Many fitness fans who want to look as good as they feel may cringe at this advice: Add easy days. Rather than going all-out with HIIT (high intensity anaerobic training) workouts or powerlifting every day, research shows that incorporating steady state cardio aids in weight loss and builds endurance (via CDC).
Aerobic cardio exercise also increases blood flow to the whole body, reduces inflammation, and speeds recovery. Think of it as active rest; relaxed aerobic movement that heals muscle strain. When you’re rested, your muscles have the capacity to match your exertion, and burn tons of calories. Imagine your high-performing body as an efficient machine that can respond to greater force with greater velocity. The goal is to keep your body and mind healthy so that the fat-burning, high-intensity workouts get you closer to your muscular future self.
Because cardio requires less physical and mental strain, there’s room for more relaxed fun. The more you enjoy yourself, the more likely you are to keep up the hard work. Try new group workout classes, catch up with an old friend for a pick-up game, and get out the golf clubs. Having a relaxed attitude about your muscle-building regimen increases your ability to roll with the punches of life, inside and outside the gym. If you take a step toward changing your attitude about how you achieve goals as a combination of work and play, you can boost the longevity of your muscle-building plan.