Haven’t missed the gym since Christmas. Is it necessary to have rest days if I’m doing PPL?

[helen2002]

@paigek91 I think this is just asking for trouble long term. There's plenty of other reasons you need rest in addition to just muscle recovery such a tendons, joints etc that all get absolutely hammered during training. Super common for elbow pain with high frequency training.

Also if you're training with intensity there's a good chance a lot of these sessions won't be fully recovered in 48 hours, it can vary.

At the very least I would take the odd rest day here and there, ideally PPL rest PPL rest repeat.

 

[tp243]

@paigek91 Rest days are preventative medicine. By the time you realise you need them you are too fatigued and training starts to suck

 

[wernerkruger]

@paigek91 Take at least one rest day every two PPL cycles. I noticed over the last year started taking a “rest” day after every PPL cycle where’d I’d just do some long form cardio on those days - noticed better gains but I’m also in a surplus right now as well

 

[justintime25]

@paigek91 Always put in rest days on any program. At least one. You may feel good taking no days off for a while, but eventually, it catches up with you, and the fatigue wall slaps back hard. On that rest day, you can still go for a walk outside or maybe an easy hike, go for a low intensity swim or bike. Just don't weight train for a day. It really does help reset your body and mind.

 

[harpazo777]

@paigek91 If I can train day in and day out without needing rest days, I would start questioning if I’m training hard enough.

 

[paigek91]

@harpazo777 I’m most certainly training hard enough. Each muscle group gets 72 hour rest thanks to PPL

 

[harpazo777]

@paigek91 Ok. Just me.
I mean when I did 531 I didn’t really do deload weeks because I didn’t feel I needed them.

 

[jenny5]

@paigek91 If you’re recovering fine, then don’t rest. If not, rest.