How often do you take a break from lifting?

James456 · 08-08-2007, 02:54 PM

I ask this because i ve been weight training for almost a year half now. And theres only one week in which i can remember taking off and it wasnt the most ideal week off either. I am pretty certain that its the reason why suffered a minor injury recently.

So yeah to the question.

How often do you take time off the iron?
For how long?
What do you do with your spare time (i.e. do relax a bit or go out partying)?
How does it affect your training when you come back?

MidwestMonster · 08-08-2007, 03:00 PM

Not very, just took a three week break a month ago. Also had a week break due to calf tearing.

From now on, I'm only gonna take week breks every 5-6 months or so.

I just did some studying/watched videos monstly. No alchohol.

I came back feeling stronger than before my break.

What'd u do?

Arlecchino · 08-08-2007, 03:02 PM

Hardly ever, if I can help it.

James456 · 08-08-2007, 03:03 PM

I dont know yet. But there been a recuring pain in the back of my head last three workouts. Seeing GP tomorrow

tgk_pl · 08-08-2007, 04:35 PM

I used to take a week off after a competition when I first started 4 years ago but I take don't take time off now. I just train a little lighter for a week now.

vegasdsm · 08-08-2007, 04:43 PM

IF i dont get injured (*knocks on wood) every 8-10 months i'll take a week off....

if i go a year straight, i'll take 2 weeks....

Danimal · 08-08-2007, 04:44 PM

I take a week after every meet, and if I'm not competing, a week about every 3 months.

WowWeakForum · 08-08-2007, 04:53 PM

So yeah to the question.

Quote:

How often do you take time off the iron?

8 weeks on, 1 week off

Quote:

What do you do with your spare time (i.e. do relax a bit or go out partying)?
How does it affect your training when you come back?

I find kids 18 and under who I suspect might post in powerlifting forums and just beat the hell out of them without mercy. It slightly effects my deadlifts when I resume training because my knuckles are pretty damn sore.

Darracq · 08-08-2007, 08:32 PM

I dont really take anytime off unless i get sick, so it works out to about a week every year, I probably need to take more time off though.

JTwood · 08-08-2007, 08:41 PM

im unintentionally taking 2 weeks off. im going on vacation i would like to keep training but its been 7 months with out a break. right when i come back im restarting my PL 5x5 though. probably for the best.

powerlifter70 · 08-08-2007, 08:51 PM

I take a 2 weeks off at the end of 12 weeks of training. It is usually the week before a meet and a week after.

Lean_and_Mean · 08-08-2007, 09:40 PM

It's kind of random for me but I try to take a week or two off every 6 - 10 weeks. Sometimes I will just take a session or two off randomly if I feel really overtrained.

everista · 08-09-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerlifter70

I take a 2 weeks off at the end of 12 weeks of training. It is usually the week before a meet and a week after.

What kind of bench routines do you do during those 12 wks of training?

powerlifter70 · 08-09-2007, 02:56 AM

I train a heavy day and a speed day. On the heavy day, I will work lots of triples down to heavy singles...either full rom or board presses. I then hit my assistance work.

Speed day is just that with bands/chain's 10 sets of 3, then my assistance work.

everista · 08-09-2007, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerlifter70

I train a heavy day and a speed day. On the heavy day, I will work lots of triples down to heavy singles...either full rom or board presses. I then hit my assistance work.

Speed day is just that with bands/chain's 10 sets of 3, then my assistance work.

What do your sets and reps for tri's and other assistance work look like?

And which movements do you prefer for assistance?

Westside_Reflex · 08-09-2007, 03:18 AM

i dont set it in stone really. when i feel i could do with a break. usually after 8+ weeks

snoob · 08-09-2007, 03:24 AM

I plan a week a year starting with next week, have only been lifting since january so i can't really say what i use to do

powerlifter70 · 08-09-2007, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everista

What do your sets and reps for tri's and other assistance work look like?

And which movements do you prefer for assistance?

My assistance work is usually 3 different exercises for 3 to 4 sets of 5. I like floor presses, rack lockouts, CGBP and skull crushers.

PeonLover · 08-09-2007, 06:20 AM

Every 9-12 weeks I'll take 1 week off. If theres any minor nagging injuries to a certain bodypart I'll skip that lift for a week. IE: Shoulder problem, don't bench next week, hip problem, don't squat next week, etc. But a week off every 9-12 weeks for me avoids overtraining and lets everything recover from the pounding that its taken.

Euqinom · 08-09-2007, 06:26 AM

Depends, I should take a deloadweek every2 months, but right now, I can't get myself to drop my weights.

Last time, I just resorted to lifting 30-50% for time or to failure or something. Just relaxed training. When I returned to me regular programme I was much stronger. Or at least, it seemed like I was stronger

TheKansan · 08-09-2007, 07:38 AM

I just did a deload last week after 14 straight weeks of training, but I didn't stop lifting, I just lifted fewer sets. I still did cardio every day though.

Newbtime · 08-09-2007, 07:46 AM

i don't set a time, i can feel when i need a break and when i don't...

ArchDukeOfTops · 08-09-2007, 10:33 AM

I have recently learned to take a week every 3-4 months whether I want to or not. I finally realized you can't get weaker in just a week or two, and the benefits far out weigh any stupid reason I can think of to not take time off.

I've decided to take a few months off from PL all together, to do some BB type stuff (no homo) and get lean. I'm tired of being strong but fat.

Kiknskreem · 08-09-2007, 10:38 AM

I used to just go until I felt beat up (usually every 10 weeks or so) but now I'm doign 4 weeks on, 1 week off.

Two intermediate weeks, followed by a heavy week, where the goal is to set a reasonable PR, and another heavy week where I go for broke and may or may not get a PR.

The amount of strongman and GPP training I'm doing declines as the weeks go on.

James456 · 08-09-2007, 02:03 PM

Thanks for all the comments guys really apprecaite it

everista · 08-09-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerlifter70

My assistance work is usually 3 different exercises for 3 to 4 sets of 5. I like floor presses, rack lockouts, CGBP and skull crushers.

Since I am doing a better formed program (pretty much resembles your's) I do rack lockouts, CGBP and skull crushers. I was already doing CGBP and skull crushers, but just added rack lockouts.

On floor presses, could rack lock outs be subbed for them, depending on where the spotter arms are placed?

I would do floor presses, but my garage has a concrete floor that will be < 30 come winter. So no need to do them, like them, then not be able to do them w/o getting frostbite..

So if, in theory, they can be subbed, I probably should.

disbeast57 · 08-09-2007, 03:32 PM

when i started to feel worn down or like i didnt want to be at the gym ever. I took a week off and rested. By the end of the week i was ready to go back. It was about every 6-8 months.

monst4r · 08-09-2007, 03:33 PM

Wow?

Am i the only one alerted by th responses in this thread?

This is a powerlifting forum so i'm assuming low reps are pretty much guaranteed in everyones training here

but yet no-one deloads or takes breaks to give themself a break?

You guys should seriously consider taking a break, it will only help your gains.

If you're training with intensity you should be atleast takin a maybe 1-2 week break every 8 weeks or so, some people its less some = more

disbeast57 · 08-09-2007, 03:38 PM

I never told anyone this...idk if any of you do this. A month before my comp. i would take a week off, come back and train hard. Rest is key. The teen forum is cracking me up.

Each body part 2 times a week. They think there is no such thing as over training.

powerlifter70 · 08-09-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everista

On floor presses, could rack lock outs be subbed for them, depending on where the spotter arms are placed?

Floor presses and rack lockouts come no where close to each other. On floor presses, you are handling the weight all the time. On R/L you are starting from a deadstop at the bottom and just pushing up. So no...you cant sub one for the other but you can train each one.