What constitutes a 'rest day'?

[FishTaco]

Was wondering what some other people who have physical jobs consider a 'rest day' for purposes of heavy leg and core exercises such as squats.

On my current job, I usually wear 10-15 pounds of clothing, 5-30 pounds of gear/tools/etc. and end up climbing as many as seven flights of stairs multiple times per day, plus miles upon miles of walking along with ladder climbing. During this, particularly during the last several flights of a stair climb, it doesn't feel like any type of rest day, even though i do appreciate the paid exercise.

Should I lay around on Saturday like a dead roach?

[ChaseN]

Gotta ask, what do you do for a living? I wear a similar amount of clothing and equipment daily as well but do nowhere near that much physical activity

[fz1boxer]

a rest day for me would be a day off or two from the stress of work,along with physical rest not laying around but definitely not what you described.

[Swstock]

Resting doesnt mean laying around.

It means no muscle breakdown ie no gym, no heavy exercise.

It doesnt mean, lay on the couch all day.

[bp7178]

I would agree that it doesn't mean laying on the couch all day, but the caveat that you should get the rest you need. If you're injured, muscle pull, sprained tendon etc, then you should tend to that injury.

For general rest days in a workout plan, I think its important to remain active. Take the dog for a walk, wash the car etc. Activity, but no workout.

[FishTaco]

I'm an electrician working on power distribution, temp power and fire alarm for a 199 apartment mixed use commercial/residential building that basically covers an entire city block! Basement to sixth floor is actually seven stories of climbing since the 1st floor is twice the height of one of the apt. floors.

This is almost certainly the most physically demanding job I've personally been on in four years of doing this work. I think I've gotten some good advice and perspective so far on the situation. I imagine I could get away with most cardio but I'll skip the squats.

[Talon167]

Resting doesnt mean laying around.

It means no muscle breakdown ie no gym, no heavy exercise.

It doesnt mean, lay on the couch all day.

Ditto. To me it just means no workout that day but keeping on with life as usual.

[brickboy240]

I agree. Rest day is just a day with no trip to the gym or running/biking or other serious cardio.

Still might play tennis and will probably do some manual labor around the house (mow lawn, rake leaves, wash a car etc.)

I never have a day where I spend it laying on the couch -there is too much around here that needs to be done and I have never been one that likes to be idle for long, anyways. Probably why I don't blow major money on a nice tv, game system or a nice couch! LOL

[Caduceus]

Resting doesnt mean laying around.

It means no muscle breakdown ie no gym, no heavy exercise.

It doesnt mean, lay on the couch all day.

Yeah, typically I tell people that their "daily routine" is NOT a work out.

By that I mean, it doesn't go above/beyond in terms of building muscle or burning more calories than usual. Sure, it may be physically intense, but if it's your standard day, then it isn't going to "build" you.

[FishTaco]

Well, the Carhartt commercials are actively trying to discourage exercise beyond physical paid labor, at least for guys with strenuous jobs. Have you seen them? Pretty effin lame if you ask me.