Having week off from exercise on holiday

Pollycat

MikeL93 said:

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?

You say you know she's right.
If you're planning to train during your one week together holiday won't you feel guilty about putting your girlfriend second to your obsession?

MattMattMattUK

I have been having a total lifestyle change this year, can count on my fingers the number of days I have not exercised since I started. A few months back I went away for a week away with a friend, I wanted to indulge myself but also maintain momentum, so in the mornings I got up and went to the gym in the hotel, did an hour or two, went back to the room, had a shower and we went for breakfast, then the rest of the day as normal. I was up before her and she was done one the bathroom when I got back so it was a shower for me then out for breakfast together, the only day I had to not go to the gym was an early start for an excursion, but we were doing enough on that day that is did not bother me. It worked for both of us and that was the key, neither of us was negatively impacted by it.

Pollycat

MattMattMattUK said:

I have been having a total lifestyle change this year, can count on my fingers the number of days I have not exercised since I started. A few months back I went away for a week away with a friend, I wanted to indulge myself but also maintain momentum, so in the mornings I got up and went to the gym in the hotel, did an hour or two, went back to the room, had a shower and we went for breakfast, then the rest of the day as normal. I was up before her and she was done one the bathroom when I got back so it was a shower for me then out for breakfast together, the only day I had to not go to the gym was an early start for an excursion, but we were doing enough on that day that is did not bother me. It worked for both of us and that was the key, neither of us was negatively impacted by it.

If the OP had explained it to their girlfriend as you have done, I can't see why she would object.
But if she is an early riser and the OP isn't, or if the OP isn't prepared to be as thoughtful as you or if she is hacked off about the time the OP spends exercising already, then I can see her point.

MattMattMattUK

Pollycat said:

MattMattMattUK said:

I have been having a total lifestyle change this year, can count on my fingers the number of days I have not exercised since I started. A few months back I went away for a week away with a friend, I wanted to indulge myself but also maintain momentum, so in the mornings I got up and went to the gym in the hotel, did an hour or two, went back to the room, had a shower and we went for breakfast, then the rest of the day as normal. I was up before her and she was done one the bathroom when I got back so it was a shower for me then out for breakfast together, the only day I had to not go to the gym was an early start for an excursion, but we were doing enough on that day that is did not bother me. It worked for both of us and that was the key, neither of us was negatively impacted by it.

If the OP had explained it to their girlfriend as you have done, I can't see why she would object.
But if she is an early riser and the OP isn't, or if the OP isn't prepared to be as thoughtful as you or if she is hacked off about the time the OP spends exercising already, then I can see her point.

I agree it has to be something agreed or negotiated. I have never been an early riser but that is also part of the change I have made to accommodate getting the amount of exercise I need to turn my health and lifestyle around. Even with being single fitting in two hours a day of exercise requires a few changes, the biggest one was starting to get up at at half five every morning so I can go before work and then still do the day job and have time to socialise in evenings. 

If it was getting in the way of the actual holiday I would totally understand that would have annoyed the other person, especially if in a relationship and it was made clear the exercise was the more important third party in the relationship. 

Grumpy_chap

MattMattMattUK said:

I have been having a total lifestyle change this year, can count on my fingers the number of days I have not exercised since I started. 

You seem to be missing the importance of rest days.  In order to get continually fitter and healthier and for the exercise to continue delivering benefit, rest days are essential to programme into the routine.  The muscles need time to heal, repair and grow and this process cannot happen all the time the muscles are being stressed.  Each time the muscles are exercised and then allowed to repair, the muscles will grow back stronger.  If the muscles are not allowed to repair then they simply get worn out.