Taking off from the gym for a week.

[sweetkissees918]

Its killing me!!!! How many of you actually take a full week off from time to time? Anyone come back stronger?

[Euqinom]

Its killing me!!!! How many of you actually take a full week off from time to time? Anyone come back stronger?

Yups, me. Focus on other stuff, don't torture yourself by constantly reminding yourself you want to be in the gym.

[oregonchick76]

A week, two weeks, etc. Sometimes feel a tiny bit off on the first day back, but generally feel very motivated and refreshed, and often hit new PR's after time off. In the grand scheme of things, someone who lifts regularly for years is not going to see any sort of decline after a period of time off.

[freebirdmac]

My first week back is usually lighter, but all is back to normal the following week. I don't need to schedule a week off. They occur naturally via vacations, illness, or injury.

[sonti]

I've just started a 3-5 month hiatus from lifting and I just fill my mind with lots of programming knowledge, ideas, recipes, etc. I have actually found that I can come back stronger when I do this... but perhaps it's because false newbie gains just perk me up more

[sweetkissees918]

Yeah i didnt actually schedule this, I was starting to feel burned out, stressed, etc.. So, i figured it was time to back off a little. But today is my first day back.. and im excited!

[PrincessDaisy]

I always take a whole week off every 2 or 3 months. It relaxes me and also gets me all fired up to get back into it! It's so weird because at first its like OMG I need a break! Than when I'm on break I get super anxious to get back and feel bad about stuff I'm eating that I shouldn't.

[kimm4]

Last year I took the entire month of Nov off. I was in need of a mental break and wanted to focus on being ready for the holiday. I plan on doing it again this year and I can't wait.

Went back feeling completely refreshed.

[sweetkissees918]

Today was my first day back... Results: Stronger! (so far) I think i will definitely include taking a week off as needed. It was a little nervous about it, but ive come to the conclusion that a period of rest is a good chunk of growing and becoming stronger and wow kimm4 a month? Wow, I would be losing my mind haha!

[wakechica]

Came back stronger once, this time come back weaker but probably due to stress/tiredness and under eating.

[macro234lly]

There’s no single training frequency that will work equally well for everyone. But for most people, training each muscle group once every 2-5 days is about right.
The first option is to train your whole body three times a week on alternate days, normally Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday or Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will work just as well. This is a great routine for beginners and works well during your first year or so of training.

[dalkristel]

Just taken a week off myself - due to being poorly I tried to train twice last week but probably put my health back more, still got sore throat but had a run and went to the gym this morning, I feel so much better for it, it killed me not training, so frustrating but from what I have read it probably will have done me good to take a little time off anyway - glad you enjoyed your first day back too, its so nice to get back into the swing of things isn't it!

[habsco]

I have to take 10 days off this coming week due to vacation, then when I get back, I'm having surgery and need to take 3 weeks off. It's killing me. But I guess that's life right?