Recovery Week

[LifeLesOrdinary]

How often do you take one?
-I'm assuming that everyone is probably different.

Are you doing any kind of exercise during the "Recovery Week"?

If you are, where do you draw the line as to what is acceptable as "Active Recovery" and what’s too much?

Thanks,
Holly

[Mindi911]

I'm going to start following a great friends foot steps and do a deload every four to six weeks or so

[twinnett]

I take about 5 days complete rest (other than dog walks) every 8-10 weeks

[gfundaro]

I'm doing that this week actually. I have been going strong for about 10 weeks, drastically overtrained, and fighting off respiratory gunk :P I still have done 30 min cardio a day and a ton of stretching and some calisthenics (push ups, pullups etc.), but that's it. You don't want to lift or go on a 2 day climbing trip or something, but you can still be active.

[Defiant1]

Originally Posted by LifeLesOrdinary

How often do you take one?
-I'm assuming that everyone is probably different.

Are you doing any kind of exercise during the "Recovery Week"?

If you are, where do you draw the line as to what is acceptable as "Active Recovery" and what?s too much?

Thanks,
Holly

First, you look like Lauren Ambrose in your avi.


Second, it is better to exercise during your recovery week if possible. This takes advantage of the bodies tendency to respond to your workouts as if they are still the "hard" ones, but with more recovery resources.

Basic rule: cut volume and/or frequency and maintain "intensity" (weights used).

Just do less, less often, but with your normal weights.

Minimalize your "neural" load.

[sherdi]

There are a few different thoughts on this but all suggest we do need to use time out to recovery. When I have recovery weeks, I usually don't do ANY weight training, but I do daily walks and stretching. I find this helps me relax too.

However, as others have said, you can choose to just "deload" by doing 1 or 2 full body workouts with light weights. However, I find that if you are incorporating different reps/sets/weights in your routines, this does not prove as beneficial as a complete rest week.

Rest weeks help muscles grow as well as assisting with repairing and making you come back strong. It's also a good way psychologically get over the "staleness" of general routine.

As you have time with your recovery weeks, I always try to do something different. This can be either exercise oriented or just something you have wanted to do. Examples, bike riding, reading, cooking, any other hobbies, rock climbing, treking, swimming, etc...

[Ever84]

Wow! This was a very helpful post for me. I haven't taken a week off for 6 months! That includes cardio and weights...

[LifeLesOrdinary]

Wow, thanks to everyone for all the great info. I'm currently taking this week off and have been climbing the walls to get back in the gym. Atleast I know now that I don't have to be completly lazy during this week (should help to take the edge off of my energy level)

Originally Posted by Defiant1

First, you look like Lauren Ambrose in your avi.

blush... thanks, but I'm still nowhere near as thin as she is.


ttfn

[Samus_Fan]

I was considering taking a week off at the end of my 12 weeks, and now I know that many others do the same or similar.

.... My question is, do you eat less to make up for less activity, do you eat at maintenance, etc?