You’re a bodybuilder. You do bodybuilder things, right? You eat a whole lot of healthy food and you lift a whole lot of weight. You understand the importance of the foods you need to be eating, and you ensure you deliver enough protein for your body for growth. You work very hard to cover all your bases when it comes to supplements as well. You use the basics, such as protein, creatine, and glutamine. You also recognize the need for vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. You train hard, eat well, and supplement. However, you may be missing out on one factor just as important as these – rest and recovery. Here are a few things to consider the next time you want to rush to the gym without a rest day, or stay up all night partying.

Your muscles need to recover

They might feel invincible, but they’re just tissue. You can cut any muscle group in the body with a pair of scissors. Even though they may allow you to move hundreds of pounds, they’re still just clusters of fibrous mass. They develop wear and tear over time, and the need for weekly rest day, nightly periods of sleep, and occasional breaks of 1 to 3 weeks each year is undeniable. You’re only human, and so are your muscles. Give them a break.

Your central nervous system needs to recover

The many millions of nerves and sensors in your body which deliver recovery resources for your training are constantly at work. They are known as the central nervous system, or CNS. When you have a bad day at the job, they deliver untold resources to help repair your mental processes. When a leg day is particularly excruciating, the CNS is there to deliver resources to your legs and to your brain to ensure you grow. When you are exposed to the flu bug, your CNS kicks in to help your body build its immunity. The CNS is at work 24/7 helping your body to recover from the rigors of your lifestyle. Help it to perform at its best by giving your body breaks whenever possible.

Your muscle receptors need breaks

If you’re familiar with steroids, you know that users must cycle off of steroids every few months in order for them to maintain their effectiveness. Staying ‘on’ forever results in a dependence upon steroids which no longer lead to any new gains, and can cause a deterioration of the internal organs due to the toxins present in the steroids. Your muscle receptors need breaks from steroid, and likewise they need breaks from actual training. There comes a time in every man’s training when he reaches a plateau in which he is unable to make new gains. When this time arrives for you, start by ensuring you are getting 8 hours of sleep per night. Then check to see if you are giving yourself at least two full “real” rest days each week. Finally, take a few weeks off of the weights each year for a full body recovery phase.

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