Fit Tip: It's OK to Miss a Workout

September 24, 2008

Feeling guilty about ditching your workout today? Give yourself a break!

In fact, recent research has found that the guilt many women feel over missing a workout can lead to disordered eating and/or a reduced quality of life. Remember that you're exercising to improve your life and you want to keep progressing to improve your overall health; beating yourself up over skipping the gym is not the way to go. A few missed workouts are nothing to get upset about, just try to make it a rule to not go without doing anything active for two weeks.

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21 Comments

mtiger 4 years

I work out Monday through Friday. 2 days off on the weekend...I don't feel guilty at all about it!

yasume 4 years

I schedule two days off a week just not in a row. On my days off, I just make sure that I continue to eat healthy. Okay, I will admit that on one of those off days, I tend to give into my sweet cravings.I have tendenitis in my foot and a degenerative disc in my neck so I have to be careful not to over do the working out.

yasume 4 years

I schedule two days off a week just not in a row. On my days off, I just make sure that I continue to eat healthy. Okay, I will admit that on one of those off days, I tend to give into my sweet cravings. I have tendenitis in my foot and a degenerative disc in my neck so I have to be careful not to over do the working out.

mrscaru 4 years

I work out five times a week, usually doing yoga. I feel so much better mentally and physically when I do yoga so I don't like to miss it, but I also need time to rest. I try to only do workouts that I really love (like yoga and hiking) and don't stress about the rest of it.

mrscaru 4 years

Spectra 4 years

I try to combat that guilty feeling by purposely scheduling days off from working out. Ususally I take one day per week off, but sometimes I take two days off in a week, if I'm really busy. As long as I don't take two or more days off in a row, I try not to stress out about it too much. When I do take off from working out, I cut down on my carbs a bit and increase my protein to help myself recover.

Glittersniffer 4 years

On days I "take off", I just make extra careful food choices. I still contribute to my well being, just not by gym time.

Smilesp 4 years

This is totally relevant for me right now. I'm on vacation and the weather has been bad so I haven't been able to walk or run or do anything really! At home I'm very loyal to my workout schedule so I guess its ok!

Lo Lo 4 years

This is SO me right now at this very moment. I'm sick with a cold and yesterday my sister came home from our weekly pilates class, and I was so jealous of her! I'm having the hardest time not going to work out.

lilCROAT03 4 years

sometimes i run around so much with my job that i feel ok skipping cardio bc i know walking fast thru crowds in heels = 40 min elliptical anyways.... hehehe ;)

Renee3327 4 years

I don't make myself feel guilty but if I miss more than one workout I just don't feel right. I generally only skip if I'm working late, meeting up with friends last minute or doing something fun so it's hard to feel guilty about that.

runningesq 4 years

It's not just okay to "miss" a workout -- it's necessary! I schedule 1-2 rest days each week when I'm training for an triathlon or a marathon. Your body needs time to rest and recover. Too much leads to injury and burnout.

tlsgirl 4 years

I also make myself feel guilty about missing a workout. For instance, last week I hurt my ankle and refused to take more than two days off, resulting of course in my injuring it even more. I mean, I'm training for a race so I really don't want to miss too much, but I think I need to remember to give myself a break sometimes.

Renees3 4 years

hmm maybe I'm just a slacker. I don't tend to feel guilty for not working out. I just figure it's a day off and I'll workout tomorrow.

ffemt1201 4 years

Lovely 1, your pup is soooo cute!! I feel tremendously lazy and guilty when I miss a workout.

ffemt1201 4 years

Lovely 1, your pup is soooo cute!!I feel tremendously lazy and guilty when I miss a workout.

hippiecowgirl 4 years

I catch myself doing this. I read an article somewhere about "active rest." I try to incorporate that one day per week. I'm still moving so I don't feel as guilty, but it's a nice break from pushing my body too hard.

xtinabeena 4 years

i'm definitely guilty of this. i mean, i strained my quad last week while lifting after a really tough week of training... it's fine 2 days later, but i was freaking out about not getting to finish my back squats. like this was going to set me back. but seriously, i get DEPRESSED when i don't work out. i'm addicted to the endorphins and it is hard for me to go a day without working out, which has led to some over-training issues. and some stressing about getting out of shape and fat, etc.

ilanac13 4 years

see i don't know if it's me making myself depressed about missing a workout or if i physically get mopey. for example, when i get stressed or cranky, i'll work out, and that's the way that i get rid of tension and release endorphines and all that. when i don't work out for a day, i find that i'm really not a good person to be around. case in point, last night i got into the BIGGEST fight with my fiance over nothing, and i also didn't go to the gym at all. the same thing happened a few weeks ago. so for the health and sanity of my relationship i think that i HAVE to workout some how...:)

ilanac13 4 years

see i don't know if it's me making myself depressed about missing a workout or if i physically get mopey. for example, when i get stressed or cranky, i'll work out, and that's the way that i get rid of tension and release endorphines and all that. when i don't work out for a day, i find that i'm really not a good person to be around.case in point, last night i got into the BIGGEST fight with my fiance over nothing, and i also didn't go to the gym at all. the same thing happened a few weeks ago. so for the health and sanity of my relationship i think that i HAVE to workout some how...:)

Lovely_1 4 years

this is me! i need to learn to stop feeling so bad about missing a day!

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21 Comments