The experiment: No Training for 21 weeks

[Flex500]

Good perspectives. Funny I made this thread right before my wife's cancer diagnosis. Haven't really trained much at all (I think 2-3 full body pretty light sessions). And, for the first time in maybe a decade I completely fell off the wagon. I've gone days without eating followed up by having a box of poptarts. Pretty embarrassing as I handle stress pretty well and don't resort to eating...usually...

I have to get back to not eating like an a-hole and thinking of venturing back to the gym. It is pretty interesting, I've essentially gone since like august-ish to now with 2 very hard workouts and 2-3 full body "move around" workouts. Pretty wild.

 

[Alpha246]

I couldn't do it lol no way

 

[dantes]

Good perspectives. Funny I made this thread right before my wife's cancer diagnosis. Haven't really trained much at all (I think 2-3 full body pretty light sessions). And, for the first time in maybe a decade I completely fell off the wagon. I've gone days without eating followed up by having a box of poptarts. Pretty embarrassing as I handle stress pretty well and don't resort to eating...usually...

I have to get back to not eating like an a-hole and thinking of venturing back to the gym. It is pretty interesting, I've essentially gone since like august-ish to now with 2 very hard workouts and 2-3 full body "move around" workouts. Pretty wild.

Extremely sorry to hear about your wife I will pray for her.

I think this “experiment” worked because you have a foundation you built over a long period and once you muscle long enough it’s very hard to lose. If a beginner or intermediate did it though I think it would pan out differently

 

[Flex500]

Extremely sorry to hear about your wife I will pray for her.

I think this “experiment” worked because you have a foundation you built over a long period and once you muscle long enough it’s very hard to lose. If a beginner or intermediate did it though I think it would pan out differently

totally and I literally did not waiver on a high protein diet, and was fairly active, although not weight training specifically.

and thank you!

 

[headtrainer]

Interesting results. no real change.

I think alot would depend on body type too. Ectomorph or tall guy doesn't train they get skinny fat real quick.

If you stay on hormones and keep your diet in check, you’d be surprised how good you can look by taking months away from the gym once you’ve already built a good base.

 

[Spiro]

Been training for 30+ years. Took 1.5 years off recently bc I was building a house. For the last 2 years of training my bench was stuck at the same 1RM weight. I felt that I finally maxed out my genetic potential on TRT. Surprisingly, after 1.5 years off I have increased my bench in just 3-4 weeks back into training, and still getting stronger. I got all of my size back too. Although didn’t lose much weight during the time… 1/2” on arms. Came right back and now stronger than ever.

In retrospect, I know believe long term CNS overtraining is a real thing. For years I never took more than a day off here or there. Never took a full week off or anything like that. I wouldn’t ever get sore, because I lifted so much I had just acclimated to it and didn’t think I was ever overtrained. Muscles probably weren’t but CNS system clearly was. Now firing on all cylinders.

Going forward I am planning to take 2 weeks off every 10-12 weeks. I always thought I’d lose muscle, but it’s really just fullness and will come right back. Plus, I believe I’ll get a much better response to training going forward. It makes sense, because your body adjusts to any stress you put on it eventually and compensates.

This may be different for others. I’ve never really went outside of TRT doses and put on size slowly over many years. Also, just sharing my 2 cents.

Whats trt doses for you?

 

[Jefe]

I didn’t read the last 2 pages, but as OldManLogan said, I really appreciate the experiment.

Also glad you enjoyed your off time.

I thought you sounded like a lunatic on the original thread.

 

[Bleed]

If you are just maintaining this can work if you do it correctly and not for too long. I think this is beneficial for a few weeks at a time.

I take off about a month if needed (too sore, tendonitis, etc) after long periods of training and decrease dosages to trt level. For me that used to be 100mg. I need 200mg to maintain or I lose size even if protein requirement is met. It's not just my eyes playing tricks on me, other people have commented on it.

I wouldnt do this for any other reason than giving your body a break though. I cant imagine this experiment working for 3 months or longer. I cant see your body seeing the external stimulus missing and maintaining size it doesnt need to perform functions you are no longer doing. Maybe if you didnt train and took 500mg of test for months on end it could work but at that point, you'd need to ask yourself what you are even doing.

Ive seen pros mention they cruise on 500mg of test and I understand why. At that level of muscular development theres no way your body is naturally going to hold it or hold it at a TRT dose.