Muscle Memory

METAL VIPER · 01-17-2006, 01:11 AM

I've had to take a break from lifting around this last month - what with a neck nerve injury and taking a 4 week winter class, which is quite demanding. I'm going to dive back in full blown in 2 weeks when the class is over.
My main question is about how long will it take to get my size and strength back that have atrophied? Around 2-3 weeks most likely? I've never had to take a prolonged break from lifting. Around 2 weeks is probably the longest, but I needed it anyway to give my CNS a break.

**warriors** · 01-17-2006, 01:53 AM

Id say it depends on the individual and how long you have been training.

**EME** · 01-17-2006, 01:59 AM

LOL..

I'm going to be teaching a clinic this summer on Muscle Memory.

We'll really find out what happens when you have to lay off for almost 6 months due to injury.

If you are only laying off for a few weeks, and your body isn't immobilized due to injury, it won't take you long at all to get back to where you were before.

As long as you aren't layed up in traction , or immobilized in a sling as I am, you aren't going to lose nearly as much muscle during the layoff.

Don't sweat it too much. Within a month of consistent training, you should be back to where you were before.

- EME

Trick D · 01-17-2006, 02:30 AM

Yep, it isn't a huge loss, you will be back to normal is less than a month, probably 2 or 3 weeks of hard lifting and you will be about 97%+ what you were... it doesn't take long at all!

METAL VIPER · 01-17-2006, 03:13 AM

Awesome bros, thanks a lot. I can't wait to hit the iron hard again

**A.FreeRadical** · 01-17-2006, 12:06 PM

I took off for 20 years and got everything back that I had before within 6 months of hard dedicated training. That was a year and a half ago.

I took off for one month recently and got it all back in 2-3 weeks. I think you will find that after a month off you will be able to get it back quickly and also add somemore. I think we tend to overdo training and don't give enough thought to rest and recouperation (We need adequate amounts of time off daily, weekly and annually). Think of your 4 weeks off as your annual R&R.

*

John Gargani · 02-05-2006, 03:06 PM

METAL: some good advice:

DO NOT BE WAYLAID BY THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT YOU LIFT WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR COMEBACK!

weight , in bodybuilding, is relative: what matters is the stress being applied to your muscles.

when you start up again, start lower, and take your time to get back to the same levels, because what works in lifting is sending a message to your muscles that they have to compensate for the load that they are being subjected to: when you have had a layoff, it will take LESS weight to accomplish this neural signal!

muscle memory is nothing more than a gradual return to the potential that you proved you can reach the first time around.

Why rush it and invite injury! it will come....

Nitrous · 03-02-2006, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Gargani

METAL: some good advice:

DO NOT BE WAYLAID BY THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT YOU LIFT WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR COMEBACK!

weight , in bodybuilding, is relative: what matters is the stress being applied to your muscles.

when you start up again, start lower, and take your time to get back to the same levels, because what works in lifting is sending a message to your muscles that they have to compensate for the load that they are being subjected to: when you have had a layoff, it will take LESS weight to accomplish this neural signal!

muscle memory is nothing more than a gradual return to the potential that you proved you can reach the first time around.

Why rush it and invite injury! it will come....

good point..i took 6 months off..was weighing in at 165 (i'm only 5'5 or 5'6) and benching 275 for 2 reps..come back and i'm like 140 and max bench of 200lbs for 1 rep..i was extremely disappointed...but it has been about 2 months and i am at 155lbs (maybe a lil over that) and max bench of 240 (going for 250 in a couple days)....take it easy and it will come back :boink1:

METAL VIPER · 03-02-2006, 02:28 AM

The bitch is I got back almost all of what I had and was in the middle of a bench program and got sick...Ugggh

01-17-2006, 01:11 AM	#1
METAL VIPER SEEK & DESTROY Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 542 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 46	Muscle Memory I've had to take a break from lifting around this last month - what with a neck nerve injury and taking a 4 week winter class, which is quite demanding. I'm going to dive back in full blown in 2 weeks when the class is over. My main question is about how long will it take to get my size and strength back that have atrophied? Around 2-3 weeks most likely? I've never had to take a prolonged break from lifting. Around 2 weeks is probably the longest, but I needed it anyway to give my CNS a break. __________________ \m/ METALLICA \m/ R.I.P. Cliff Burton:2/10/62-9/26/86 DIE, by my hand, I creep across the land, killing first born man

01-17-2006, 01:53 AM	#2
warriors The world is yours Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,127 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 29	Id say it depends on the individual and how long you have been training. __________________ Not Around...

01-17-2006, 01:59 AM	#3
EME Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,265 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 51	LOL.. I'm going to be teaching a clinic this summer on Muscle Memory. We'll really find out what happens when you have to lay off for almost 6 months due to injury. If you are only laying off for a few weeks, and your body isn't immobilized due to injury, it won't take you long at all to get back to where you were before. As long as you aren't layed up in traction , or immobilized in a sling as I am, you aren't going to lose nearly as much muscle during the layoff. Don't sweat it too much. Within a month of consistent training, you should be back to where you were before. - EME __________________ PhysiqueFXonline - Online Nutrition and Training with Michael and Kendra Elias: www.MichaelandKendra.com Team Molecular Nutrition Creative Director FAME Media Group / World Natural Sports Organization Editor-In-Chief FAME Magazine www.FAMEWorldTour.com

01-17-2006, 03:13 AM	#5
METAL VIPER SEEK & DESTROY Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 542 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 46	Awesome bros, thanks a lot. I can't wait to hit the iron hard again __________________ \m/ METALLICA \m/ R.I.P. Cliff Burton:2/10/62-9/26/86 DIE, by my hand, I creep across the land, killing first born man

01-17-2006, 12:06 PM	#6
A.FreeRadical the Epicurean Bodybuilder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,245 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 58	I took off for 20 years and got everything back that I had before within 6 months of hard dedicated training. That was a year and a half ago. I took off for one month recently and got it all back in 2-3 weeks. I think you will find that after a month off you will be able to get it back quickly and also add somemore. I think we tend to overdo training and don't give enough thought to rest and recouperation (We need adequate amounts of time off daily, weekly and annually). Think of your 4 weeks off as your annual R&R. * __________________ "Is it going to be the red pill or the blue pill, Neo? The red pill will answer the question 'What is the Matrix?' Choose carefully. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Ron Paul for President, 2008 A.FreeRadical ...the Epicurean bodybuilder Height: 5'9", Age: 62, My last high on 2/1/2006 was 196 lbs. My last low on 8/08/2006 was 167.5 lbs. Cutting until I am lean Starting weight: 190 lbs. bodyfat: 19.7% November 27th: 183 lbs. bodyfat: 18.3% bodyfat Goal Weight: 176 lbs with no more than 10% bodyfat My recipe collection

02-05-2006, 03:06 PM	#7
John Gargani New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	METAL: some good advice: DO NOT BE WAYLAID BY THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THAT YOU LIFT WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR COMEBACK! weight , in bodybuilding, is relative: what matters is the stress being applied to your muscles. when you start up again, start lower, and take your time to get back to the same levels, because what works in lifting is sending a message to your muscles that they have to compensate for the load that they are being subjected to: when you have had a layoff, it will take LESS weight to accomplish this neural signal! muscle memory is nothing more than a gradual return to the potential that you proved you can reach the first time around. Why rush it and invite injury! it will come....

03-02-2006, 02:28 AM	#9
METAL VIPER SEEK & DESTROY Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 542 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 46	The bitch is I got back almost all of what I had and was in the middle of a bench program and got sick...Ugggh __________________ \m/ METALLICA \m/ R.I.P. Cliff Burton:2/10/62-9/26/86 DIE, by my hand, I creep across the land, killing first born man

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