As discussed in the last post, I'm becoming more convinced of the importance of exercise intensity in reducing body fat. Yet one of the easiest things to overlook is the importance of rest days.
If a person wants to lose fat, it would seem the more vigorous exercise they perform the better. However, if you don't get enough rest in between sessions, you won't be able to generate as high of an intensity as usual, and hence the exercise will be less effective.
For example, it would seem that three days of 85% intensity, with rest days in between, should be better for improving body composition than 5 days straight of 70% intensity. Even though the latter program would burn more calories expended during exercise each day, the 85% intensity should raise metabolism more through post-exercise energy expenditure, and therefore burn more total calories all together.
For me, I've found it tough to take rest days lately because it feels like I'm doing nothing to accomplish my goals on those days. Therefore, I'm trying to look at it from this newer perspective: more rest = higher-intensity exercise = increased metabolism = greater fat loss.
As discussed in the last post, I'm becoming more convinced of the importance of exercise intensity in reducing body fat. Yet one of the easiest things to overlook is the importance of rest days.
If a person wants to lose fat, it would seem the more vigorous exercise they perform the better. However, if you don't get enough rest in between sessions, you won't be able to generate as high of an intensity as usual, and hence the exercise will be less effective.
For example, it would seem that three days of 85% intensity, with rest days in between, should be better for improving body composition than 5 days straight of 70% intensity. Even though the latter program would burn more calories expended during exercise each day, the 85% intensity should raise metabolism more through post-exercise energy expenditure, and therefore burn more total calories all together.
For me, I've found it tough to take rest days lately because it feels like I'm doing nothing to accomplish my goals on those days. Therefore, I'm trying to look at it from this newer perspective: more rest = higher-intensity exercise = increased metabolism = greater fat loss.