If you plan workouts and have the energy and drive to do them, then do them. There is no reason you should take time off if you feel fine. Planning a deload is kind of dumb. Most of us don't have the experience and awareness of our own bodies to know how to plan a deload in advance. Just play it by ear, take it day by day. If you feel like **** one day, pack it up and hit it again the next. If you consistantly feel like **** then I say it's time for a few weeks off.
I've been training hard for a year now
- Thread starter grizzlebee
- Start date
Taking A Week Off Ain't Gonna Hurt You. You Can Vary Your Days Too. Workout One Day Rest One Day; Or 2 Days On 2 Days Off; 2days On 1 Day Off
Until You Snap Back Into Your Old Favorite 6 Day Routine Again. Be Sure And Reward Yourself 4 All That While You Work Your Way Back Into It. Enjoy...
The Preferred Headache.
Until You Snap Back Into Your Old Favorite 6 Day Routine Again. Be Sure And Reward Yourself 4 All That While You Work Your Way Back Into It. Enjoy...
The Preferred Headache.
LYF...dude...planned breaks are good. Like you said, most people aren't in tuned with their bodies well...so they are probably ignoring the signs saying "I need a break" and just work through them.
I pose a question to you LYF. Have you taken any planned breaks? If you did, how long did you take off, and how well did you recover from them?
I pose a question to you LYF. Have you taken any planned breaks? If you did, how long did you take off, and how well did you recover from them?
Nope, I've never taken a planned break, but I have been away from the gym due to stuff like school and vacation. I mean, I never said, "Hmmm, even though I feel okay now, I think it's time I should take a break...so I'll take next week off."
However, I have been overtrained and burntout, so I know what it feels like on the other side when I did need a break, but never took it.
However, I have been overtrained and burntout, so I know what it feels like on the other side when I did need a break, but never took it.
I think you'd be impressed with how much it can help you bro. Try it sometime. It's more like preventative maintenance.
I wasn't trying to call you out, just asking you to look at something objectively first.
I wasn't trying to call you out, just asking you to look at something objectively first.
No worries dude 
I'm not saying breaks are bad, I'm just saying that you should play it by ear rather than convincing yourself you need a break when you don't really need one, cause then it's just a waste of time.
As for the OP, it sounds like he could take a break for a while. For everyone else, the logic is not,
"Since I've been training for x amount of time,
I need a break."
The logic is,
"Since I've been feeling like ****
and since I've been missing lifts that would otherwise be easy to me
and since I'd rather be eating a bag of oreos
then I need a break for a little while."
I'm not saying breaks are bad, I'm just saying that you should play it by ear rather than convincing yourself you need a break when you don't really need one, cause then it's just a waste of time.
As for the OP, it sounds like he could take a break for a while. For everyone else, the logic is not,
"Since I've been training for x amount of time,
I need a break."
The logic is,
"Since I've been feeling like ****
and since I've been missing lifts that would otherwise be easy to me
and since I'd rather be eating a bag of oreos
then I need a break for a little while."
True, you could look at it that way, or you could look at it like this:
If your body is not able to handle the work load you give it, then chances are, the damage has already been done.
Do you plan your 6-8 meals a day? What if you aren't hungry? Do you deny your body fuel because it's not necessarily hungry? No you don't.
Do you plan on sleeping 8 hours a night? What if you aren't tired at your bedtime? Do you deny your body sleep because you don't "feel" tired? No you don't.
Based on those principals, breaks should be part of your PLANNED routine.
If your body is not able to handle the work load you give it, then chances are, the damage has already been done.
Do you plan your 6-8 meals a day? What if you aren't hungry? Do you deny your body fuel because it's not necessarily hungry? No you don't.
Do you plan on sleeping 8 hours a night? What if you aren't tired at your bedtime? Do you deny your body sleep because you don't "feel" tired? No you don't.
Based on those principals, breaks should be part of your PLANNED routine.
I don't think taking a "break" on the nutritional side of things is a good idea at all (not saying it's been suggested, just want to be clear) . If you are into carb cycling or calorie cycling, okay, but don't think you can come back from even a few days of cheating without repurcussions.