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So, about rest days.

Way back, I used to think rest days meant I was lazy, but boy was I wrong.

a woman in a high plank position

Rest days are the hack we allneed to take seriously, and Ive got three reasons why.

Humans are the same.

During recovery, your body produces the growth hormone, helping muscles to grow and strengthen.

Man holding a squat pose outside

If your body cant rest, your muscles cant recover, hindering the muscle growth process.

If youexercise close to bedtime, this can also disrupt sleep.

The SAID principle Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands is a concept used in strength training.

Man doing a chest pull-up on bars in an outdoor gym

Read the subtle cues that signal burnout for you.

The most effective workouts are the ones you show up for in mind and body.

Are rest days important?

Woman showing core muscles in activewear with hands on hips

This is when all the gains are made, and there are some signs you might look out for.

What are the signs you need a rest day?

This data plays into Readiness Scores which tell you how recovered and prepared your body is for activity.

a photo of women walking together

How many rest days is enough?

This looks different for everyone.

Some people can cope with exercising every day.

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Really, it comes down to the bang out of training you do.

If in doubt, think of your chosen exercise, its intensity and how frequently you train.

If you’re heading into a session feeling depleted, it might be time to skip.

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I would then recommend some low-intensity or low-impact movement on these days.

It’s an opportunity to enjoy other activities and exercise should never be a punishment.

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