I've been training hard for a year now

G

grizzlebee

0
Been going six times a week for the past year. Every two weeks I change my workout routine (type of workout/days I workout/rest periods) so my mind and body stay alert in the gym. Lately, I'm starting to feel a bit of a drag. I think I should take a break from working out, but don't want to lose all the gains I've made.

Has anyone had to take a break before? If so, how long? Would a week long break be too much?
 
grizzlebee said:
Been going six times a week for the past year. Every two weeks I change my workout routine (type of workout/days I workout/rest periods) so my mind and body stay alert in the gym. Lately, I'm starting to feel a bit of a drag. I think I should take a break from working out, but don't want to lose all the gains I've made.

Has anyone had to take a break before? If so, how long? Would a week long break be too much?
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Your CNS (central nervous system) is taxed from weight training so it needs a break. Take a good week off; you won't lose any gains (chances are you might make some) and you will feel refreshed, remotivated and ready to go.
 
i really recommend not taking a break

the day/week you come back, the gains you've made in the past few weeks, will be very hard to lift. you'll be working harder and not burning as many calories.

i am speaking from personal experience.

why are you going six days a week? what is your split?

edit;
i've been working out for about 8 months straight 5 days a week. i recently took a week off because i became deathly sick. the day i came back, i felt tired at the gym and alot of motivation was gone, and weight i could do before, i couldn't do now with the same amount of reps/sets.

the harder i push myself, the more motivated i get.
 
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calz said:
i really recommend not taking a break

the day/week you come back, the gains you've made in the past few weeks, will be very hard to lift. you'll be working harder and not burning as many calories.

i am speaking from personal experience.

why are you going six days a week? what is your split?
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Bad Advice. Its usually recommended after a hard 4-6 weeks that a person should deload or take a short break. Hes been working straight for an entire year.
 
calz said:
why are you going six days a week? what is your split?
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Right now I go Upper - Lower - Cardio/Core - Upper - Lower - Cardio/Core - Off

Until last week, I had it going Cardio/Core - Upper/Lower - Cardio/Core - Upper - Lower - Cardio/Core - Off
 
calz said:
i really recommend not taking a break

the day/week you come back, the gains you've made in the past few weeks, will be very hard to lift. you'll be working harder and not burning as many calories.

i am speaking from personal experience.

why are you going six days a week? what is your split?

edit;
i've been working out for about 8 months straight 5 days a week. i recently took a week off because i became deathly sick. the day i came back, i felt tired at the gym and alot of motivation was gone, and weight i could do before, i couldn't do now with the same amount of reps/sets.

the harder i push myself, the more motivated i get.
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Worst advice ever. You NEED a break. You should have taken one 8 months ago. You will lose nothing in a week. It will give your body a chance to recover and you will come back stronger. Taking a week off every few months is good.
 
calz said:
i really recommend not taking a break

the day/week you come back, the gains you've made in the past few weeks, will be very hard to lift. you'll be working harder and not burning as many calories.

i am speaking from personal experience.

why are you going six days a week? what is your split?

edit;
i've been working out for about 8 months straight 5 days a week. i recently took a week off because i became deathly sick. the day i came back, i felt tired at the gym and alot of motivation was gone, and weight i could do before, i couldn't do now with the same amount of reps/sets.

the harder i push myself, the more motivated i get.
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Bad advice!

Do people who play sports all the time, run marathons and run track train every single week of the year without any week off at all? I don't think so. These athletes would get burnt out if they did not ever take any breaks. Same thing goes with the music industry (take Elvis and Mariah Carey for example) and even actors and actresses!

As far as athletes go, when I take a week off or even 2 from throwing (I play softball) or sprinting or whatever it is, I am more energized than ever and can sprint a lot faster and throw farther.
 
calz said:
i really recommend not taking a break

the day/week you come back, the gains you've made in the past few weeks, will be very hard to lift. you'll be working harder and not burning as many calories.

i am speaking from personal experience.

why are you going six days a week? what is your split?

edit;
i've been working out for about 8 months straight 5 days a week. i recently took a week off because i became deathly sick. the day i came back, i felt tired at the gym and alot of motivation was gone, and weight i could do before, i couldn't do now with the same amount of reps/sets.

the harder i push myself, the more motivated i get.
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you were tired in the gym because you were sick.

your advice is wrong

to the op yes take a good week off drop your cals slightly and then come back raring to go:)
 
If you really are in a state of overtraining, you should keep eating, and rest for at least a week. In fact, if it's really bad, you'll probably want to take a month off. If you really have been working hard for a year it won't melt away in seven days of eating whatever the hell you want and lying around. It won't even go away in 30 days of it. So just play it by ear. If you feel like **** and would rather eat some ice cream than train, take some rest.
 
good advice here... maybe I should take a break too, about 1.5 years haven't missed a workout yet.

What should a person do during their breaks?? Anything in particular (light cardio? Some type of recovery work (whatever that would be))? Or just not lift and do whatever you want?
 
"What should a person do during their breaks?? "

In my opinion: nothing. Just stay away from the gym for a week and don't worry about it. It's refreshing once you accept it.
 
eat healthy, run, do whatever and don't sit on your butt all day long. Do you have a dog you can walk? Some cardio is fine (30 minutes every other day or whatever). Just something other than weightraining. Even walking your dog is considered exercise.
 
DEF said:
" It's refreshing once you accept it.
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This is so true.

I've been doing this for exactly a year as well, and I've had some forced "breaks" due to travelling, etc.. When I come back after 5-6 days of no training (except some very light and short cardio) I can lift more. At my age (almost 40), it's sometimes good to give my shoulders a rest as well, and I've never had an inury yet. It is truly amazing how you can come back after a few days off and start adding plates to your squat routine, or do another entire set of DL's.

Don't get in the mindset that taking a break to rest is being lazy or in some way keeping you from your goals. It is an important part of the process, ESPECIALLY if you are overtraining. Even if you aren't, recovery is required.

I would keep stretching every day, though.
 
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