Taking a Week off from Training...

[Firehawk734]

Hey guys,

I would like to know what the experienced builders think about this and whether they do or not.

1. DO you guys take a week off periodically from heavy weightraining, or deload?

1. Do you think Deloading is Worthless?

1. If you take time off, how long is it, and how often?

 

[huskyguy]

Every once in a while especially if you know that you are overtrained you need to take a week off. It is good for you. I rarely take more than a week off, any more than that is counterproductive.

 

[Firehawk734]

Thanks for the reply, any others?

 

[Frosty]

cut sets in half every 3 weeks and take a week of active rest every 12...if you're training for mass, that is.

 

[StoneColdNTO]

cut sets in half every 3 weeks and take a week of active rest every 12...if you're training for mass, that is.

That may work for you, but there is no set rule like that.

 

[Frosty]

Just my opinion....

 

[Firehawk734]

STONECOLD, what do you do?

Pullinbig, what do you do?

Funky Monkey or whatever your name is LOL, what about you?

Any others?

Thanks for the advice Frosty.

 

[StoneColdNTO]

Usually what I do is every couple months is to start missing one workout day a week like this; 1st week skip leg day and do the rest of the weeks workout, 2nd week skip chest and do the rest of the weeks workout, 3rd week skip back and do rest of the weeks workout.....etc.

I just can't bring myself to missing a whole weeks workout at once, and I find this way works great for me.

 

[Firehawk734]

Do you lose strength when you do that at all? Does the CNS recover just fine and keep you from getting overtrained?

 

[StoneColdNTO]

Do you lose strength when you do that at all? Does the CNS recover just fine and keep you from getting overtrained?

No, I don't lose any strength at all, and yes, it keeps me from being overtrained.

 

[rubberduckyo]

I don't compete so my goals may be different than yours. I take days off every few weeks just cause I get to feeling burned out. I keep the compound days and just drop some of the more finesse moves. Usually within a week I'm ready to go gung ho again.

p.s. I'm a lady so this may not totally apply to you. Just my .02

 

[70w30]

Bump for rebutal from Frosty

 

[John"Zane"Ching]

when I took a week off...my appetite grew and was eating like no tom.

before I rested, my chest was 36...after I rested, it measured 38.5
and my other muscles grew..

for me, every 3 months of training, take one week off or more(depends) and kick in with lightsets...

 

[priitk]

I only take a week or so off if I'm sick...no good lifting weights when you can only lift 2lbs when sick. hehe

 

[SemperFi 0321]

Is stress, either at work or at home, ever a factor for those of you who do take time off from training? I have had no choice but to take this week off because of stress. I haven't slept more than 3 hours a night for the past 4 nights and I just can't muster up the energy at 0500 to get to the gym. Hope I'm doing the right thing.

Semper Fi
OORAH

 

[Firehawk734]

Strange, because stress is alleviated (gone) after I work out... Thats a major reason that i do infact work out... .

 

[SemperFi 0321]

I guess this stress has just affected me more than I expected, with the insomnia it has caused and all. I feel like it's the best idea for me to take a week off. Maybe I'm wrong. I'll try to get in there tomorrow and see how it feels. I just didn't think that training after not sleeping was a good idea. We'll see tomorrow morning. Thanks for the input firehawk.

Semper Fi
OORAH

 

[RJ]

I always take a week off, but it all depends on how I am feeling. Whether I am on Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) or not, if I feel I need a break, I take it. You can't grow if your body is saying NO (sorry for the cheesy rhyme, didn't mean to do that)!

 

[Mudge]

A week is nothing man, its actually somewhat common. I dont like going longer than that though unless I'm really burned out or something. Past 2 weeks though I start losing mass quickly, if my diet stays the same I start getting fat. I had a 6 week layoff sometime over a year ago and it ripped me apart.

If you lack motivation though, this is one way to get it back, self loathing during your break watching yourself waste away

 

[SemperFi 0321]

If you lack motivation though, this is one way to get it back, self loathing during your break watching yourself waste away

Just thinking about that is enough to make me want to hit the gym right now. I think if I wasn't so damn tired Iwould.

Semper Fi
OORAH