This ^^^ i will adjust my training frequency when I need it, may go from 5 days training, to 4 days training or even 3 days training when i start getting beat up, then IF i must i will simply take several days in a row off, depends how my body is feeling, how my numbers are doing in the gym, and what recovery is like.I rest when my body tells me to do so.
I'm floored by the responses in here with everything we know about recovery and supercompensation. A lot of programs have time off built in them.
- DC has a 10-14 day cruise period every 6-12 weeks. Some guys take those entire 14 days off.
- 5/3/1 has a deload every 6 weeks, which again some people just take off.
- Big A trains 3 weeks on, 1 week off according to his Growth Principles for Beginners
- Dorian trained 5 weeks on, 1 week off
- Max-OT is 8-10 weeks on, 1 week off
- I think John Meadows' programs are typically run for 12 weeks and then some days off.
That's 1-2 weeks off multiple times a year for some well-known training programs.
I love training as much as the next person, but after 6-8 weeks I need, and look forward to, time off. I never come back stronger like some people, but feel it's beneficial in the grand scheme of things.
This. Do people think experts advise us to take time off for shits and giggles? I'm a stubborn guy, but damn, never taking time off is counterproductive. All the threads I see about getting injured, I wonder how many of them could have been avoided by proper programming.
I also think people need to be more in tune with how their training affects life outside the gym. Sleep, mood, behaviour etc
I was an intensity addict following low volume, true failure training for years and years. I finally became honest with myself and realized it is not working for me. I made the switch to smart volume with no failure sets and everything is better. My sleeping problems are gone and I'm starting to feel and look better.
I "feel" like every 8 weeks that I take 7 days off and that's perfect for me. Joints and muscles feel good doing this and never feel over trained doing this sort of periodization.
I am also without question not OCD about workouts or missing them. I dont ever just skip a gym day unless I take a week off. I also dont hyperventilate if I miss a week out of the gym.
Truth be told, I dont see the gym as therapy. To me, It's a place I have to go where all the other people are going to be and it takes a bit of effort to get in the mindset to be there.
I'm not a people person and being in close quarters to a lot of people is really not my comfort zone but I deal with it.