Brain Battle!

[EmilyBee]

I say that I'll exercise 5 days out of seven. I tend to make my weekends the rest days. While I like not doing the exercise, I also crave it. I am scared to up exercise to 7 days in case I set myself up for failure.

I also use my rest days to allow my body to recover. I'm wondering if it might be better for me to concentrate on one body area per day but still exercise 7 days so that way I don't get bored, I don't feel lazy AND my muscle groups get a proper chance to recover as I'll be focusing on different parts.

Hhmmmm - :confused

What should I do, what's better for my body?

Also, if I should focus on different body areas, anyone have any decent DVD's I could get because I'm not too good at sitting at home with weights, I don't know what to do with them past the basics and I can't afford the gym. Please bear in mind that I'm from the UK, things like slim in 6 aren't available here - I've checked :anger

Many thanks!

[Jake]

You will hear 100's of different opinions on this question so it can get confusing. Personally I believe in using 1-2 rest days at least, your body needs the chance to recover. The craving to workout will always be a struggle but once you get into the mindset that rest is necessary it'll be better for you, and you'll have more free time to enjoy that new body you are creating.

Even if you were to only do 1 part per day 7 days a week you would still be over doing it. Think about it this way, when you do one of your exercises, are you using another part of the body in some way still that you've exercised the previous day? You will be using those same muscles even when concentrating on one specific part.

If you feel you are being "lazy" split your rest days up, personally I never use 2 days in a row. You will get a nice workout, giving your body 2 chances to recover during the week, making your workout more effective.

Monday - on
Tuesday - off
Wednesday - on
Thursday - on
Friday - on
Saturday - off
Sunday - on

I don't use any DVD's or any of those things so I can't recommend one but I can recommend a great website.

http://www.myfit.ca/exerciseband.html

This site here will tell you how to target specific muscle groupings within your body, they also include pilates exercises and animations to show you how to do each in proper form. Click at the top in those two boxes to select the muscle or exercise you wish to do. You can do alot with just free weights and a little more knowledge under your belt. Good luck hopefully someone else can answer your DVD questions or others in more detail. Hope this is a little helpful.

[loonatika]

With regard to the weights, go check this site out:

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html

I too think you need a rest day - especially from weight training, but you can still go for a light walk for half an hour or something to trick your brain into thinking its exercising.

You are doing fantastic

[2big4mysize]

I know what you mean about craving it on your day off. Why don't you pick a lesurely activity like playing Horse if B-ball was your exercise or taking an easy walking trail it running or walking is your workout you are missing.

Your body does not need to shut down totally but you do need a recovery day for those muscles you use in your vigorous activities.
Go have some fun play with the kids whatever floats your boat that is a leasurely moving activitiy.

[EmilyBee]

Excellent info there guys!

I have already had the brain storm of moving onto OWL and then this came up pretty much at the same time. I don't know if you all have felt the same way but I'm scared to change things.

I'm going to give all your info a good think before I change anything but thank you all for answering, it means so much :hug