Hey everyone,

I used to work out religiously. Usually once per day, alternating between chest/tris/shoulders, back/bi's and some legs throughout the week. Now I cut down and I'm working out about four to five days a week. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday's are the days I'd most likely be hitting the gym. I'm not a big fan of doing legs or cardio, but I know it's almost a necessity. On my days off, I feel guilty for not being able to hit the gym, and I feel like days I'm not working out that I'm just sitting around getting fat (I usually like to heavily relax on my days off since I don't have to work.) I know cardio will help me very much, but I can't really bring myself to do it all the time. I'm lucky if I can find one day a week to do it. Any suggestions?

If you feel guilty and the day is off and cardio is in your plan, get yourself to the gym and do your cardio. Liking to heavily relax on your days off and therefore not doing your cardio is just an excuse for laziness.

How is your intensity during the days you work out? Moreover what is your actual routine? If your intensity is not high enough, you'll understandably feel like you're not working hard enough, which will carry over to your off days. You can raise intensity with exercise pairings, by shortening rest periods, having a routine that is strongly based around compound exercises, and by eliminating endless sets of isolation.

Hey everyone,

I used to work out religiously. Usually once per day, alternating between chest/tris/shoulders, back/bi's and some legs throughout the week. Now I cut down and I'm working out about four to five days a week. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday's are the days I'd most likely be hitting the gym. I'm not a big fan of doing legs or cardio, but I know it's almost a necessity. On my days off, I feel guilty for not being able to hit the gym, and I feel like days I'm not working out that I'm just sitting around getting fat (I usually like to heavily relax on my days off since I don't have to work.) I know cardio will help me very much, but I can't really bring myself to do it all the time. I'm lucky if I can find one day a week to do it. Any suggestions?

Try and change your outlook on the matter. I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record here :) but growth happens when you are recovering, not when you are in the gym. So, just concentrate on your diet, and making sure you are doing everything you can to give your muscles what they need to grow during your days off....because the days off are when you are actually making your progress. Lifting every day is the surest way to get yourself overtrained....and kill your progress. I know this from first hand experience.

:gl:

Hey everyone,

I used to work out religiously. Usually once per day, alternating between chest/tris/shoulders, back/bi's and some legs throughout the week. Now I cut down and I'm working out about four to five days a week. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday's are the days I'd most likely be hitting the gym. I'm not a big fan of doing legs or cardio, but I know it's almost a necessity. On my days off, I feel guilty for not being able to hit the gym, and I feel like days I'm not working out that I'm just sitting around getting fat (I usually like to heavily relax on my days off since I don't have to work.) I know cardio will help me very much, but I can't really bring myself to do it all the time. I'm lucky if I can find one day a week to do it. Any suggestions?

I suffer from the exact opposite of this dilemma.... I feel guilty if I train too often, and never feel guilty about cardio (don't do any)

But perish the thought about not training legs and the posterior chain! :nono:

Try taking up more active lifestyle on your days off. You could play, basketball, roller blade, rock climb, go hicking, play golf or any number of things to feel the void on you off days. Some people even have dogs they have to take for a walk or run or play catch with everyday you could even go this route if your into dogs. My point is you don't have to just sit around and that you should find other interests other than just lifting.

Don’t feel guilty, if you work out hard enough during the other six days then you deserve a day off. I work out hard for six days a week and do not do anything overly physical on my one day off. I wouldn’t be able to keep up a seven day routine long term, which might lead to me stopping all together, so long term I’m better off taking a day off.

Ya... I also have this tendencies to feel guilty for resting, worst if it is 2consecutive off days. The trick for me is to reduce the calories for non-training days, to allay my fears that I will not get fat during my off days.