Time to take a week off?

[AHB900]

Hey guys, I have been cutting and lifting as heavy as possible for about 4 months now with no break at all from weight lifting. The last week or so I have been getting some lower back pains (like locking style pains) and elbow pains. I was wondering if it would be a smart idea to take a week off from weight training. I will still keep up my cardio and healthy clean low calorie eating, but without the weight lifting. Is this a bad idea? Should I stop the cardio also?

Thanks

[Fmayi1101]

if you feel injured take a couple days off man. You dont want to injure yourself then not be able to workout for a couple weeks. Take a couple days off see how you feel maintain your diet and see how it goes.

[AHB900]

ugh yeah the thing is im seeing such great progress...

[breaktheground]

I'd chill for 5-7 days man, getting pains is never a good thing. Week long breaks are usually to give your mind and body a rest, so if you think you need it, do it. On my breaks, i'll maybe do a slow run every other day that week just to get outside and feel like im not being COMPLETELY lazy.

[AHB900]

Yeah I think I will take next week off. I already messed up my knee in high school when I pushed the weights to hard (I still cant workout my legs with more than my body weight) I don't feel like doing the same for my elbow or even worse my back.

[sureshk]

ugh yeah the thing is im seeing such great progress...

and you will see that progress waste away to nothing if you injure yourself.

do yourself a favour and just take a couple of days off. it won't hurt anything, but if you don't you can potentially be forced to take a long time off due to injury.

[mpipes]

Take the time off.

If you don't, the progress you've been making will go away when you have to take 8 weeks off because it developed into a more serious injury.

[koatliki]

Also take diet break (eat at maintenance) for 2 weeks every 2 months. It is very important to normalize your hormones.

[AHB900]

Also take diet break (eat at maintenance) for 2 weeks every 2 months. It is very important to normalize your hormones.

Well last week I was pretty bad like I ate out a few times 2 unhealthy big calorie meals and and nice steak dinner with a good amount of calories (I still lost some weight some how) so I think I already took my break.

[koatliki]

Well last week I was pretty bad like I ate out a few times 2 unhealthy big calorie meals and and nice steak dinner with a good amount of calories (I still lost some weight some how) so I think I already took my break.

No, you didn't. One meal or even a day does not affect your hormones substantially. Your body still thinks you're going through famine.