Need rest days?

[Jimnast]

Currently I train everyday, lower body & core 1 day, upper body, the next day, then back to lower body. I read that one day of rest is enough to recuperate, so if I'm working completely different muscles each day, then for ex: the day I do my upper body should be enough recuperation time for my legs. Or not? If not, when should I take rest days, after 4 days straight training or after each day of workout? I am making progress, perhaps not as fast if I took more rest days, I'm not sure.

[Rahf]

Rest days are there so you can recuperate not only your muscles but your CNS (Central nervous system) and more as well. If you start feeling tired, worn, generally fatigued and not motivated, chances are you need more rest.

I started out strong with 6 days of training a week, I've had to regress that back to a maximum of 4 days a week since my body just can't keep up with the training yet.

If you feel fine, keep going. If you start to feel what I described, take a few more rest days. It's not like you're in a rush anyway.

[mr popular]

I weightlift 6 days a week, but I split up my muscle groups more than you do to allow for more rest and individual focus on target muscles.

Also, It is important to me that I stress my shoulder, and knee joints as little as possible, so I try to keep the work done by those areas throughout the week as moderate as possible. That is the only potential problem I see with what you are doing, is that you may in fact be doing some heavy leg movements 3 or 4 times a week, or pressing 2, 3, 4 times a week.... Eventually it will cause chronic problems with your joints.

But maybe you can handle it, who knows....

The only other thing is that training with that much frequency would require a whole lot of FOOD to keep you recovery ricky tick. So make sure you're eating a lot.

~Brian

[Jimnast]

Ok, well my lower body exercises, consist of deadlifts, squats, skipping, and jumping. My upper body is mainly bodyweight, using gymnastic rings, different handstand movements, gymnastic strength moves, 1 handed pull ups, 1 handed pushups, holding a bar with weights at shoulder height in front of me. Core is just different ab exercises, janda sit ups, wheel rolls, dragon sit ups, leg raises.

Along with all of this I also trick.

[NightHunter]

Food and make sure you have a balanced training program.

[rock_ten]

it depends on too many factors, dude. If you feel like you're recovering well enough, and you're progressing, then all is valid. If not, eat more, see if you can improve your sleep, etc.. and if then you think you need more recovery, take some days off.

[AJCN]

fail :P