This is something I've been struggling with lately and wanted your opinions on!

When I have been working out lately, I have been pushing myself. I am not used to pushing myself on a regular basis. Two days ago I ran 3 miles at a fast pace 8+ mph... Then yesterday I tried to hit the bike and it hit back... I was really fatigued. I not do my normal routine on the bike so I was doing an interval routine but really dragging. Today, I am still feeling the effects of the run and the bike from yesterday and don't think I'll be able to do the normal routine... I think if I would have rested yesterday, I could do the normal routine today. So my question is:

Do you think it is better to take a day of rest after a tough cardio workout to get back to 100% or not take a day of rest and be at 60% for the next few days following the hard workout and continuing to workout?

I think if you want to build up your cardio and your endurance, you need to not take a day off and push through it. You are feeling like that because you aren't used to it and the only way to make that better is to push through it and do it. After a while, you will get used to it and your body will respond and not be as tired. If you continue to take days off between workouts, your body will never get used to it and you'll have this same problem forever. I'm not saying to go 7 days in a row. Workout on the weekdays, and look forward to taking a break on the weekends.

Well I haven't been able to get to the point of pushing myself super hard yet, but I can tell you that I have been tired every day after my workouts. I do not think I can do the same thing I did before but then I get on the machine and my body tells me if I actually can or cannot. I do not see the problem of trying to test your body to see how much it can do! Whether I want to or not, that is the question! That is why I put that I have been tired lately but still doing my exercise. I guess you just have to ask yourself if you have enough willpower to push through your body pain because I remember reading some things Tammy wrote about your mind wanting to quit before your body. I am using that and it has been working for me.

Ask yourself if it is just in your mind or is it in your body. If it is in your body you do not have a choice, you have to rest. If it is in your mind, the choice is yours to make!

Thank you Tammy, that is a lesson I learned from your post.

You're welcome, Junior!

Just remember, you will never know what you are capable of doing until you push yourself past the limits that your mind has made up for you!

I knew the answer... I just wasn't feeling like pushing myself that day... I think we are all guilty of taking a day or two off mentally. I think it is okay once in a while but I won't be making a habit of it. Thanks for keeping me honest guys!

Do you ever get those days where you know that something is not right, that you're mentally fatigued but it has nothing to do with your body? I can't seem to push myself on those days... I can push myself when my body is tired a lot easier! Any suggestions on that???

I think the key on those days is just getting yourself to the gym. I have the days where I am at home and am just dreading go to the gym. Finally, after I make myself go to the gym, it's not so bad once I am actually there. For me, getting myself out of the house to go to the gym is sometimes the hard part!

I agree... getting to the gym is the hardest part... doing the exercise is not as hard as deciding to go!

It's all in your mind (mine too!)... on some days, when you are at home thinking about having to go to the gym to work out, you dread it because you think it is going to feel bad and tiring... but I've learned, if you actually make yourself get to the gym on those days, you realize, working out still actually feels good! And it feels extra good after you've completed your workout on those types of days because you were thinking about not even going in the first place!!