Rest question

[maxattack]

I know that there is a standard week off rest term that comes after a long and hard training segment, but is that really the golden rule? I have been off for 5 days and have just done bodyweight exercises and a few short sprints and jogging just get myself going sometimes.

I'm torn between giving myself 7 full days or starting back? I really want to lift today, take friday(cardio)off and saurday off and start back up lifting 4 days a week on sunday....which would be my usual routine.

Coming off a 12 week program and no real break prior too that, do you think my joints need more time to rest? I just feel like a slob after 5 days.

[AFI82]

If you're ready to go and you don't feel like you need more rest, then you probably don't. You'll be a better judge of when you're ready to start back than any of us could be.

Watch for any signs that will clue you in that you're in need of more rest, or that you've rested long enough. Mine is my sleep pattern. Whenever I take a week off, I start to have trouble sleeping the last couple of nights. I think it's because my body isn't as tired as it is during training.
That's one of the ways I know I'm ready to start back.

[trian2]

Rest and sleep are crucial to body repair. And yes, there are so many studies that point to the need of this rest...but as always it is dependent on the individual. Some people have better recovery abilities than others. And some people are younger than others and thus can have better recovery abilities (*%&# them).

Guage it yourself, but realize that maybe after this current program you can go for 20 weeks without a week off, but after the next different program, you may need a week off after 8 weeks.

[Mahler]

Like so many aspects of training, there is no magic number. I have gone as long as 12 weeks without a rest week. It will depend on the routine you are doing (say moderate intensity as compared to heavy strength training) and your own recuperative abilities.