whether or not I take a break on those optionals depends on a number of things: how busy I am, whether or not I'm feeling run-down (a sure sign I need to rest!), and just my mood, among other things.

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11/20/09 8:47 A

I take every wensday off it the middle of the week and I usually have to study sitting down....

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11/20/09 4:49 A

I find if I miss it's to easy to miss again, hard to get started so I really try to keep on schedule.

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11/20/09 1:45 A

Usually only when I'm sick!

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11/20/09 12:40 A

more times than I care to count, but currently I've been on track with some type of daily exercise. Today I skipped my lunch walk to work. Really missed it.

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11/20/09 12:18 A

Only if my body is telling me to! I have a knee injury, so when it gets bad, I take a few days off to let it rest and then I come back strong!

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11/20/09 12:10 A

Yes, sometimes when instructed to.

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11/19/09 11:31 P

Yes, with health issues.

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11/19/09 11:28 P

Yes LAKEHALL, I do take break from exercising under doctors' instruction and care.

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Posts: 880
11/19/09 10:55 P

OUTDOORGIRL65, When I am sich under Doctor care then I do not exercise. Once it is just a cold or fever. I still exercise to sweat the fever away and keep drinking a lot of fluid.

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11/19/09 7:15 P

Yes I do.I think you body needs a rest.

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11/19/09 5:56 P

yes on saturday and sundays. to much house work to be done

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11/19/09 5:43 P

when I work out really hard or five days a week yes I will give my body a rest I find that I get a better work out. But I only rest one or two days

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11/19/09 5:40 P

Yes, absolutely I do. I have troubles with insomnia, so on days when I have slept particularly little and am feeling physically run down, I give myself a day off to recover. I might do a little yoga if I'm feeling anxious about the fact that I haven't slept or feel like I need to process something emotionally, but I don't go very hard with the yoga, and will tend towards a long, gentle, relaxing session.

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11/19/09 5:35 P

At the height of my "weight loss career" I did three weeks on, one week off, three weeks on, one week off, over and over. It helped break things down for me into easy-to-manage chunks. I believe it gives your body a chance to rest and re-build, and helps to avoid overuse injuries, which is particularly important if you're always doing the same cardio activity. At the time, I was running, and didn't want to over-work a knee or something. Also, I found that mid-way into the week off I couldn't wait to exercise again, and feeling that "need" to exercise really helped to keep me motivated. It helped to show me that exercise is something my body craves for a number of reasons (de-stress, better sleep, loosen up muscles, etc.) other than just something I was doing to lose weight.

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11/19/09 5:29 P

I'll do a rest day on occasion, or if our Sunday's get too crazy, but even then I'll make time for at least 10-15 min. If I'm not feeling well, as happened yesterday, I will listen to my body and rest.

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11/19/09 4:13 P

I will take breaks every once in a while. I understand that the body sometimes needs a break, just like we should be switching up our workouts every 3 weeks or so.

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11/19/09 4:04 P

sadly today

it has been months that I have been exercising (cardio, weight training, circuit training, you name it)

today I am sick and I feel like awful!!

But I am okay soon I will be back to

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11/19/09 3:57 P

When I take a break from exercising, it's more like a hiatus lol. I fall off the wagon and it takes me weeks to get back on track. I wont exercise at all, which is super bad.

However, I will take a day off.. as in if I'm doing 4 days of cardio this week, I have 3 days off. But I dont consider that a break.

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11/19/09 3:55 P

i do 6 days on, one off. one cheat day a week where i can eat/drink whatever i feel like (within reason) and not worry about how much i'm burning.

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11/19/09 3:54 P

I've considerate it hahahaha............

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11/19/09 3:51 P

I just started the biggest loser video tell me does it work

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11/19/09 2:17 P

I am always on a break.. I need to get off of this break.

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11/19/09 2:06 P

Yes. Every Saturday. I'm using The Biggest Loser Video and their 6 week workout plan. It's easy to follow and it's just one less thing I have to think about! :)

Posts: 2
11/19/09 1:29 P

Mostly when I get sick. I was doing P90X earlier this year and had to stop when I got a sinus infection. Starting up again on Monday.

Posts: 59
11/19/09 11:23 A

I give myself a break day 2 or so days a week. I also take a break when I am very sick (although if it is just a head cold, I've found that light exercise helps me feel better faster, i.e. 20-30 minutes of walking or yoga).

I've had to take two breaks in the past year for injuries - first, I had symptoms of the very beginning of a stress fracture in my leg, so I had to stop running for several weeks (I did low-impact stuff instead). Second, this summer I broke my toe (which is way more painful than I imagined!). Because of the way I broke it, I had to totally keep weight off it for 6 weeks, so I tried to do things like pilates (lying on the floor), but because I did not have access to a bike I could not do any intense cardio.

Fortunately, I am doing well now and I love my workouts! I always feel better when I am working out regularly.

Edited by: CAFFEINATED_09 at: 11/19/2009 (11:23)

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11/19/09 9:39 A

I've actually found that a week off every few months - and usually for the same reasons (sick/busy) - helps jump start my metabolism. Personally, I think my body gets "used" to the regular exercise, and by taking some time off, it just gets kicked into another gear when I start back up again.

I'm probably also working harder after I've taken that break.

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Posts: 16,527
11/19/09 8:28 A

In the past I did not exercise on the weekends. But I changed things up and starting this Saturday I'll start exercising and let Sunday be my rest from exercise day.

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11/19/09 8:26 A

i don't take breaks from exercising. i will change up a bit due to weather, illness, or such. but if i stop for a short time i may not resume. old habits die hard and i'm trying very hard to learn new habits.

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11/19/09 8:19 A

I've been a bit under the weather lately so I took two days off, but when I started back again I over did it and hurt myself a bit. So I ended up taking a day off after that. I am going back today but I need to take it easy.

The says I don't excerise I feel horrible, I need to get my energy back! But usually I take Sunday off and occasioanlly Saturday as well but try not to make it a habit.

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