Do you take a weeks break every 6 - 8 weeks?

AARRRGH

As the title says, do you take a weeks break every 6 - 8 weeks? This is something I do, but I always feel really guilty about it, even if I agree the rest is good for me.

What about you?

amazingemmet

No I deload if i need it which is rare. Its all a matter of program design and intensity planning really. Like if I spend 4 weeks pounding away at heavy triples etc I know for the next block to up the volume and drop the weight.

thirtyfoot

I follow a 4 week cycle of Build, Load, Peak, Recovery. Volume increasing by about 5-10% in each phase and then recovery is back to 50% of volume.

Recovery week is crucial I find. Allows the body and mind recoup and focus for the next phase. Last night was our first session back after our recovery week and we had a great session, all athletes finished the particular session for the first time in 6 weeks even though it had the highest volume and intensity all season.

matrixroyal

For general recovery, is total rest required or just a rest for certain parts that you were working hard on ?

For instance, if I do a heavy leg session this morning and tomorrow I hit chest / biceps and the next day back / shoulder, is this not giving the parts enough time to rest ? ( while I am working another part )

BossArky

AARRRGH wrote: »

do you take a weeks break every 6 - 8 weeks?

Not intentionally. If I was an elite athlete then I'd probably worry about this more.

Most people probably find that life gets in the way and forces situations whereby training is put on the back burner for a week or so every now and again.

eg. hols / work travels / exams / sickness / random emergencies

dioltas

Agree with BossArky there.

Flex

BossArky wrote: »

Not intentionally. If I was an elite athlete then I'd probably worry about this more.

Most people probably find that life gets in the way and forces situations whereby training is put on the back burner for a week or so every now and again.

eg. hols / work travels / exams / sickness / random emergencies

Same here, dont take week long breaks or anything intentionally. If I feel Im overtraining I reduce the volume for a week or so (less sets per workout I mean). I probably wont be training much for the week of Christmas and New Years though, so thatll be my break I guess

J.S. Pill

BossArky wrote: »

Not intentionally. If I was an elite athlete then I'd probably worry about this more.

Most people probably find that life gets in the way and forces situations whereby training is put on the back burner for a week or so every now and again.

eg. hols / work travels / exams / sickness / random emergencies

I do use intensity cycling which would entail a week off every 10-12 weeks but as BossArky said, life usually dictates when that week is going to be. I had planned my most recent scheduled week off to co-incide with xmas but got a I've had a cold for the last week so I've just counted this as my week off and modified my schedule accordingly.

See yis in the Gym on Stephens day so...

the drifter

i break when my body tells me it needs to break...generally 5-6 weeks...although last cycle ran 10 weeks with no issues