This article aims to dissect the misconception around rest days. For many, rest days are a day wasted, a day where you could have been burning more calories, lifting more weight, tearing down more muscle tissue. The misconception that results are obtained only in the gym have stormed over social media in recent years. The mantra that you must work hard 24/7 has created a toxic culture around fitness. Demonizing rest days has caused more harm than good. Numerous individuals complain that they never see results even though they work out all the time. What they fail to realize is that results are lacking because of that very reason, rest days are the reason we grow. Here are a few reasons why.

Progressive Overload, two words that send the world of fitness into a frenzy. Throughout the world of fitness progressive overload is constantly discussed and sought after. It is true, that progress overload represents the holy grail of progress in fitness. To constantly challenge your muscles, forcing them to grow is a recipe for success. However, for the average person working out, progressive overload is all about lifting heavier and heavier. That, however, could not be further from the truth.

This article will focus on what progressive overload is, and how to apply it to your training to yield maximum results.

The term over-training is widely used across social media, where many try to debunk the myth of “over-training”. Claiming that it is nothing but a hoax. For some overtraining is just a myth that people have talked about for ages but have never been able to prove it. The term overtraining stems from the methodology of over working yourself and demanding too much of our bodies. Overtraining occurs when our bodies are not given sufficient time to rest, recover and rebuild damaged muscle tissue in the body. That, sadly, is not identified enough today. Hitting plateaus and not making progress for weeks on end is attributed to not working hard enough, resting too much, and not performing intense workouts. As a result of such a lapse in judgement, people tend to push themselves harder, and demand too much of their bodies leading to burn out and injuries. 

Mobility training, an old but useful set of movements that have recently surged in popularity all over social media. Influencers on Instagram and Facebook have started a rave about mobility training, sparking discussions and urgency among the masses. This has provided a breath of fresh of air as mobility training is much needed in a world where we sit almost all the time. Your body is remarkable, it adapts to whatever circumstance you put it in. If you sit most of the time, your body gets good at sitting. What that means is, that your body gets good being comfortable in a seated position. That is why mobility training is essential for everyone. However, to apply mobility training properly, we must first understand its foundations and movements. Only then will we be able to maximize its utility.

Running is a very beneficial hobby you can adopt because it’s helpful for the overall health of the individual. Benefits range from better management of the blood pressure, regulating body weight to an increase in your lung capacity. Going for a run on a regular basis will help you build up stamina, become healthier and much more durable since it’s associated with building stronger bones and strengthening your muscles.

If we back up a few years, the gym was filled with people that wore just about anything on them. They’d just put on some regular sweatpants and a shirt that was equally appropriate for wearing when you’re relaxing in the comfort of your own home. While this all seems a bit appealing and carefree for some people it’s not the most beneficial for getting results and optimizing your improvements.