How important is it to have rest days from the gym?

Answer 1

It's very important. When you work out in the gym, while building muscle you tear them. So I would suggest: If you wanna work out, do upper body one day and do abs or lower body the next. This way your muscle has time to heal from being torn and you should do cardio everyday.

Answer 2

Yes. You don't necessarily need to take the whole day off. Just alternate the certain muscles you plan on working, or maybe divide your body in half and do upper one day and lower the next. If you are wanting to build strength and size you need to work hard then let your muscles rest. When you work out, you essentially tear your muscle tissue. That is the burn you feel. You need the resting day to let them rest and rebuild new tissue. That is muscle building. If you want to build up big use heavier weight, at low repetition. And the opposite for staying lean and slim. Use lower weight and more repetition. Remember to always stretch before and after a workout, use proper safety techniques, eat healthy, and stay hydrated.

Answer 3

Rest in between sets is so your muscles distinguish multiple sets from one big set. Rest between workouts is so your muscles can recover and become stronger, because when you workout you tear up your muscles. When they grow back they come stronger because your body wants you to be able to do it again, it is kind of an adaptive feature. Same thing happens when you break bones. Even when you hit them and they don't break small mini structures break which come back stronger so you can hit them hard again. Like the people that break concrete with their elbows and stuff.