taking a "rest week"

[BlahBlahYouToo]

going to take a week off, partly because it's harder for me to get to a gym this week, partly because i read it's good to give your body a rest after months of working out.

however, should i still do some light lifting, or calesthenics? cardio? basketball?
or just give my body complete rest.

i hate that i lose strength if i don't work out for more than a week.


whoops, move to H&F please.

Moved to H&F
AT Mod, Gillbot

 

[StageLeft]

You won't lose strength with a week off.

I'd only take the time off if you've been going pretty hard. Ideally eat well and sleep a lot. SOme cardio wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

If anything, you actually gain strength after a week off if you've been consistently working out. It gives your nervous system and muscles a nice little break and they actually come back at 100%, which is better than what they were before the break. On a week off, do things you enjoy, but no lifting. No hard cardio. If you wanna play basketball, then fine, but don't go to the gym for anything other than pleasure.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
If anything, you actually gain strength after a week off if you've been consistently working out. It gives your nervous system and muscles a nice little break and they actually come back at 100%, which is better than what they were before the break. On a week off, do things you enjoy, but no lifting. No hard cardio. If you wanna play basketball, then fine, but don't go to the gym for anything other than pleasure.

+1. there was that really good article someone posted about taking rest weeks that i thought was really well argued - the writer used a metaphor of water in a sink being constantly drained being the equivalent of constantly working out without taking breaks to regain mental/phyiscal strength. anyone remember what i'm talkin about?

 

[brikis98]

If you've been pushing hard for a while, then you'll probably come back stronger after a week off. It can be "active rest" - that is, some very light cardio (e.g. walking), stretching (e.g. yoga) and skill work (e.g. practicing handstands). Just make sure to keep the intensity and volume very low.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: brikis98
If you've been pushing hard for a while, then you'll probably come back stronger after a week off. It can be "active rest" - that is, some very light cardio (e.g. walking), stretching (e.g. yoga) and skill work (e.g. practicing handstands). Just make sure to keep the intensity and volume very low.

This has been my experience. I can always up the weights after a week off. I take one week off every 4-6 weeks.

 

[coreyb]

I find it hard to take a week off unless I'm injured. I'm thinking like every 8 weeks would be nice.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: coreyb
I find it hard to take a week off unless I'm injured. I'm thinking like every 8 weeks would be nice.

Yep, it really depends on the individual. Usually I have so much stuff going on, I take intermittent breaks every 5 or so weeks. Otherwise, I usually take one every 10 weeks. Everybody's got a different schedule.

 

[Redfraggle]

As much as I hate taking breaks, they really are needed. You'll feel much better after one. Don't be a slug while resting, but don't do anything intense either.

 

[darkxshade]

A rest week would be nice but I find that it's impossible for me during summer when I'm more physically active whether or not I go to the gym.

 

[Trey22]

I didn't take time off for quite a while and my body finally said "enough!", so I took two weeks off, and wow did I feel good afterwards.

Now I take a week off every 4-6 weeks.

 

[EvilYoda]

I read a good article on this yesterday - if you can still get into the gym, they recommended a "thirds" rule: either you cut your weight by a third and maintain volume, or cut volume but at the same original weight.

Either way, a week off will do you well. Certain body parts take longer to repair than others (joints, perhaps). I haven't taken a whole week off in a while, but I did have Friday-Sunday off and I felt great during yesterday's workout.