03-31-21 01:53 PM - Post#909306    

For the last couple of weeks, was feeling a little beaten up from kettlebells, pullups and dips. Sore shoulders and neck, knees achy, mid back muscle pull from getting out of my car.

Finally decided Sunday after slow treadmill run where I quit after a mile to take a week off starting Monday. Haven't done it since last September. Usually I do it when I'm on vacation which is what I did then.

Day 3 and already feel immensely better, mentally and physically. I walk the puppy 4 miles at a leisurely pace and let her off the leash last 200 yards from my house (I live in the center of a culdesac) I don't even miss it.

I ask myself why I don't do this every 3 months instead. Need to incorporate more. Highly recommend.

Edited by BChase on 03-31-21 01:53 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

03-31-21 02:42 PM - Post#909308    

Hell, take two weeks off.

Mark it Zero.

03-31-21 03:33 PM - Post#909311    

Believe me it's under consideration

03-31-21 04:01 PM - Post#909313    

• BChase Said:

I wasn't being fatuous.

Mark it Zero.

03-31-21 05:52 PM - Post#909315    

When I was young, it was drummed into every track athlete that you needed at least 2 weeks off, and maybe 4, at the end of each season. The key word was "active rest". Do not slob all the time. Get out in nature, do something fun and different, keep moving - but no measurement and no goals.

One such week every 3 months would be good for anyone.

Week Off From Exercise
03-31-21 07:35 PM - Post#909324    

My very first round of 531 (where I actually did the real program) it was hard to take that first deload week that is recommended. But I did and the progress was staggering.

It might seem like a lot, but I've come to enjoy taking every 4th week off in training. Sleep is better, mood lifts, and it prepares the body and mind to hit the ground running once the next round starts.

I haven't followed this formula since trying out easy strength and different kettlebell programs. But it's a formula I want to come back to. Train hard 3 weeks, 1 week light/off.

To echo Old Miler, a week of complete vegetation doesn't help much for recovery. Finding ways to stay active and moving is truly rejuvenating.



Edited by Jordan Derksen on 03-31-21 07:35 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

03-31-21 09:15 PM - Post#909325    

I don’t remember the exact quote or even which article, but in one of DJs old t-nation pieces he says something along the lines of ... I recommend taking 6 weeks a year off ... the problem is that the DYEL crowd will end up taking 6 months off and the meatheads who really need it will take 6 weeks off when they’re dead...

And that’s true. The most time I’ve taken off as an adult was 2 weeks when I got the flu. I remember thinking, so this is what normal people feel like. My shoulder and lower back don’t hurt! I should’ve learned something from that, but alas.

"The trouble about always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind."~GK Chesterton

Re: Week Off From Exercise
03-31-21 09:50 PM - Post#909326    

Agree.

A week off every few months does your mind and body wonders.

I still walk the dog during that lay off as well.

Andrew Gunn.

04-01-21 01:10 AM - Post#909328    

For me, a really important indicator of how training is going is mood. The more sessions I can put together where I’m feeling courageous and ready to compete the better. Once I start feeling timid and wanting to just survive the session, it’s time for a bit more rest - even if it’s only a day or two. But as with all subjective stuff, it’s hard to quantify or apply consistently.

04-01-21 02:41 AM - Post#909329    

Over a lifetime a month off every now and again is actually not a long time...

Nice legs-shame about the face

Re: Week Off From Exercise
04-01-21 02:57 AM - Post#909330    

• Jordan Derksen Said:

I take a week off from Easy Strength too. Once every two or three months.

Maybe it’s not really needed (which might be highly debatable), but it’s always a very welcome change of pace.

"I think we often spend too much time focusing on max fitness and not nearly enough on maintaining our minimums. It seems we need to think sustainable rather than obtainable. Meaning whatever we do today, we can do it again tomorrow. Never taking so much from ourselves that we can't." Dan Martin

04-01-21 08:56 AM - Post#909331    

It was telling a few years ago when I took a week off and all I did was walk the dog for 30-45 minutes every morning. My wife made the comment that I looked a tad bit more muscular as she walked past when I had my shirt off. Now I try to incorporate a few total rest weeks throughout the year. End up feeling a lot better for it.

04-01-21 09:20 AM - Post#909333    

That's good to know iPood, next time I do easy strength I'll plan some weeks off and see how it goes.

Spiderlegs, when I initially started taking time off I would shrink like crazy. At first I thought I was losing strength and mass. Later on it became clear that it was just the systemic inflammation resolving. Once I had a healthy relationship with the gym I realized that I looked best and performed best right at the end of that week off. Tapering hey... who knew?

04-01-21 11:04 AM - Post#909338    

Lifting to me was always a means to an end*. After each meet I lifted in, I would take a week off. After the last meet of the year I would take three months off from "lifting" and spend it running, drinking beer and working on my tan, dips and pull-ups.

I still like training with a purpose, but my goal(s) now are less frenetic in nature, some might even say holistic. YMMV

*I would never train that hard without a meet in the offing. It's a fine line between failure and success when you push heavy limit doubles and singles.

Mark it Zero.

04-01-21 11:55 AM - Post#909339    

When I take a week off my body usually feels more achy and stiff. I still do it, but I think it's interesting. I'll still walk, but that's about it.

04-01-21 08:30 PM - Post#909352    

A total rest from it works wonders at the right time.

Ain't it strange, all the things that actually work that we fail to follow.
No worries . . . that can change in an instant.

Life's too short to worry about longevity.

Re: Week Off From Exercise
04-02-21 02:27 AM - Post#909356    

• BChase Said:

This is my recommendation to every regular trainee. It's unnecessary to recommend to the lifters in my gym, since the best attendance is about 80% of all sessions - they take off far more time than they need to.

But if you are that rare dedicated person who does 12 weeks straight without any missed sessions, then yes, you should have a week off.

And with those 3 month "terms", every 4th one should be something different, for example the barbell guy doing kettlebells, the kettlebell guy running, the soccer player doing barbells, and so on.

Athletic Club East Strength in numbers

Re: Week Off From Exercise
04-02-21 05:49 AM - Post#909359    

• Kyle Aaron Said:

Those are pretty good numbers for general population.

"I think we often spend too much time focusing on max fitness and not nearly enough on maintaining our minimums. It seems we need to think sustainable rather than obtainable. Meaning whatever we do today, we can do it again tomorrow. Never taking so much from ourselves that we can't." Dan Martin

Week Off From Exercise
04-02-21 08:44 AM - Post#909362    

Having booked appointments in a small group enhances attendance compared to larger groups, or the person going individually at a time of their choice. As the 24hr gyms have shown, when you can go any time, you typically go at no time. With me they're booked.

And again, that's the best attendance, many of them are lower. Some have lives, some lack willpower, it's a mix.

But in every case, their mind gives up long before their bodies would. They don't need a scheduled week off at any time. That's life in the first 50%.

Athletic Club East Strength in numbers

Edited by Kyle Aaron on 04-02-21 08:45 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

04-02-21 07:56 PM - Post#909377    

• DanMartin Said:

Life's too short to worry about longevity.

Week Off From Exercise
04-04-21 01:39 AM - Post#909401    

I never plan time because I am forced to by life

Edited by tom6112 on 04-04-21 01:40 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Re: Week Off From Exercise
04-04-21 11:01 AM - Post#909412    

• tom6112 Said:

Exactly. Of course it took me a long time to understand this or to even apply it.

In fact, it's because of this I'm always fighting my natural instinct to want to do more, especially if my training is going well, which is also what I want to do if my training is not going well.

My baseline is two strength/three CV sessions each week. Which lends itself to missing a day from time to time without much anxiety.

Mark it Zero.

04-05-21 07:45 AM - Post#909427    

Going into week 2. Middle of my back is still tight.

04-05-21 08:33 PM - Post#909443    

If I’m active outside of gym it’s far easier to put “the workout “ into perspective especially if the activity is hard yakka.
Working out is a real personal thing you’ve really got to do your own thinking in regards to what is needed to assist in being prepared for life outside of it and the list is mounting

This took me too long to work this out

Nice legs-shame about the face