Week off

[73rr]

How often do u guys take a week off of the gym? Or should I say how often do u need a week off to recover?

I feel that I take off a week every 2 months or so.
I do this because I find the intensity at the gym is low. My lifts start to become less weight (max is lower then normal).

[bloodchoke]

That's about my schedule, too. Interestingly, however, mine are never planned. My schedule just gets the better of me when my motivation is waning. That happens every 7-10 weeks for me. I look up and I realize I haven't touched a weight in 5 days. Then my next day at the gym feels great. I feel strong; my joints feel good; recovery time between sets is markedly improved. I love getting older but, man, am I learning to hate aging!

[wellshii]

Im due for one

[tarmyg]

1 week off ever 10 weeks like clockwork for me.

[73rr]

Ok, thanks for the answer guys.

I always feel like I'm just being a little b**** when I take week off.

I also always think. REALLY AGAIN. But I always come back explosive and feeling great.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

I take deload weeks.
It is basically a week where you only do about 40% of what you would usually do.
I am a powerlifter though.

[73rr]

I take deload weeks.
It is basically a week where you only do about 40% of what you would usually do.
I am a powerlifter though.

Thats, not a bad idea. Instead of taking a week of and risk getting lazy.

40% effort. I will be doing this from now on.

[kelkel]

Nothing wrong with doing what DD said as well as taking time completely off. The rest is both good for your body and CNS. I recently took two weeks off. Felt great doing so.

[73rr]

Nothing wrong with doing what DD said as well as taking time completely off. The rest is both good for your body and CNS. I recently took two weeks off. Felt great doing so.

Cool, my biggest question I guess I had was am I taking off time to often. Every 2 months or so is my usual.

[kelkel]

Cool, my biggest question I guess I had was am I taking off time to often. Every 2 months or so is my usual.

I don't think you need a complete week off every two months, imho, but only you can be the judge on that.

[NACH3]

Cool, my biggest question I guess I had was am I taking off time to often. Every 2 months or so is my usual.

Learn to cycle your training... With pullbacks and deload wks... I do HIT... We can't sustain the type if intensity weight and its toll on your CNS and body period - when you cycle your training it gives your body a rest and it recovers by pullingback on your lifts(get in and out of the gym quicker relying on compound movements to get in and out under 30-40min Max)

[73rr]

Learn to cycle your training... With pullbacks and deload wks... I do HIT... We can't sustain the type if intensity weight and its toll on your CNS and body period - when you cycle your training it gives your body a rest and it recovers by pullingback on your lifts(get in and out of the gym quicker relying on compound movements to get in and out under 30-40min Max)

Yea I think I need to do that for sure. I hit the gym hard and after a couple weeks I just can't get the reps same or weight as high as the last couple weeks. Then I get really pissed and after me trying over and over again for a week or two I take a week off. Haha

So if I cycle my training more them just going balls out just will be able to stay more constant at the gym.

[JohnnyKirk]

Twice a year or so, when I go on vacation. For me taking a rest from gym, home routine, job etc, helps a lot for recreation: physically and mentally.

[novastepp]

Ok, thanks for the answer guys.

I always feel like I'm just being a little b**** when I take week off.

I also always think. REALLY AGAIN. But I always come back explosive and feeling great.

Read what you just said... "you come back explosive and feeling great".

Write that down.

As others have said, you know what you need to do and if you listen to your body you are ahead of 99% of the guys out there.

Rest is the most UNDERappreciated aspect to training imho. I, personally, wait for my training to stall a bit. Meaning, I hit the same reps or worse than teh week before. I will immediately up my cals and take a week off. I can still walk on the treadmill or play sports, but I will give my CNS, my joints, and my muscles a rest.

Like clockwork, I come back mentally stronger and hitting new weights/reps after a week or two of re-acclimating.