Scheduled rest weeks or time off. opinions?

[QualityControl]

Hey guys what do you think about taking time off. Like every 12 weeks take a week off or what have you. I have always wonderedabout taking rest weeks and how long you can go before you lose strength. I usually take one when I feel like my joints are taking a beating and I would like to think its kind of like hitting a reset button so your muscles can be stimulated for growth after the rest week but I have never really noticed much of a difference. Just wanted to see what some experienced lifters do cuz it seems like some people workout non stop but I dont think my body can keep up with it.

[Schwarzenegger]

Rest weeks or rest time is necessary for serious bodybuilders and lifters because it increases ur ability to come back strong. U could go all out without time off and be fine but the results u see after just a short period off, I've found, are exponential after the time off.

I usually take about 5 days off after 8 weeks. And every 3 weeks take 2-3 days off. U gotta listen to ur body and let ur tendons and joints catch up, esp if u on cycle. Otherwise, That's how u get injured. Everyone is different, some people don't need time off. For myself I've found that my strength actually increases cuz I've given myself time to heal the inflamed tendons, ligaments, joints properly. This will prevent injuries down the road. My advice, listen to ur body

[kelkel]

Rest weeks or rest time is necessary for serious bodybuilders and lifters because it increases ur ability to come back strong. U could go all out without time off and be fine but the results u see after just a short period off, I've found, are exponential after the time off.

I usually take about 5 days off after 8 weeks. And every 3 weeks take 2-3 days off. U gotta listen to ur body and let ur tendons and joints catch up, esp if u on cycle. Otherwise, That's how u get injured. Everyone is different, some people don't need time off. For myself I've found that my strength actually increases cuz I've given myself time to heal the inflamed tendons, ligaments, joints properly. This will prevent injuries down the road. My advice, listen to ur body

x2...

[baseline_9]

Structuring deload phases is always a good idea when mapping out your programming....

However don't just have one because you feel like having a deload....

A deload comes at a time when progress has slowed and is not moving forward as it was previously.... And a deload can simply be a decrease in volume, intensity or both.... It doesn't have to be an actual break from training....


A protocol I'm having people play with is once a deload is required, instead of doing a deload phase do a short overreaching phase where volume, intensity or both go up followed by a deload where volume and intensity drop off drastically....

[QualityControl]

Very good advice guys and thanks. Yeah I have only taken rest weeks when my body just feels beat. I am not a bodybuilder but I enjoy living like one so my training takes its toll. I just think I remember a long time ago when I was a rook still reading all the muscle mags that jay cutler takes like two months off or a month after the olympia comp.. Something like that and it just made me think like damn can you take that much time off without any muscle atrophy? Especially a big guy like cutler. Just wondering if anyone does this extended amount of time

[QualityControl]

Structuring deload phases is always a good idea when mapping out your programming....

However don't just have one because you feel like having a deload....

A deload comes at a time when progress has slowed and is not moving forward as it was previously.... And a deload can simply be a decrease in volume, intensity or both.... It doesn't have to be an actual break from training....


A protocol I'm having people play with is once a deload is required, instead of doing a deload phase do a short overreaching phase where volume, intensity or both go up followed by a deload where volume and intensity drop off drastically....

That is very interesting and I think im going to try that next time I think I need a break