Why skipping breakfast could be beneficial for fat loss (experiments with intermittent fasting)

I always loved breakfast, being a strong believer that 1) breakfast provides energy for the whole day, and 2) that it allows you to indulge in one or two guilty pleasures such as a piece of dark chocolate, or bowl of cherries. However, your approach to the first meal of the day depends on your goals, lifestyle, and work-schedule. In some cases skipping breakfast could be a highly beneficial strategy for achieving fat-loss.

What sort of situations am I talking about?

 morning-workout-tips_2

  • People who have just started a fat-loss diet (i.e. untrained or lightly-trained individuals with a body fat percentage of over 30% in females, and over 20% in males);
  • People who would like to shed fat faster (but not too quickly: there is no magic bullet in holistic nutrition);
  • Those who have a low-to-no chance of sticking to a very strict diet due to social obligations such as business, travel, dinners out and so on;
  • People whose bodies have adapted and become resistant to conventional healthy eating schemes, and who have ‘plateaued’ (This actually happened to me after six competition preparation diets over a two-year period);
  • Those who have a good overall fitness level, but who are trying to get rid of some stubborn fat (for example legs and gluts for ladies and the abs area for men).

If any of these cases apply to you, keep reading.


 There are three main ideas behind the strategy of skipping breakfast:

  • Intermittent fasting
  • Fasted cardio
  • Intensive but limited in-time feeding period

Let’s examine these concepts individually.


Intermittent fasting

intermittent-fasting-states

If you are not familiar with intermittent fasting protocols, the concept can be summed up as follows: An eight hour ‘feeding period’ followed by sixteen hours of fasting. According to Martin Berkhan, author of the Leangains protocols – a system widely known in the nutrition world – intermittent fasting helps to:

  • Increase blood flow to ‘stubborn’ fat cells during exercise;
  • Make the body use fatty acids for energy instead of traditional glucose;
  • Suppress Insulin release (a fat-gaining hormone);
  • Elevate concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine (lipotropic hormones);
  • Increase the metabolic rate when resting (the body starts to burn more calories when not exercising).

Berkhan advocates the extended fast (16 hours of fasting followed by 8 hours of feeding) as a powerful tool for fat-burn. I’d like to make a remark at this point:

Usually men respond better to the 16/8 eating scheme than women, due to hormonal differences. Researchers generally believe that women need a longer feeding period (14/10 or even 12/12) in order to support healthy female sex hormone production. The length of the ‘feeding time’ for women also depends on the menstrual cycle period.

My personal experience

My personal experience of intermittent fasting was extremely positive. I first gave this strategy a try 12 years ago when I experienced sudden weight-gain due to an inability to stick to my usual dietary and exercise routine. My job was extremely demanding at the time, and I consequently tried very hard to get back on track. I followed the extended protocol, skipping dinner instead of breakfast. It worked well and I lost 12 lbs over the course of 3 months, but unfortunately my social life also dropped off.

IMG_0652.JPG

A month ago I tried intermittent fasting again, as I had to travel a lot and I didn’t have the option of carrying on with my small/frequent meal strategy for a little while. I also felt that my body had adapted and become resistant to the latter technique, as I had been following it for the past two years. I altered the fasting protocol by skipping breakfast instead of dinner. My starting point was the 16/8 scheme, which I initially found sustainable, but within seven days I started feeling a slight lack of energy. I extended my feeding period to 10 hours for another ten days and then to 12 hours, which brought me to the final stage of my menstrual cycle – exactly one week before my period (at this time the female body requires more energy). Then I took three days off, eating clean, small and frequent meals. I started the course again when my period was over.

The overall result for one month was losing 6lbs and a decrease of 1.5% of body fat without being on extremely strict diet (I continued to eat fruits, berries and even had a glass or wine or a piece of dark chocolate occasionally).


The main principles of intermittent fasting:

*contact me for customized calculations and timing

  • High protein consumption*
  • High vegetable intake
  • Intense training: do resistance training 3-5 times a week and fasted cardio 4-6 times a week before your first meal.
  • Carb cycling: increase carbs* (sweet potato, butternut squash, whole grain bread and pasta, rise, fruit, etc.) on the resistance training day especially legs day.
  • Nutrient timing: eat the biggest meal straight after resistance training in order to avoid muscle brake-down and quicken recovery. If you want to increase the fat-burn effect, skip carbs after the fasted cardio.*

The easiest way to try intermittent fasting is by fasting from 9-10 PM until 1-4PM the next day, doing fasted cardio around 11am. In other words, by skipping breakfast. While you can always skip dinner instead, you may find that you end up sacrificing the pleasure of catching up with your friends.

Don’t labour under the delusion that by simply skipping a meal or two you will achieve a fitness model body. The strategy only works effectively with the right combination of meal planning, food selection, fasted cardio programme, workout plan and nutrient-timing.

Fasted cardio

morning fasted cardio blond with red pants

Fasted cardio is another idea behind beneficial breakfast skipping. When done on an empty stomach, such cardio is a great tool to combat that stubborn fat. The secret is simply this: Your bloodstream is cleared of both glucose and amino acids at that point, so your body burns its own fatty acids for energy. I was doing my fasted cardio as a first break in work from 11am to midday. After cardio I had a balanced high-carb and high-protein breakfast.

However, some practitioners believe that fasted cardio could be catabolic: Yes, it could. To avoid muscle loss, take HMB or BCAA prior to and during a cardio session, and stick mainly to low intensity cardio such as power walking, cycling or light jogging, as you prefer. I generally opt for a long power walk in the park, followed by a 15-30 minute Hatha yoga session.

You can join me every day in St James’ park. Book your session here.

Feed your ambitions

Practicing intermittent fasting, fasted cardio and skipping breakfast could work well together with an intensive feeding period. How does it work?

First of all, your body needs energy to function and recover. Logically, you have to use your feeding period smartly and introduce a sufficient – but not an excessive – amount of nutrients into your system. Secondly, having 4-5 small frequent meals or 2-3 big meals (it’s up to you; I personally prefer the first option, but when I’m pushed for time I always have the option of the second). You will boost your metabolism, stimulating the body into burning more calories during the resting/fasting period.  And last but not least, eating healthy and delicious food is always great fun.

Enjoy your diet.

 Possible Day Schedule

*contact me for bespoke dosages calculation and meal planning 

8:00 AM – Wake up, drink 500 ml of water with l-tyrosine and l-tryptophan powder mix* + 2 cups of green tea

9:00 AM – Drink 500 ml – 1l of water with a mix of L-taurine, threonine, choline, inositol and l-glutamine*

11:00 AM – 500 ml – 1l of water + l-carnitine short with vit C* (take alpha adrenergic receptors short-term antagonist as a pre-workout to increase fat burning effect and energy release + coffee (optional)

12:00 PM – 60 min fasted cardio + 1-1.5l of water with a mix of L-taurine, threonine, choline, inositol and l-glutamine*

1:30 PM – lunch

3:30 PM – high protein snack

5:30 PM – pre-workout meal

6:30 – take alpha adrenergic receptors antagonist as a pre-workout to increase fat burning effect + coffee (optional)

6:30 – resistance work-out (optional)

8:00 – protein shake or post-workout meal*

9:00 – dinner

Tatiana Dmitrieva

 

#Relaxation #food list

Which foods are able to act as natural relaxants and anti-depressants is a question I’m often asked by clients. 

CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Mediterranean Diet probably is one of the best combinations of ingredients with anti-depressants properties. 
To begin with, an overall balanced diet is always helpful. By that I mean a clean wholefood diet with the minimum possible amount of processed food intake. Macronutrient modulation varies and depends on factors such as your:

– activity level

– overall fitness level

– body composition

– body related goals

– lifestyle

Probably the best healthy ratio is:

– up to 20% healthy fats

– 30-40% lean protein

– 40-50% carbohydrates.

We’ll talk about an ideal macronutrients’ modulation ratio in another article in more detail.

Returning to the main topic, the following is a (non-exhaustive) list of foods with calming and relaxing properties:

1) Almost all fruits and berries: They are full of natural sugar and antioxidants. Fructose is the quickest carb (source of energy) after refined sugar, and your body will automatically feel happier and more relaxed with more sugar in the bloodstream. However, do keep in mind that if you aim to become leaner you will have to pursue a diet with a low fructose content.

2) Oily fish. Fish oil is well-known nutrient that increases the brain’s metabolism. By combining fish oil with nootropics you can easily achieve a state of calm and have a clearer mind. Book aconsultation to get a list of over-the- counter nootropics.

3) Herbal tea. A blend of mint, chamomile, artichoke and lavender is one of the best relaxation options.

4) Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cacao are four spices that were historically used as natural mood lifters and relaxants. Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon in your coffee can help, or even simply inhaling their scent.

5) Chicken hearts and liver are perfect sources of essential amino acids, vitamin B, choline, inositol and Iron. This combination of nutrients is one of the most effective ‘cocktails’ for boosting the central nervous system.

6) Despite the negative publicity and misconceptions surrounding the consumption of egg yolks, the high concentration of cholesterol in them is designed by nature as a perfect source of nutrients. Rich in lecithin, vitamin B, amino acids, choline, inositol, vitamins A and E, phosphatidil serine and many more beneficial substances, egg yolks alone could provide your body with almost everything it needs. However, do not exceed the healthy allowance. Have 1-3 whole eggs a day, adding some separated egg whites if you need to increase your protein intake.

7) Now anyone with a sweet tooth can celebrate – Dark Chocolate!! Yes, having a piece or two of dark chocolate each day will definitely help your body to boost its ‘positive vibe’ hormones.

8) Have a glass of wine. Yes, and YES again!!! But only one, and make sure it’s a high quality wine. First of all, it’s an additional 75 kcal of quick energy that your body will be grateful for. Secondly, high quality wine contains a high concentration of bio-flavonoids and antioxidants.

Taken in a moderate quantities, wine can also act as a minor natural relaxant.

And remember; even if you eat healthily all the time and are a fitness fanatic, allowing your body a little bit of what you really love is always beneficial. By keeping your diet 95% clean, let’s say, you will have even better results than confining yourself to a strict regimen of traditional lean and mean boiled chicken breast, and rice and broccoli.

Enjoy your diet. 

Enjoy your life.

 

Tatiana Dmitrieva 

Amazing Homemade Chocolate Praliné

This homemade pralinés are mindblowing! It’s sugar and chemicals free. Once made, it can be frozen and stored in the freezer for two weeks, but believe, they won’t last that long!paleo-and-vegan-double-decker-raw-chocolate-easter-eggs-10-940x705

Yield: about 15 pralinés (Tbsp size), prep time – 5 minutes, cooking time – 35 minutes, cooling time – 3 hours, total time – 4 hours


Macros

Total calories per praliné:  about 108 kcal

Protein – about 2g

Carbs – about 5g

Fat – about 10g


Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond or peanut butter
  • 2 Tbsp Stevia sweetener
  • 1 ½ Tbsp oat flour
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • 1/2 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips
  • 2 scoop of peanut butter/chock whey protein 
  • 2 Tbsp salted peanut pieces (optional for decoration)

Cooking instructions:All+of+It+-+Vegan+Dark+Chocolate+Peanut+Butter+Easter+Eggs

Directions 

  • Split the vanilla bean down its length using a paring knife and scrape out the seeds
  • To prepare the filling, mix together almond butter, stevia, whey protein, oat flour, and add vanilla seeds. Stir until the mixture will become smooth
  • Divide the mixture into 15 equal balls and roll them into a ball. Once they are all round, place them on a baking sheet and cool them down for 10 minutes while you melt the chocolate chips
  • Melt the chocolate chips on a low heat, until the chocolate reaches 40-45C (that’s the best degree for chocolate as, it will give a shiny look to praliné)
  • Using a fork, dip each ball into the chocolate and stir to coat. Place back onto the parchment paper. Repeat with remaining balls.
  • Drizzle any remaining chocolate over the tops and sprinkle peanut pieces to decorate, if desired.
  • Put praliné into the fridge until it gets set.

Enjoy!

Chocolaty Protein Brownies with Prunes & Almonds

Try a piece of this chocolate heaven. It is perfect protein enriched snacks to go. They are not too sweet, and sugar-free, so you can enjoy them without worries. They are simply so delicious that it may be hard to stop eating them. Luckily, they are not high in calories, so eating more than one bar at a time is not a big problem.

Triple Chocolate And Plum Protein Cake bars_

Yield: 15 brownies, prep time – 15 min, baking time – 30 minutes, total time – 45 min.


Macros:

Total calories per portion:  about 87kcal

Protein – about 6.5g

Carbs – about 9g

Fat – about 3g


Ingredients

  • 1 cup any gluten-free flour (I prefer oat flower)
  • 4 egg whites
  • 2 scoops chocolate flavoured protein (the darker the better!)
  • 3 Tbsp sweetener (I use stevia as it’s natural and low in calories)
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 150g sugar-free jam (apple, plum, or rhubarb jam)
  • 3 Tbsp. raw cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3 Tbsp. dark chocolate chips (I love just unsweetened 100% dark cholate junks)
  • 75g pitted prunes (chopped)
  • 30g fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 85ml almond milk
  • 2 Tbsp blanched almond flakes

Chocolate-Cake-Batter-iStock

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 180C degrees
  • Chop prunes into small pieces.
  • Whisk egg whites with sweetener and salt (added salt makes egg whites “fluffier”), until they double the size.
  • Add almond milk, Greek yogurt and jam of your choice. Mix together in a same bowl.
  • In another bowl mix dry ingredients (flour, powder and baking powder, raw cocoa).
  • Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together.
  • Stir in the chopped prunes, dark chocolate chips and almond flakes.
  • Pour batter into the baking form and bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let it cool on a wire rack and divide into squares.

Enjoy!

Protein Yogurt Cheesecake!

I’m not a cheesecake lover but this one is simply amazing: low in calories, high in protein, very easy to make, end extremely delicious! When I cook it at home I can’t even notice how quick it’s gone. 

cheesecake with rasberry


Yield: 8-10 pieces, prep time – 20 min, cooking time –  about 60 min. Total time – about 2 hours.

Macroc:

Total calories per piece:  about 200 kcal

Protein – about 15g

Carbs – about 10-12g

Fat – about 7-10 g


Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1.5 cups crushed crackers
  • 2 Tbsp. melted coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp. almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar free syrup (optional)

Cheesecake Filling:

  • 8 oz light cream cheese (I use 3% Philadelphia)
  • 12 oz fat free greek yogurt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 egg whites (2 Tbsp. liquid egg whites)
  • 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
  • 1-3 tsp. sweetener of your choice (I use stevia + 1tsp. sugar free lemon cheesecake syrup)

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 250 F
  • Mix Filling ingredients! Let the mixture sit out in room temperature
  • Put the filling mixture aside and start working on the Crust
  • Mix crushed crackers with coconut oil, almond milk and syrup
  • Put parchment paper into a form and plop the crust onto the parchment paper.
  • Pour the cheesecake filling onto the crust
  • Bake the cheesecake for 30 minutes at 120C.
  • Then bake for 45 minutes at 105C!
  • Let it cool COMPLETELY for a few hours/overnight in the fridge to set!
  • Decorate with berries, fruits or compote
  • Enjoy!

 

Pumpkin sugar, gluten, dairy free protein Pancakes

I’m a bit pancakes fan. These recipe is, probably, one of my favourites,  as the pancakes are delicious, quick to make (about 15 minutes), and also gluten, dairy and sugar free. 

pumpkin6

Yield: 6 pancakes, prep time – 5 min, cooking time – 10 min, total time – 15 min.


Ingredients
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil (melted)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened almond/soy milk
  • ½ tsp. cider vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 cup almond/oat/buckwheat flour
  • ¼ cup ground flax seed
  • 1 scoop whey/soy protein powder
  • ¼ tsp. baking soda
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • a pinch of cinnamon
  • pure maple syrup
  • toasted walnuts/almonds/peanuts, optional

Directions

  1. Heat griddle to 300 degrees F (or heat a skillet over medium heat)
  2. Combine the pumpkin, eggs, coconut oil, almond milk and vinegar (or lemon juice) in a large bowl. Mix well.
  3. Add flour, protein, flax seeds, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt and stir until well combined. Batter will be slightly thick.
  4. Lightly oil griddle or skillet surface with coconut oil. Pour batter onto griddle using an ⅛ cup measure or a heaping tablespoon. Pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles pop on the surface of pancake. (about 3 minutes).
  5. Continue cooking other side until golden brown.
  6. Enjoy with pure maple syrup (homey) and some toasted walnuts on top. pumpkin5

Enjoy!

SOURCE: http://lettucebehealthy.net/2013/10/25/pumpkin-protein-pancakes/

Kiteaboarding as conscious evolution. Another view

This is another view on kiteboarding as a conscious evolution. Another kiter and spiritual practitioner, another insight, but pretty similar feelings. Guess why? Yes, right: because when you are open to receive the Universe is open to give…

 This is the second article of the series about kiteboarding. We are open for contributors.  


One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.

― Leonardo da Vinci

I give thanks for the vitalizing forces that come from deep within this body, that reside in the ‘dan tien’ as my mentor calls it.

Have you felt being so immersed in a activity that you ‘lose’ sense of time? Yet, felt being one hundred percent connected to every element, every breath, move and sound?

This is a state of Oneness or meditation: a dive into our most creative, playful, powerful self. And the more we practice, the easier it gets to go into ‘flow’.

Like a Samurai learning the art of the sword, the Yogi mastering the mat, the surfermerging with the wave, my journey is about finding oneness in kiteboarding, and everything else. I feel most disciplines use form / technique to prepare the body (vase) and the mind to receive the teachings and, as our progression deepens, the technical aspects can be integrated into the refined art of relaxation, contentment and ease (sthira & sukha in the yogic language).

With purposeful practice and feedback from our mentors, the sport becomes so engrained in our cells, that we can shift into a ‘No mind space’ and enter a state of unity.

I remember my first yoga training.. ‘Embodiment of yoga’ was the subject. I just couldn’t get it back then. Years later, there’s an integration happening from within that am stoked to share!

So today’s Recipe..

  • Get out there as much as you can. Go, go and go. Practice makes master
  • Kite in your joy and ecstasy, in sorrow, loss and everything in between. Celebrate you’re flying, and pray for the parts in you that are dying .
  • Meditate on loved ones, not so-loved ones, allow yourself go through your battles chanting, and dancing on water.
  • Don’t take yourself so seriously, we’re not that important😉
  • Rejoice with the simple act of riding with different conditions.
  • Be courageous

My prayer for us:

Lets become souls with Stamina, less selfies in ‘higher jumps and fancier tricks’ ( These come along as perks), but more about gathering our total focus, determination, and commitment to return to the ocean together as a collective

We can make Oneness happen. – The way of the wild warrior, the crazy/ creative/ wise soul living inside each one of us awaits to be freed !

May you expand our capacity to enjoy where we are, as we are, no matter what.

In the sun, rain and rainbows – we ride.

See you out there !

Denise

https://soulsonfireblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/blog-post-title/

Peanut butter-banana healthy muffins. Recipe from bikini-fitness champion

Since Fit&Treat production kitchen in London was closed November 2016 I received hundreds of emails from our customers and followers asking me to share recipes we used to cook their loved healthy meals. So I decided It would be at least selfish to keep a secret. From this moment i’m going to publish bit by bit all Fit&Treat’s healthy recipes created in Fit&Treat’s kitchen and gathered from best industry experts for years of my bikini-fitness expurience.

Starting the series with healthy muffins.

Personally, I’m not a big fun of muffins but my Fit&Treat’s customers and followers, my family and friends simply love them.


Peanut Butter & Banana Muffins – happy school days flesh back. 

peanut butter muffin.jpg

These muffins taste exactly the same way as traditional school days snack but far lighter in terms of nutrition. I swaped all heavy and sugary ingredients on healthy substitutes and here we go! Try to make this fantastic snack to spoil your loved ones. Peanut butter-banana healthy muffins could be a great idea as a pre-workout snack or breakfast. Let me know if you liked it.

with love

Tatiana Dmitrieva


Macros: 

Calories: 135

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 23 grams

Fat: 4 grams


Ingredients:

1 cup white whole-wheat flour + 1 cup oat or whole grain flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 3/4 cup mashed bananas (about 4 large bananas)

2-3 Tbsp. of stevia or any other sweetener (i never use refined sugar in my recipes)

2-3 Tbsp. of honey or agave nectar (optional for those who have a bigger sweet tooth)

1 Tbsp. coconut melted oil

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup creamy peanut/almond butter

1/2 cup unsweetened almond/soya milk


Yield: 15 MUFFINS; prep time: 15 min; cook time: 20-25 min; total time: 37 min


DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.

3. Whisk together hard ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

4. Mash bananas until smooth. I use mixed but fork is also an option. Add stevia, honey (optional), coconut oil, egg, vanilla and beat everything together. Add in the peanut/almond butter. Add the flour mixture and milk. Mix until smooth.

4. Fill muffin liners half full. Bake about 20 min. until toothpick inserted into muffin centre comes out clean. Cool. I like to serve the muffins with peanut butter and berries. You can store them in room temperature for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze and use when needed just reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Bon appetit 

 

Protein banana bread


Ingredients

  • 1 cups oat flour + 1 cup whole wheat flower + 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1-2 scoops whey protein powder (optional). I use bannoffee pie flavour.
  • ½ tsp salt (optional)
  • 8Tbsp coconut oil, plus 1 tsp. for greasing
  • 1 Tbsp. stevia
  • 2 Tbsp. honey (optional)
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 ripe bananas, mashed
  • mixed crushed nuts and dried fruits (optional)
  • 85ml/3fl oz unsweetened almond milk mixed with 1½ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 lemon zest
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

  2. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt and protein powder into a large mixing bowl.

  3. In a separate bowl, combine coconut oil butter, stevia and honey together until light and fluffy.

  4. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, almond milk and vanilla extract to the butter.

  5. Add crushed nuts and dried fruits to the butter.
  6. Grease a loaf tin and pour the cake mixture into the tin.

  7. Transfer to the oven and bake for about an hour.

  8. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.


Bon appetit 

What the Rest day does to your body. Shocking inside

How many days a week do you actually work out? How many days should be devoted to rest? Do we really need a rest day? Some people believe that the more you exercise, the quicker and better the results. What’s the ideal ratio of rest to workout days in order to maximise the outcome of your exercise? 

Workout days are simple to follow: you just follow your routine. Then, on your “rest days”, you feel like a lost duckling. It is always so tempting to fill them with “other physical activities” up to the top. Do you run on the treadmill? Or maybe do lighter weights? A bike ride on a unicycle up a mountain sounds nice. How about this: try actually letting your body rest.

runner+tying+shoes_crop+for+header+page.jpg

“Rest” Is Often Misunderstood

There’s a reason rest days are intentionally woven into workout programs. In fact, rest is necessary for progress. When you exercise—particularly when you do really intense stuff like training for a marathon or lifting heavy weights—you’re damaging your muscle fibers. And it’s really the rest and recovery that let you repair muscles, and get fitter.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) defines a rest day as a non-training day, where you’re not challenging your body at all.  Some people interpret it as a license for a cheat day or just do nothing—the latter of which I actually encourage if you already work out too much. I used to work with people who took rest days to mean activity that was the exact opposite of resting. They might go for a “quick run” that ended up being eight miles; or do high-intensity interval training right after squats and deadlifts. That’s on top of training five to six days a week, sometimes twice a day. Those are pretty stressful rest days. Of course, these are extreme cases, but the urge to be extreme in fitness is more common than you think.


Refusing to Properly Rest Hurts You in the Long Run

You’ve heard the saying: “No pain, no gain,” or “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” If you work out intensely every day, you run your body ragged. Ideally, your fitness cycle should be: Work out, recover, profit, repeat. The recovery part is necessary for you to keep up this cycle over and over again and be able to see those results in the long run.

But remember, you’re (probably) not only exercising. You’ve got a life, a job, a family, Game of Thrones spoilers, and so many other stressors. These will all impact your ability to recover from your workouts.

And let’s not gloss over the fact that fitness is 50 percent physical and 50 percent mental. I know I spend a lot of time thinking about how to crush my workouts, what to do to get the most out of them, the “right amount” of reps and sets, what glorious thing I’m going to eat afterward, or whether the stripes on these socks match the color of my shorts. All of these stressors will have rippling effects on not only your workout performance but on other areas of your life, too. A little extra strenuous activity here and there isn’t a big deal.

But by the time you really do need that rest, it may be too late: you’ve burnt out. As a result, your motivation and energy levels will get hit hard; you’ll get lackluster or no results; you’ll make yourself more prone to injuries; or worse, you’ll start to see exercise as a chore.


Some fitness practitioners believe (and I share their opinion) that over-training causes massive water retention. At first glance it may resemble gaining fat. However, just a few days of complete rest could solve the problem, and is sufficient time to shed up to 2-3 kg of retained fluids in men and up to 5 kg in women. 


Rest Doesn’t Have to Mean Doing Absolutely Nothing

At the same time, plenty of people have told me that deliberate rest would be too disruptive to their “hot” workout streak. That is, they’re stuck on this idea that if they take some time to rest, it’ll mess up their momentum and be much harder to get crackin’ to work out again.

If that’s you, you don’t have to stop entirely. Instead of being completely still, you can do what’s called “active recovery”, where you’re still moving, just letting your body recover. Many coaches advocate engaging in some sort of movement, but advise that it should be easy on the body.

Here are some ideas on what that might look like:

  • Do some mobility work: Mobility refers to how well your joints and body move. If you sit at a desk all day, you can probably work on your mobility to improve your posture and range of motion (like in your upper back and hips). Besides, better mobility can translate to better performance in the gym, too. Your rest days are the perfect opportunity to fit in light mobility and flexibility work. Yoga or foam rolling can be part of this regimen.
  • Practice technique: Whether you’re learning a new weightlifting move or trying to improve your running stride, use your rest day to practice. If you’re practicing a weightlifting move, I recommend using a broomstick in place of a barbell. A lot of repetitions even with just the barbell could tire you out.
  • Do cardio (only if you want): You’re probably told to just do cardio on the exercise machines on your rest days. You can, but don’t feel like you need to, especially if you’re already pretty active. Do it only because you want to and it’s actually a way for you to feel relaxed.
  • Take your activity outside: Hike, jog, bike, play catch, swim, prance, or do anything you enjoy. When you spend all your time working out indoors, it’s nice to be able to mix it up with doing something outside. Recreational sports are great, but sports like soccer, football, basketball, Ultimate frisbee, and so on can also be really intense. If you’re playing at a competitive level on a regular basis and feel beat, talk to a coach who specializes in your sport about designing a proper in-season training protocol.

When you feel really run-down and lack the energy and motivation to work out, it’s a dead giveaway that something needs to go. Obviously, you can’t just easily toss aside many of your life’s obligations, but you can always cut down on your activity. Instead, you can spend a day preparing your meals on your rest day. Heck, if you want to, you can sit on your ass to play video games or read a book at the park. You should take at least one day of rest like that.

Doing too much exercise is counterproductive. Being fit and healthy requires the interplay between rest and exercise, which in turn bring you results and all those other health benefits. So, take care of your body. That’s why you’re working out in the first place.