The Unf*ck Your Fitness Podcast

236. The Truth About Rest Days and Muscle Growth

Kristy Castillo

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0:00 | 32:43

If taking a rest day makes you feel guilty, anxious, or like you’re going to lose progress… this episode is for you.


In this episode, I’m talking about the mindset shift I had to make around rest days, recovery, and what actually helps your body change. I used to believe taking a day off would make me gain weight, lose momentum, or somehow fall behind. A rest day meant that “I failed the plan” 


A lot of that came from the fitness culture I was around at the time, where doing more was always praised and rest felt like laziness.


But when I got serious about truly changing how my body looked, I learned something big: progressive overload and recovery go together. Training is the stimulus, but recovery is where your body adapts. If your goal is muscle growth, strength, and body recomposition, rest is not optional - it’s part of the process.


In this episode, I break down what changed for me, why so many women struggle to rest, and how sleep and recovery actually support your progress.


Episode Recap:

  • Why I used to think taking a day off would ruin my progress
  • How old fitness culture shaped my beliefs around rest
  • The mindset shift that changed how I approached training
  • Why progressive overload and recovery go hand in hand
  • How your body recovers and adapts after training
  • What rest days can look like in real life
  • Why rest is not lazy - it’s part of the plan



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