Exercise Every Single Day? What About My Day Off?

Do you really need a recovery day?

My answer is, for the most part, no. We are meant to move and we are meant to move daily. Unless you are training for a bodybuilding show or figure competition, you don't need to adhere to the "recovery day" day off from working out. I know that disappoints some people because the thought of having to take a day off is almost comforting. What I mean by exercising and moving everyday isn't necessarily what you think. I believe moving everyday is important but that doesn't mean 7 intense workouts in a week. One or two of those can be a simple, relaxing 20 minute walk. What's most important is that you listen to your body. If you're extremely exhausted it may be time to take a rest but if you're extremely sore then the best way to alleviate the soreness is to get the blood flowing through the muscles again. Moving every single day is so important for a number of reasons:


1. Keep your joints lubricated by producing synovial fluid.

What is synovial fluid? Synovial fluid is a clear thixotropic fluid, the main function of which is to serve as a lubricant in a joint, tendon sheath, or bursa. It lubricates our joints so they can move with ease and the way to produce it is to move.


2. Feel Better Mentally

We need to work out to produce endorphins! "Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that reduce pain," says Alan Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. "They have also been known to induce euphoria." Drugs such as morphine, heroine and cocaine are classic endorphin-releasing entities, according to Dr. Hirsch. But luckily for us, there are less-addictive ways of experiencing such sweet rhapsody such as working out.


3. Exercise Can Help You Sleep

Struggling to fall asleep? Or stay asleep? It might help to boost your physical activity during the day. A good night's sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood. And you guessed it — physical activity is sometimes the key to better sleep. Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. There's a caveat, however. If you exercise too close to bedtime, you may be too energized to fall asleep. If you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to exercise earlier in the day. - Mayo Clinic


4. Increase Your Sex Drive!

Are you too tired to have sex? Or feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Physical activity to the rescue.

Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women, and men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise — especially as they get older. - Mayo Clinic


5. Exercise For More Energy

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Don't throw in the towel. Regular physical activity can leave you breathing easier.

Physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. In fact, regular physical activity helps your entire cardiovascular system — the circulation of blood through your heart and blood vessels — work more efficiently. Big deal? You bet! When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you'll have more energy to do the things you enjoy. - Mayo Clinic