Time away from the gym

[Kauto_star]

For those who dont compete ; or even ; maybe for those who do ; how do you find time away from the gym?!?

I dont mean for like a couple of days ; i mean for like 3-4 weeks?!?

I have a lot going on right now ; and it is affecting life in general ; i have always loved training ; but at the moment ; i just feel like i have to train ; rather than actually enjoying it ; i find it difficult to not train ; and to take breaks.

However ; my shoulder seems a bit sore ; i have trained for months and months ; without a break ; 5 days per week ; with intensity ; and training hard ; i just feel absolutely knackered.

I didnt know how you guys approach a break ; for maybe more than 2-3 weeks ; yes i know people will reply with ; you will lose size ; etc ; you are being lazy ; but in reality ; i dont training for months and months ; without a break ; can be lazy.

I just want to relax a bit ; and maybe think about things ; i sometimes dont go out at weekends ; or go places with my girlfriend ; because i want to train ; and i want to eat clean (i never have cheat meals) ; and i dont even compete ; and i dont ever want to compete in bodybuilding ; i started training because i like it ; and wanted to improve my body ; i.e. a hobby.

I know having an extended time from the gym ; will make me lose size ; and strength ; but i wanted to maybe just take some time off ; get my head a bit clear ; take a step back ; come back with a new routine ; and hit it hard again ; but learn to enjoy it again ; but also ; learn to enjoy other aspects in life too ; without being so dictated by training and diet.

Anyone else ; ever been so obsessed that it took over their life?!? If so ; please reply.

Sorry for the long post ; but just interested to hear other replies!?!

Thanks everyone!?!

 

[OJay]

I will go into detail later but your whole system will need a break at some point. After a show I will stop dieting a week then eat clean a week or two and then get back into the gym, it's hard but the body needs it

 

[superman21]

Hey sorry I just now got your message from a few weeks ago. I haven't been on here cuz of the new baby. But I know everyone will have different opinions. My advice is to take a month off. It will give you enough time to be away from the gym so you can enjoy life and heal up. You don't wanna look back on life knowing all you did was workout. Get out and have fun with the girlfriend. Go out on the weekends and eat whatever you want. Your mind and body will thank you for it! During that time you can reassess your workout plan so you can have a life outside of the gym. If you got any questions you can pm me. It took me awhile to balance working out and life. Hope this helps bro!

 

[Miss Q]

For those who dont compete ; or even ; maybe for those who do ; how do you find time away from the gym?!?

I dont mean for like a couple of days ; i mean for like 3-4 weeks?!?

I have a lot going on right now ; and it is affecting life in general ; i have always loved training ; but at the moment ; i just feel like i have to train ; rather than actually enjoying it ; i find it difficult to not train ; and to take breaks.

However ; my shoulder seems a bit sore ; i have trained for months and months ; without a break ; 5 days per week ; with intensity ; and training hard ; i just feel absolutely knackered.

I didnt know how you guys approach a break ; for maybe more than 2-3 weeks ; yes i know people will reply with ; you will lose size ; etc ; you are being lazy ; but in reality ; i dont training for months and months ; without a break ; can be lazy.

I just want to relax a bit ; and maybe think about things ; i sometimes dont go out at weekends ; or go places with my girlfriend ; because i want to train ; and i want to eat clean (i never have cheat meals) ; and i dont even compete ; and i dont ever want to compete in bodybuilding ; i started training because i like it ; and wanted to improve my body ; i.e. a hobby.

I know having an extended time from the gym ; will make me lose size ; and strength ; but i wanted to maybe just take some time off ; get my head a bit clear ; take a step back ; come back with a new routine ; and hit it hard again ; but learn to enjoy it again ; but also ; learn to enjoy other aspects in life too ; without being so dictated by training and diet.

Anyone else ; ever been so obsessed that it took over their life?!? If so ; please reply.

Sorry for the long post ; but just interested to hear other replies!?!

Thanks everyone!?!

I say take one to two weeks off and see how you feel! Maybe you will discover a new hobby outside of the gym or better yet, you and your gf could take a vacation or something!! It sounds like you are in competition mode 24/7 and that can't be fun all the time for you, or the ppl around you.

Honestly it sounds like you are obsessed with training. I know, because I was for two months straight! I worked out 5 hrs a day Mon-Fri and 3 hrs a day on the weekends, until I physically and mentally broke down. I also missed out on several family functions because I was too busy training. Looking back, I realize that I can't ever replace the things I missed out on, but I can replace the gym time.

Take a solid break and like you said.... you can always go back and hit it hard and be happier while doing it!! Just my opinion!!

 

[GaJoe]

it's like your job dude...you need a vacation sometime to recoup and recover...let things go back to normal....I bet you will come back stronger and grow easier.....one because of the rest but two because those nagging injuries get a chance to heal.....I take a few weeks off every six months or so....catch up on things I miss out on when I'm training...spend time w/ friends/family....definately take the time off...and without the pressure of competing, it's all gravy man....

 

[GaJoe]

also...try to consolidate some of your workouts or get on a rolling schedule to not train 5 days straight...maybe two on one off two on two off.....I only train 4 days a week now in the offseason...and I've maintained...

 

[Sepjuice1]

time off will always do someone good imo.

 

[Kauto_star]

Thanks for the replies!?!

I think i will take 2-3 weeks off ; see how i feel ; and then see if i want more time off.

I am going to take the opportunity ; to actually get my back and shoulder seen to ; by a doctor ; as i am having problems with them ; they hurt ; and ache ; so i thought ; whilst not training ; it would be a good idea.

Also ; i think mentally ; the break will be great ; just to relax a bit more ; and not to be so obsessed ; i think i need to stop being so obsessed ; nothing wrong with training hard ; but i dont have the balance between training and life at the moment ; i seem to be obsessed with training and eating clean ; and let it takeover my life.

 

[Johnny Smiles]

Prioritize

take as much time off as you want if something else takes priority.
raising a family
getting a new job
overtrained
just finnished a show
etc
etc etc

i just got off about a 4 month layoff and i needed every bit of it. i am starting to look "normal" so time to get back in the groove but i enjoyed myself. however i was obsessive for years so maybe i feel i have earned these breeaks now...
one thing is for sure it doesnt hurt.
-JS

 

[Kauto_star]

It's interesting ; as i always find it difficult to take time off ; from the gym ; but at the moment ; just actually listening to your body ; makes so much sense ; i do have a shoulder injury ; which i hope gets better with resting.

I also feel a bit more alert ; and not as tired ; i dont feel as run down ; i am relaxing my diet a little ; and not being so obsessed about meal timing ; and amounts ; etc;

 

[b-boy]

bro i know exactly how you feel, you know you need time away but its just hard mentally to do it. listen take as much time as you need away from the gym hell if you need a month then take it. getting back what little you will loose is nothing my friend, keep eating as good as you can and don't over eat and you will get back into it and gain like you are a "newbie" in the gym again...LOL enjoy life and don't sweat the small stuff bro.

 

[hauv1974]

I took 3 months off after I got married and felt great.

 

[hauv1974]

I lost about 20 pounds of muscle though, but with muscle memory it should be easy to get back once I decide to re-up my workouts

 

[Ashop]

A break like that will do you some good especially if you have injuries or are overtrained. I always find I look better and feel better after the rest. Be sure not to extend the break too long though or your hard earned gains can suffer.

 

[method2madness]

Taking 2 to 3 weeks off will not cause you to lose significant muscle mass. In reality, as long as your diet doesn't completely fall to shit, you might just give your body recovery in which you might actually grow and re-energize.
Peace,
M2M

 

[BENCH400]

I take little breaks here and there, but don't like to take a break for more than a week, or I get to be grouchy .. many people do take month+ breaks and it works well for them ... but for me , i like to be in the gym

 

[mikennrg]

In my opinion if you're completely healthy and need that much time away from the gym it's time to re access your training. Do you really need to go 5 days a week? Also is it 5 days a week or break? Can you not accomplish the same in 3 or 4 days?

I had to ask myself these questions and I'm more interested in training now than ever.

 

[hemipower]

I recently did EXACTLY this...took nearly a month off...went to the doc and did labs, got some injuries looked at, etc. and just pretended to not have anything to do with bodybuilding for a while...ate when I was hungry and pretty much what I wanted. Went out twice and had a FEW drinks. Caught way up on work stuff. Got my to-do list knocked out. Got LOTS of sleep. Watched football and movies and just acted "normal" a while (whatever the hell that means)

When it was time to go back to the gym even being off diet I was visually only 1-2% fatter and a bit softer...and up about 6-7 lbs which came off in 2 weeks. Eased back into training and did simple 2 day split and trained 4 days a week (push one day, pull the next, day off...etc) and trained pretty light. Joints feel about 80% better! I look forward to getting to the gym to train again! And back to my diet was easy as I was ready to harden back up...which will take a few more weeks but it's ok. I needed the break mentally and physically and even though I don't compete, last time I took more then 3 days in a row off was in 2007! I still don't plan to get back to where I was before...in the gym 6 days most weeks on a 4 day split is too much. I was thinking 3 day split and 4 days in the gym for the rest of the year. Then assess changes (or lack of).

Ideally, I think you should train about 10 weeks and take a week OFF. Not sure, but I feel that would be better than taking an entire month annually. I am considering, taking the last week off, of every even numbered month (Oct, Dec, Feb...) to make it simpler and assure I actually do it. Seems like for years I get about 3 days straight off and think I am getting small/fat and head back to workout...4 days early.

If you think about it, we just beat the hell out of our bodies over and over and expect it to keep getting better and performing for YEARS...well stuff wears out...need to allow some time for inflammation to go down and body to completely heal instead of hovering around 80% healed and then beating it again.

My 2 cents...

 

[Chode Logan]

Take the time off man. If you feel you need it or even want it, take it. You might feel great and want back in a week later, or maybe a month. About 1.5 years ago I slacked for about 3 months, I went to the gym 1-2 a week and just did full body stuff. For diet I didn't do anything heinous, but wasn't worried bout 6 meals a day. Just ate a big normal breakfast, stayed pretty low carb otherwise and just got my protein in. I didn't lose much size at all and leaned out actually. Within 2 weeks back in the gym, I looked better then I ever had which felt great and had a crazy passion for it again.


Now I should take my own advice cause since then I havn't taken more then 2 days off in a row except for a 1 week vacation 7 months ago. Bout ready to take 2-3 weeks off soon.



Try to ignore the OCD part and just don't go overboard eating junk food. Try to get some regular exercise via sports, full body sort of work outs, sex, whatever.


Post contest however I think people make a mistake by taking time off right after cause you can hit a gnarly rebound and make some gains

 

[sammy555]

The only time i take a week of is if i feel my cns is overtrained. I train 3 days out of every 8 so need very little time off. Id find it very hard mentaly to take a month of traing and would be scared off slipping into old habits- i was a pizza/cake eating lazy ps3 playing mofo. I hate taking a week off- i train at home and all the gear is there in the bedroom-i have to wake up look at the squat cage and all them lovely iron plates and say no not today.Even my weeks off i normaly end up doing some curls or shoulders just to feel the iron.I sometimes i think im a bit obsessed but i hold down a good job-take care of my boy and am content so i just think fuck it and do what i wanna.