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During the summer months, it's common to take a break from our exercise routine. By incorporating these must do's into your rest days, you'll not only support your weight loss goals but also enhance your overall health and well-being. Remember, balance is key, and taking time to rest and recover is just as important as the workouts themselves.
Want to learn more? Here are six must do's on the days when you don't work out:
Work on Mobility
Let's be honest: most of us don't take the time to stretch before and after exercise. We rush to the gym, complete our workouts, and then go back home. Stretching is one of the most important yet overlooked aspects of fitness.
When done right, it lowers your risk of injury and boosts athletic performance. A good stretching routine can increase your mobility and relieve back pain. It also improves circulation, keeps your joints flexible, and helps your muscles work more efficiently.
Do a couple of stretching exercises on your rest days. Mix static and dynamic stretching to get the best of both worlds. Your routine can include chest and arm stretches, quad stretches, runner's stretches, half-squats, and more.
Yoga stretches, such as the downward dog, crescent pose, and child's pose, will are a great choice too. These movements will increase your flexibility and range of motion.
Try Foam Rolling
On off-training days, your body recovers from stress and builds muscle. It also heals damaged tissues and gets the rest needed to function at its peak. Form rolling can speed up recovery and help you get the most out of your rest days.
This self-massage technique requires a foam roller or Lacrosse balls. It involves a variety of exercises that reduce stress and increase blood flow to your muscles. It's extremely effective for DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), muscle pain and fatigue, reduced mobility, and recovery from injuries.
This form of massage also lowers the stress hormone cortisol levels, which helps prevent muscle loss and fatigue. The best part is that you can do it in the comfort of your home!
Go for a Walk
Not in the mood to exercise? If so, go out for a walk! It's one of the best things to do on off training days!
Walking keeps your bones strong, boosts circulation, and relieves muscle soreness. When done at moderate or high intensity, it burns just as many calories as jogging. On top of that, it's easier on your joints and spinal discs.
A long walk will calm your mind and ease stress. Your muscles will benefit too! This form of exercise works the calves, hamstrings, quads, hip flexors, glutes, and ankle extensor muscles. In the long run, it helps develop a stronger core and shapes your legs.
Go sightseeing and explore your city. Find a park where you can walk and breathe fresh air. Leave your car at home. If you live in a mountain area, mix walking and hiking. These activities will energize your body while giving you a new perspective.
Have Fun
If you're not a big fan of walking, go for a run or a bike ride. Sign up for martial arts or yoga classes, play baseball, or hit the swimming pool. The whole point is to stay active.
Exercise doesn’t have to be boring or exhausting. Dance classes, team sports, hiking, trail running, and other activities will boost your energy and stamina. When you're done, you'll feel like new!
Rest days should complement your more intense workouts and lift your mood. Choose activities that you really enjoy, whether it's walking or football. Even people with injuries are encouraged to get out of bed and move around. What's your excuse?
Boost Your Protein Intake
Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. What you eat on off training days can make or break your progress. There are two approaches you can use when planning your meals:
• Consume more carbs and calories than usual (or have a cheat meal) to replenish your glycogen stores and recover faster.
• Take in fewer carbs and calories on rest days to compensate for the lack of exercise.
If you're a casual gym goer, choose the second option. Many athletes load up on carbs and eat more calories on off training days to have increased energy for their next workouts. The choice is up to you.
Regardless of your calorie intake, eat plenty of protein. This nutrient supports muscle repair and prevents catabolism. It also revs up your metabolism, which helps in fat loss.
For best results, have protein at every meal. Fish, chicken and turkey breast, lean red meat, eggs, and legumes are your best options.
A high-protein drink, such as CLICK® will boost your workouts and overall performance. One serving delivers 16 grams of protein to support lean muscle growth and recovery. Since it is low in calories, you can enjoy it without the guilt!
Limit Simple Carbs
When you don't work out, your body uses less energy than usual. Thus, it requires fewer carbs to sustain itself and function optimally. If you eat more carbs than you need, the excess will be stored as fat.
That's why turning to a low-calorie, protein-packed meal replacement like CLICK® works. You still need some carbs for energy but not all the extra calories typically found in a meal or snack.
Get started with our CLICK Coffee Protein Sampler
