Who Takes Time Off?

**dbflgirl** · 08-14-2005, 10:43 PM

I'm curious. How many of you take time off from lifting? I am not talking about missing a day or two, but about scheduling week-long breaks. And, if you do, how often do you do this? What are the results?

I've been training without a break (other than off days) since last September (when hurricanes closed my gym) and I'm wondering if I would benefit from a week off or if the guilt would overwhlem me!

Vegeto · 08-14-2005, 10:53 PM

Usually, for me, you take the time off.... At first, it feels horrible, like you need to hit the gym. Then, you finally start to relax. Then you start to want to go back and you get hungry for it. Then when you start up, things may be a little rough after the energy rush of the return wears off. Then you get into your newly established updated routine. Things smooth out. Time goes by and you realize how far you've come, you decide that it is important to take time off every now and then.

I'd say it's about time for a week or two break. Hurricanes, FL?

**A.FreeRadical** · 08-14-2005, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbflgirl

I'm curious. How many of you take time off from lifting? I am not talking about missing a day or two, but about scheduling week-long breaks. And, if you do, how often do you do this? What are the results?

I've been training without a break (other than off days) since last September (when hurricanes closed my gym) and I'm wondering if I would benefit from a week off or if the guilt would overwhlem me!

Hi there dbflgirl. I plan on taking one full week off every 8-10 weeks. I say "plan on", because things come up earlier or later that may suit my schedule better. When I hurt my lower back, I took a week off in June. That was early that time. Last winter, I got the flu. I just took a week off and started the clock ticking again for the next rest week.

I am do about now again, but I have decided to take a week off while I am on vacation in September.

I take off from lifting, but I usually do a full cardio schedule during that rest week. From my experience, the rest helps me grow muscle that week and my strength improves after a few days back in the gym.

The answer is 5 or 6 times per year. It does a body good.

*

**dbflgirl** · 08-14-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.FreeRadical

I take off from lifting, but I usually do a full cardio schedule during that rest week.

Thanks for reminding me of that, AFR! That should have been one of my questions: If you take time off, do you just take time off from lifting or do you take a total break?

I am contemplating a cardio-only week. This from someone who hates cardio!

Vegeto: Yes, I'm in Florida. Thanks to the hurricanes I got a new roof and a week off... I'm still needing a new fence and screen enclosure

**EME** · 08-14-2005, 11:48 PM

Hey dbflgirl,

The only time I take more than my scheduled days off per week from lifting is when we go on vacation ( Generally 1 week per year, ocassionally 2 weeks taken at different times).

When we go on vacation, it's purely vacation and we don't train at all, or worry about what we eat. When we get back, it's back to the gym.

The only thing we usually notice is that we have some extra water retention for a few days due to eating differently than normal. That usually returns to normal within a few days of returning to our regular routine.

In my experience, you don't really do any damage to your progress by taking a complete week off once or twice per year, as long as you get back to your training afterward.

If your breaks were more frequent, or for longer periods of time, they might be doing more to slow your progress.

- EME

hibiscus09 · 08-15-2005, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Hi there dbflgirl. I plan on taking one full week off every 8-10 weeks.

Ditto. Currently is the longest I've gone without a break in forever -- training for this contest. A week off does a body good!

I even took an entire month off after having lifted for about 8.5 years -- with only a week break every once in a while. I needed a psychological break from it all! LOL

**dbflgirl** · 08-15-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

In my experience, you don't really do any damage to your progress by taking a complete week off once or twice per year, as long as you get back to your training afterward.

If your breaks were more frequent, or for longer periods of time, they might be doing more to slow your progress.

Thanks, EME. I haven't taken any breaks. My question isn't so much whether a break will slow my progress as whether it will help it. If I am reading you right, you are saying that breaks are not necessary?

**EME** · 08-15-2005, 12:15 AM

If you are overtrained, or injured, then a break will definitely do you good.

Or, if you are just physically and/or mentally drained and just need a break, then some time off will certainly help more than it will hurt.

However, if things are going along well, and you have enough off days in your weekly routine, then is no reason that you need to take time off from training... unless you start to experience the symptoms mentioned above.

- EME

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbflgirl

Thanks, EME. I haven't taken any breaks. My question isn't so much whether a break will slow my progress as whether it will help it. If I am reading you right, you are saying that breaks are not necessary?

Thing · 08-15-2005, 12:50 AM

M and I take a week off every 2 months and every month we take 4 days off. We've been on the cardio more this summer than the weights, but I feel like the 3 days a week is good for us.
ROB

GameDayDog · 08-15-2005, 04:36 AM

Hahaha.. I'll agree with the others, but I'm a machine, I don't take time off unless I can't get to the gym.. (ie - when I was syck) ... During my routine tho, I have enough unscheduled rest days that I don't need to take a week off.. I've learned to listen to my body... and can say to myself.. I'll hit the gym tomorrow instead.. Then there are the band's road tryps which may cover 4 days or so... but if I'm not syck, I don't notyce any loss of strength when I get back to the gym... As long as I'm focused and seeing gains/results... I'm stayin' in the gym...

Peace..~G

**builtbeast** · 08-15-2005, 04:52 AM

I very rarely take time off... it really gets to me mentally after about a week and I start to really want to get back to the gym.

The longest I've gone without in the past couple of years was around 3 weeks when I was on an overseas trip and really had no way of getting to a gym. And I couldn't eat right on the trip either the way my schedule worked out.

But even then it was more mental than physical as when I came back and ate right again I was back to where I left in under a month. :nosthumbs

If I'm on a vacation or trip here in the US for about a week though I really just take the week off from working out. I don't really lose anything and can back on track pretty fast. Just have to make sure I as healthy as possible on the trip. :bigthumbu

1stindoor · 08-16-2005, 01:08 PM

I'm usually at it 5 days on and two off every week, unless I'm on vacation. I try to schedule at least a week or two off though every 6 months or so.

Minotaur · 08-16-2005, 07:28 PM

I do. Sometimes it's planned, sometime unplanned. Often I have something coming up that will not permit me to get to the gym, so that becomes an off-week, and I don't stress over it. In any case, I usually come back stronger and have a clearer outlook.

**dbflgirl** · 08-16-2005, 07:50 PM

Well, for the first time ever, I am deliberately not working out this week. It's been 2 days so far. I have done cardio, though.

pammiejoe6 · 08-17-2005, 12:41 AM

check this out

**dbflgirl** · 08-17-2005, 12:52 AM

Great article, thanks.

**A.FreeRadical** · 08-17-2005, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pammiejoe6

check this out

Chuckle. I think I would rather be on a plateau for 5 weeks than to cycle off after three weeks.

I can see that working from a powerlifter perspective. I am not so sure that that works for bodybuilding.

*

pammiejoe6 · 08-17-2005, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.FreeRadical

Chuckle. I think I would rather be on a plateau for 5 weeks than to cycle off after three weeks.

I can see that working from a powerlifter perspective. I am not so sure that that works for bodybuilding.

*

maybe so...but what works for one doesnt work for all right? im way into trying all sorts of things and thought this article was a good read on this subject...lol

08-14-2005, 10:43 PM	#1
dbflgirl Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 646 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 18	Who Takes Time Off? I'm curious. How many of you take time off from lifting? I am not talking about missing a day or two, but about scheduling week-long breaks. And, if you do, how often do you do this? What are the results? I've been training without a break (other than off days) since last September (when hurricanes closed my gym) and I'm wondering if I would benefit from a week off or if the guilt would overwhlem me!

08-14-2005, 10:53 PM	#2
Vegeto blameless sinner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 804 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 15	Usually, for me, you take the time off.... At first, it feels horrible, like you need to hit the gym. Then, you finally start to relax. Then you start to want to go back and you get hungry for it. Then when you start up, things may be a little rough after the energy rush of the return wears off. Then you get into your newly established updated routine. Things smooth out. Time goes by and you realize how far you've come, you decide that it is important to take time off every now and then. I'd say it's about time for a week or two break. Hurricanes, FL? __________________ ______________ ________________ ......Busy Training...... __________________ ________________ __________________

08-14-2005, 11:48 PM	#5
EME Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,651 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 55	Hey dbflgirl, The only time I take more than my scheduled days off per week from lifting is when we go on vacation ( Generally 1 week per year, ocassionally 2 weeks taken at different times). When we go on vacation, it's purely vacation and we don't train at all, or worry about what we eat. When we get back, it's back to the gym. The only thing we usually notice is that we have some extra water retention for a few days due to eating differently than normal. That usually returns to normal within a few days of returning to our regular routine. In my experience, you don't really do any damage to your progress by taking a complete week off once or twice per year, as long as you get back to your training afterward. If your breaks were more frequent, or for longer periods of time, they might be doing more to slow your progress. - EME __________________ PhysiqueFXonline - Online Nutrition and Training with Michael and Kendra Elias: www.PhysiqueFXonline.com www.MichaelandKendra.com My wife, and IFBB Fitness Pro Kendra Elias' personal site: www.KendraElias.com Proud member of Team ALR: www.ALRIndustries.com

08-15-2005, 12:50 AM	#9
Thing Pro Stature Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	M and I take a week off every 2 months and every month we take 4 days off. We've been on the cardio more this summer than the weights, but I feel like the 3 days a week is good for us. ROB __________________ MOTIVATED, DEDICATED, LETHAL.... US ARMY RANGERS LEAD THE WAY

08-15-2005, 04:36 AM	#10
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,975 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	I'm A Machine... Hahaha.. I'll agree with the others, but I'm a machine, I don't take time off unless I can't get to the gym.. (ie - when I was syck) ... During my routine tho, I have enough unscheduled rest days that I don't need to take a week off.. I've learned to listen to my body... and can say to myself.. I'll hit the gym tomorrow instead.. Then there are the band's road tryps which may cover 4 days or so... but if I'm not syck, I don't notyce any loss of strength when I get back to the gym... As long as I'm focused and seeing gains/results... I'm stayin' in the gym... Peace..~G __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

08-15-2005, 04:52 AM	#11
builtbeast Großer Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: In a very red state Posts: 1,828 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 98	I very rarely take time off... it really gets to me mentally after about a week and I start to really want to get back to the gym. The longest I've gone without in the past couple of years was around 3 weeks when I was on an overseas trip and really had no way of getting to a gym. And I couldn't eat right on the trip either the way my schedule worked out. But even then it was more mental than physical as when I came back and ate right again I was back to where I left in under a month. :nosthumbs If I'm on a vacation or trip here in the US for about a week though I really just take the week off from working out. I don't really lose anything and can back on track pretty fast. Just have to make sure I as healthy as possible on the trip. :bigthumbu

08-16-2005, 01:08 PM	#12
1stindoor Pro Stature Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NC Posts: 327 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 7	I'm usually at it 5 days on and two off every week, unless I'm on vacation. I try to schedule at least a week or two off though every 6 months or so. __________________ Steely-eyed, barrel-chested, freedom fighter with the kung-fu grip and the life-like hair

08-16-2005, 07:28 PM	#13
Minotaur Pro Stature Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Monmouth County, New Jersey Posts: 103 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	I do. Sometimes it's planned, sometime unplanned. Often I have something coming up that will not permit me to get to the gym, so that becomes an off-week, and I don't stress over it. In any case, I usually come back stronger and have a clearer outlook. __________________ "You monsters are such interesting creatures! I was just saying to my girlfriend, just the other day, 'Monsters are such interesting people! Why I'll bet they lead such interesting lives!' The things you must see and the things you must do! My stars!"

08-16-2005, 07:50 PM	#14
dbflgirl Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 646 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 18	Well, for the first time ever, I am deliberately not working out this week. It's been 2 days so far. I have done cardio, though.

08-17-2005, 12:41 AM	#15
pammiejoe6 Pink Members Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south texas Posts: 4,164 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 84	check this out

08-17-2005, 12:52 AM	#16
dbflgirl Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 646 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 18	Great article, thanks.

08-17-2005, 02:51 AM	#19