{"id":50112,"title":"How long to rest muscles between workouts.","description":"How long should you rest your muscles between workout. according the legend that is Jay cutler the 4 x Mr Olympia champion the ideal rest period is 72 hours. If you train chest Monday then wait until Thursday before hitting it again. Check out the gym days latest gym training blog from TGD.","content":"<h2><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/jqwzzki18bzh7jg3p9jquzix5ut6aljucbiglzyel5jardmw.png.png?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"Drawing of Jay Cutler posing with a black vest on with the number 72 on the front in big bold numbers to show the rest period for muscles for training again according to the 4 time Mr olympia champion.\" title=\"Drawing of Jay Cutler posing with a black vest on with the number 72 on the front in big bold numbers to show the rest period for muscles for training again according to the 4 time Mr olympia champion.\" \/><strong><u>Why Jay Cutler Recommends 72 Hours of Rest Between Workouts.<\/u><\/strong><\/h2><blockquote><p>Overtraining kills gains - and 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler knows it. His go-to rule? Rest each muscle group for 72 hours before hitting it again. This is very important to over all success and gains you are chasing..<\/p><p>In this blog, we break down why 72 is the magic number, how to build your split around it, and how it inspired our latest drop - the 72 Vest by The Gym Days as shown in the blog image\u2026<\/p><p>Train smart. Grow harder. Rest correct.<\/p><\/blockquote><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/product\/jay-cutler-72-hour-rest-vest\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/b4dteh6lwk0fvan1xh5vkcs6jotewovjv7rsd8ha5pimknni.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"b4dteh6lwk0fvan1xh5vkcs6jotewovjv7rsd8ha5pimknni.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;v=2\" \/><\/u><\/a><\/p><h2><strong><u>Why Muscle Recovery Time Matters<\/u><\/strong><\/h2><h3>What Is Muscle Recovery?<\/h3><p>Muscle recovery is the essential downtime your body needs after training and is something overlooked by many gym goers. When you lift weights or perform resistance exercises, you're causing micro-tears in muscle fibres. The recovery period is when those tears repair and grow stronger, making rest just as important as your workouts. It is probably the 2nd most important aspect of gym training after your diet.<\/p><h2><strong><u>Rest Is Growth: Not Wasted Time.<\/u><\/strong><\/h2><p>Contrary to the \u201cno days off\u201d mindset, rest is not a sign of weakness. In fact, legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler recommends 72 hours between training the same body part - that\u2019s three full days of rest. per body part so you can still train the next day but make sure you dont train the same muscle group. If you do the PPL schedule then this will allow the perfect amount of rest when you add the rest day as day 4.<\/p><p><\/p><blockquote><p style=\"text-align:center;\">The 72-Hour Rule: Jay Cutler\u2019s Golden Standard<\/p><\/blockquote><p><\/p><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/product\/72-hour-rest-hat-cap\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/f15a183ed1679efaf2d357213961f501dd0381fe6a7cd653.png.png?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"black organic cap with 72 printed on the front in a gold colour to represent the jay cutler 72 hour rest rule.\" title=\"black organic cap with 72 printed on the front in a gold colour to represent the jay cutler 72 hour rest rule.\" \/><\/u><\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/product\/jay-cutler-72-hour-rest-t-shit\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/f197b36d8489ed0246d3bd9af97b59aca9499954db9df09f.png.png?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"image of a black organic cotton top with 72 printed on the front in a gold colour from TGD The Gym Days,\" title=\"image of a black organic cotton top with 72 printed on the front in a gold colour from TGD The Gym Days,\" \/><\/u><\/a><\/p><h2><strong><u>What Does \"72 Hours\" Really Mean?<\/u><\/strong><\/h2><p><\/p><p>If you train chest on Monday, don\u2019t hit it again until Thursday. That\u2019s the 72-hour rule, a sweet spot supported by science and lived experience in elite bodybuilding. It gives your muscles a chance to repair, replenish glycogen, and grow. Allowing you to build the ultimate physique according to Jay Cutler and The Gym Days.<\/p><p><\/p><h3>Should Everyone Follow the 72 hour rest rule?<\/h3><p><\/p><p>Not necessarily. Beginners may need even more time (up to 96 hours), while seasoned athletes on a body part split may be fine with exactly 72. The Gym Days recommends listening to your body and tracking soreness, fatigue, and performance. Some sources say that If the right amount of rest is achieved you could get away with 48 hours but I wouldn\u2019t suggest this to often, it is possible but the gym days recommends sticking to the jay cutler 72 hour rest rule.<\/p><p><\/p><blockquote><p style=\"text-align:center;\">All roads lead to the same outcome: don\u2019t train the same muscle too soon.<\/p><\/blockquote><p><\/p><h2><u>How to Plan Your Workouts Around Recovery.<\/u><\/h2><p><\/p><h3>Try a Smart Split Routine<\/h3><p><\/p><blockquote><p style=\"text-align:center;\">One of the best ways to allow proper recovery is to train different body parts on different days. For example:<\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\">Monday: Chest &amp; triceps<\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\">Tuesday: Back &amp; biceps<\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\">Wednesday: Legs<\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\">Thursday: Shoulders<\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align:center;\">Friday: Core &amp; arms<\/p><\/blockquote><p><\/p><p><\/p><p>This gives each muscle ample recovery time while keeping your week active.<\/p><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/product\/oversized-72-top\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/cpqr5qixo3quhhqduuysyxbbocuojuvvkmavkwpgbvkom7qz.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;project=the-gym-days-139574&amp;v=2\" alt=\"image of a black oversized organic top on top of a green box with a green background with the number 72 in gold printed on the front from TGD The Gym Days.\" title=\"image of a black oversized organic top on top of a green box with a green background with the number 72 in gold printed on the front from TGD The Gym Days.\" \/><\/u><\/a><\/p><h2><u>Active Rest vs. Complete Rest<\/u><\/h2><p><\/p><p>Active rest means light movement like walking, stretching, or yoga. It keeps blood flowing without stressing the body. Don\u2019t feel like you have to stay still - just avoid hitting the same muscle group with weights.<\/p><p><\/p><h2><u>The Gym Days Tip.<\/u><\/h2><p><\/p><p>Wear TGD clothing to signal what you\u2019re training today - and what you\u2019re letting recover. It\u2019s a smart, simple way to communicate your workout plan to yourself (and others).<\/p><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/collection\/back-day-sustainable-workout-wear\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/osntohwuvzpf0rdo1ht9maw4zoxtxklbkiaes3iramsx3lwa.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"image of a man wearing a black vest with back day printed on the back in a red to white fade from TGD The Gym Days.\" title=\"image of a man wearing a black vest with back day printed on the back in a red to white fade from TGD The Gym Days.\" \/><\/u><\/a><\/p><h3>Signs You Haven\u2019t Rested Enough<\/h3><p>Soreness That Won\u2019t Go Away<\/p><p>If your muscles are still sore after 48 hours, especially deep soreness or stiffness, that\u2019s a sign you need more recovery. Pushing through can lead to injuries or plateaus.<\/p><p><\/p><h3>Fatigue and Poor Performance<\/h3><p>Are you lifting less than usual? Feeling unusually tired? Struggling with motivation? These are classic signs of overtraining \u2014 and a red flag that your muscles haven\u2019t bounced back yet.<\/p><p><\/p><h3>Listen to Your Body, Not Just the Clock<\/h3><p>While the 72-hour rule is a great guide, your body always has the final say. Factors like sleep, stress, hydration, and nutrition affect how quickly you recover. TGD\u2019s philosophy is: train hard, rest smarter.<\/p><p><\/p><h3>Final Thoughts on muscle recovery period.<\/h3><p><\/p><blockquote><p>So, how long should you wait before training the same muscle again? For most lifters, 72 hours is the magic number - endorsed by Jay Cutler and supported by countless coaches. Rest isn\u2019t weakness, it\u2019s part of the plan.<\/p><p>Mix your training split wisely, respect your recovery, and wear the message with pride using The Gym Days apparel. Because rest days aren't lazy days - they're growth days.<\/p><\/blockquote><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/1000-piece-impossible-puzzles\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/utgoxxbnxbiumznigjcj2oztcyqhkbqydgwfnycj4dbopvji.jpg.jpg?w=1140&amp;project=the-gym-days-139574&amp;v=2\" alt=\"large image of a puzzle with an array of different sports pictured with TGD Puzzle written in the middle from The Gym Days,\" title=\"large image of a puzzle with an array of different sports pictured with TGD Puzzle written in the middle from The Gym Days,\" \/><\/u><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"how-long-to-rest-muscles","url":"\/blog\/how-long-to-rest-muscles\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/how-long-to-rest-muscles\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/thegymdays.com\/blog\/how-long-to-rest-muscles\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1750361572,"updatedAt":1751221176,"publishedAt":1751221176,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":138542,"name":"The Gym Days"},"tags":[{"id":3567,"code":"workout-blog","name":"WorkoutBlog","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/workout-blog\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wf4fi6dtmgb2kuabrqvkc3zft4ehxlpevjgzjnqbblnv8tjq.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wf4fi6dtmgb2kuabrqvkc3zft4ehxlpevjgzjnqbblnv8tjq.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wf4fi6dtmgb2kuabrqvkc3zft4ehxlpevjgzjnqbblnv8tjq.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"How long to rest muscle groups.","metaDescription":"How long should you leave it before training the same muscle again. Some would say 48 hours but the legend Jay Cutler recommends 72 hours and here's why.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":18308,"title":"Why The Gym Days","url":"\/blog\/why-gym-days\/","urlTitle":"why-gym-days","division":138542,"description":"what are the gym days, how did gym days come about and why. Back training to leg training motivational and organic tops for casual wear and gym wear. \nCheck out our huge range of vests, t-shirts, hoodies and short sets. All 100% organic cotton for a stress free training environment.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/t2dw98zibwrqlzmcdvq367ixpegamwcz6wojwihc5chwzznd.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/t2dw98zibwrqlzmcdvq367ixpegamwcz6wojwihc5chwzznd.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":20210,"title":"TOP 5 WEIGHT  LIFTING BELTS AND WHY THEY ARE NECESSARY","url":"\/blog\/best-weight-lifting-belts\/","urlTitle":"best-weight-lifting-belts","division":138542,"description":"Discover the perfect synergy of safety and strength with our latest blog on Gym Days \u2013 the definitive guide to the '5 Best Weightlifting Belts to Buy from Amazon.' Dive into our curated selection of top-notch weightlifting belts that cater to every lifter's needs.\n\nIn this comprehensive review, we break down the features, materials, and benefits of each belt, ensuring you make an informed decision for your fitness journey. 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