December 10, 2007

BELIEVE IT OR NOT rest is one of the most important aspects of any resistance training program. A rest period, usually at least 24 hours long, allows the body to recover, regain glycogen stores, and progressively adapt to the exercise stress, allowing you to reach ever higher levels of fitness. Get at least 48 hours of rest, but no more than 3 days, in between working a specific muscle group. Many people do an “arms” day and then a “legs” day, rotating the workouts each day to allow rest days but keep their exercise program steady. It is during this day of rest that the muscles grow and get stronger, NOT on the day you exercise.

Overtraining is the result of giving your body more work or stress than it can handle. Overtraining occurs when a person works that body part sooner than their body can repair the damage done during the exercise.
Now this doesn't happen overnight, or as a result of one or two work-outs. In fact, regular exercise is extremely beneficial to your general health and fitness, but you must remember that it is exercise that breaks your muscles down, while it is the rest and recovery that makes you stronger and healthier. Improvements only occur during the times of rest.

FACT: regular exercise inhibits or even reverses many of the declines commonly associated with aging.

For comments, questions or suggestions . . . please email Allen