How many of you take a week off from training every now and then?

[HELLA SWOLE]

I usually take a week off once every 12-16 weeks to let my body recover. Do you think this is a good idea? I feel I am in need of one, i have been getting really sore lately and I have to leave town this week so i figured this woudl be the best time to do it. Anyone else do this? Good or bad idea??

 

[Big A]

I always have a week off every 4th week or so. I have to or I'll burn myself into the ground.

 

[mike1107]

every 4-6 weeks for me
about 3 weeks for holidays and it's in general the time where I look better when I come back to the gym

incredible but true !!!

 

[BigBoyJ]

Yeah, if you're really goin' at it hard, I think a week off every few weeks is a necessity.

 

[muscle69]

I like to take a week off every 9 weeks....also thats the week I work late so it works out great!

 

[GENE]

dont have one scheduled, i sometimes get extremely hungry to where i cant eat enough, i take a week off training when i get like that to just eat and rest.

 

[HELLA SWOLE]

I always have a week off every 4th week or so. I have to or I'll burn myself into the ground.

Damn, so you take a FULL week off about once a month? THat frequently?!?!?! That really suprises me!

 

[HELLA SWOLE]

I always have a week off every 4th week or so. I have to or I'll burn myself into the ground.

BTW< how do you eat during that off time? DO you eat the same? Also, do you still do cardio??

 

[BigMatt]

I take 3 months off straight from training complety,no cardio or weights each year.

 

[Ironmanjay]

I'm very instinctive about this one. If I feel like taking time off for whatever reason I will. Or sometimes I'll stop doing a specific exercise that is hurting me for a while. Typically I take 3 wks off every 3 months or so.

 

[Eatbig2getbig]

I try to take a week off every 12-14 weeks. Just listen to you're body. It sounds like you need a week off due to difficulty healing and remaining sore. If you start to feel burnt out and lose motivation it's time to get away. As far as diet goes....it's also good to give your digestive system a break from all the food every one-in-awhile. You will be surrpised after taking a short break from the training and diet, you will probably jump start you're training again. Good luck!

 

[SDMan]

Asked this same question yesterday on the beginners thread. I'm learning that I should give my body a break before I feel like I need it, before my enthusiasm and motivation drops. I was curious how long a break to take. Seems like the general consensus is to take a week.

 

[littlelouie]

I just go by feel, if I feel worn down or not gaining as much I take a few days to a week off and usually come back stronger.......

 

[MikeS]

I know your body needs the recovery. So hence the layoffs are needed.
But what you get during those layoffs (3mo?!) depends on your genetics.
If you are a mesomorph you probably will be OK as your body is naturally
predispositioned to gain and hold muscle. If you are an ectomorph, you will
lose like crazy as your body is always looking to achieve homeostasis-and for this type thats skinny and weak. Im an ecto with endo qualities added.
So I can only take brief rare layoffs or I lose like crazy.

 

[IronMike]

...

For me, I tend to take a week off whenever I feel drained. You can usually spot this by a drop in appetite, a lack of "fire power" when lifting (ie nerves don't seem to be firing up the muscles like normal) and general weariness. This will normally happen every 8 weeks for me, but it depends on what kind of training you do.

I've done periods of high intensity and then I'll take one off every 4 weeks, or as Big A says you'll grind yourself into the ground (Big A used to practice very high intensity lifting, I think he still does ??).

Other times I'll intentionally stop short of such high intensity so that I can train more often and longer. Gains are probably much the same overall, but if I'm not training I have a tendency to pig out, drink the odd beer, etc etc etc so depending on where I'm at etc (plus sanity) it is sometimes better for me to drop back on intensity and keep the frequency up.

This might mean cutting back intensity for two weeks in the gym to recuperate if you are not yet quite fried. IronMike

PS - I always come back after a week off looking better and feeling better. A year off is a different story

 

[da_Fonz]

I dont really take off but i tend to lift lighter for 2 weeks after 12 weeks or so of goin balls to the wall. I dont like the take off completey but find that dropping the weight and changing tempo and rep count works well for me and allows me to recover since i dont push as much during that time but still work to keep my appetite up or i'll drop like crazy.

 

[Fastandfurious]

For me this is a very interesting topic.
And would like to get as many opinions and experiences as possible.

Personally i never take time off completely,just do something else for a week like light plyos or 80% intensity sprinting.This provides a whole different stimulous and gives muscles and the nervous system a rest.
And although i shrink after that week (lose 6-8 pounds but not much strength and really show like i lost more-maybe lose muscle maybe stored glycogen) a month later i have reached my max and most of the times i surpass it.

 

[Jwillbc55]

I try to make myself take breaks but after 2-3 days I NEED to get back in the gym, I just love it.

Even if I just go walk on the treadmill and do a couple sets of Abs I just love being in the gym.

I admit it...I'm totally addicted

 

[Vander_V]

Well i take off 3 months and it seems to work quite well.

 

[AWN2004]

Right around Christmas every year I take about 3-4 weeks off. Right now Im really taking it easy, still training, but not balls to the wall intensity like I used to. Im still eating pretty clean with the few cheats here and there but on the whole just eating when Im hungry. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders so to speak. It kinda sucks having to watch the clock for meals, supps, ect all the time. Its nice to just have a break and do what you like and live more of a somewhat normal life. Yeah you might lose a little size, but it comes back and its easier to do the normal day to day stuff you are used to doing.