Having week off from exercise on holiday

MikeL93

I am a fitness fanatic, I exercise 6 days a week whether that be swimming or going the gym and have one rest day at a weekend.

I am going on holiday next week and was planning on taking my gym clothes so that I could use the hotel gym a few days but my girlfriend has told me I shouldn’t as this is our only week off together this year to relax and my body could do with the rest as I have a few niggling injuries.

I know she is right but how do I go on holiday to an all inclusive and not feel guilty about not exercising for a week of worrying that I am putting on weight and losing fitness?

Grumpy_chap

You do need rest, relaxation, recovery time as an important part of your fitness and body conditioning as well as for wellbeing.

Take the opportunity to fully wind down and you will return ready and full of energy to make amazing strides.

Even a relaxing holiday can naturally require more activity than you might imagine - all those walking from room to restaurant soon add up for your steps and you could choose the stairs back to the room rather than the lift.

Rather than using the hotel gym, there may well be activities of an active nature that you can take part in and enjoy with your partner.  Plus, you can both enjoy time in the pool together.  

BridgetTheCat

Exercise doesn’t have to be done in a gym. Use this opportunity to do something different - open water sea swimming, beach walking/running, kayaking, windsurfing, bodyboarding etc are all fun but still exercise!

Emmia

And if you do want to keep working your muscles what about some resistance bands, you can use them for many different exercises in your room in short bursts that won't intrude on your holiday.

silverwhistle

Yes, when I consider my last two holidays I've done zip wires, white water rafting, canoeing, scrambling around mountain streams plus paddling in a mountain lake (too cold for beyond the waist with my heart!), 3 cave visits at altitude plus loads of walking, including at night with an Italian blow out meal in a mountain refuge as a reward. 

City walking too, although it's the activity at altitude that really gets your heart going.

kimwp

It sounds like you need to do as your girlfriend suggests to come to the realisation that a week off the gym won't have any significant effect. Not suggesting you slob and do nothing, but take a week off from rigorous training and do other things instead.

Brie

The only person I've ever known who had to exercise while on holiday (and I don't know any professional athletes) was a guy that worked for a moving company.  The job was so physical that taking a week off completely relaxing meant he wasn't able to do a good full day when he got back to work.  I'm assuming that's not you so relaxing should be good for you and help with the niggles getting resolved.

Grumpy_chap

I am not so certain that the gentlemen who worked for the removals company was necessarily correct.

Taking de-load periods is essential for developing both strength and stamina.  During the rest period the muscles will repair, heal and grow back stronger thus more able to achieve more after the rehabilitation period than before.  The individual will notice more energy, strength, speed and stamina when the muscles are fit and young tissue.

During the de-load week, the OP can focus on diet to maximise the muscle rejuvenation, so high protein, lower fat foods and avoiding alcohol (which is a stressor and detracts the body's energy from the muscle repair).  Combined with the mental well being of relaxation and quality family time, the OP will find this a more productive way to spend the holiday than time alone in the gym. 

The OP can maintain low-intensity activity, together with their partner, which will be enjoyable and better supporting the relationship.  These activities such as poolside dancercise, aqua gym sessions, stretching / yoga can all be made as difficult or as easy as the OP chooses - for example an activity with resistance bands can be made harder by doubling up which allows the OP to get what they see as a more rewarding work out while everyone else is stretching the single band less.

The value of recovery time should never be forgotten.

la531983

He could always go to the gym in the hotel as soon as it opens and then it's done for the day. 

I usually do that and only go every other morning. All knocked off before 9am.