Your thoughts on taking a week off now and again.

polishpaddy

I'm wondering i've been lifting weights since feb and have only taken 1 weeek off. I train doing starting strenght and i'm still adding weight to the bar. If i took a week off would it be pointless or what? Do you take weeks off?

Sangre

Unless you're genuinely exhausted down to the bones I wouldn't as long as you're making gains.

Weeks off will come naturally in the form of holidays, busy schedule, sickness, travel etc.,

Of course, if you were doing a very specific, high intensity program for a set time a rest might called for at the end.

cardio,shoot me

if i was knackered id push my friday workout to sathurday or something similar, havent had to yet. Id only take a week off if injured or holidays or busy or something.

Colm_OReilly

Rip responded to this on his forum once. I can't recall the exact language he used but it was along the lines of "take a rest when you need to, but not because it's written down somewhere that you need rest after 6 weeks or so"

With SS, keep going until you stall. Then reset and make smaller steps. Then stall. Then reset again. Then once more. Then you'll prob be bored...

Hope this helps,
Colm

Brian?

I reckon that if you feel you need a week off, you might as well take one.

Your gains won't disappear in a week.

polishpaddy

I don't really feel that exhausted as i only do starting strenght.I think i reset now a few times. I set a goal and when i get to that i keep setting another goal....I want to stop adding weight lol but i can't........................

Thanks for the advice, some very good advice.

J-Fit

I think there is something to be said for it. For the last 2 weeks I've been hit by cold/flu/allergy symptoms and my sleep has been lest restful than usual, I train a Westside method which means I'm maxing out every week and I'm sure this has an impact on immune function etc. Simply anecdotal but its funny this thread came up because I had just made the decision to take next week off!

Baldie

My week off is nearly finished....

Money Shot

I'm a firm believer in listening to your body. I wouldn't be able to lift heavy all year round even if I wanted to, so I take breaks and do different programmes for a while, play other sports or just rest up if I need it.

Resting is good and not to be feared - you will probably come back the stronger and more motivated for it, after a week or two back training anyway.

Degsy

A week off every so often is absolutely essential imo.
If you're knackering yourself with heavy lifting for weeks on end you need to take some time off occasionaly to aid recovery and stop you getting injuries.

kevpants

J-Fit wrote: »

I think there is something to be said for it. For the last 2 weeks I've been hit by cold/flu/allergy symptoms and my sleep has been lest restful than usual, I train a Westside method which means I'm maxing out every week and I'm sure this has an impact on immune function etc. Simply anecdotal but its funny this thread came up because I had just made the decision to take next week off!

If you're training Westside be sure to take weeks off. Up to every 4th week is acceptable. Recovery is important, weeks off if you are lifting heavy are essential. If you're just starting out you can get away with a rest period maybe every 6-8 weeks or even more but OP if you're worried about losing gains by taking a week off now and you've been training since Feb non stop you don't have to be. You'll come back stronger after the week off.

J-Fit

kevpants wrote: »

If you're training Westside be sure to take weeks off. Up to every 4th week is acceptable. Recovery is important, weeks off if you are lifting heavy are essential. If you're just starting out you can get away with a rest period maybe every 6-8 weeks or even more but OP if you're worried about losing gains by taking a week off now and you've been training since Feb non stop you don't have to be. You'll come back stronger after the week off.

I agree. When I first began the conjugate method, I derived that you can max out every week all year round if you switch up the movements. I now know this is a little off the mark for a drug free lifter despite the fact Louis Simmons says otherwise. I'm looking forward to next week off.

Dan@IPG

common choices:
(1) plan your training with a deload week every 4-8 weeks
(2) plan complete training breaks around holidays / vacation
(3) allow emergency situations to dictate your breaks (if you've a hectic life)