How often do you guys take a week off?

Jim Mills

Active member
I do it about every 3 months but I'm thinking of doing it every 8 weeks..... I just took a week of last week and started lifting again on Monday (chest) and I'm sore as a bastard.... And I like it!!... I did arms last night and I'm starting to feel it now.
 
I took six days off last week due to having a kick ass flu bug. Came back Monday and did chest and was able to add two reps to my best set. Nothing hurt for the first time in awhile.
 
I usually go 12 weeks but I perpetually overtain. I just don't feel right if I am not hittin the gym. I always feel much better after taking a week off however and I want to start doing it every 6 weeks.
 
I take a week long vacation twice a year and usually go away....during this time, I do ZERO exercise (aside from 12oz curls). Other than vacation, if I start to feel worn down, I take an extra day or two off.

Gumbo
 
I take off every 10-12 wks depending on what else is going on(e.g. school, work, etc.).
 
I take a week to 10 days off every 6 weeks. When I was younger I used to brag how I had gone for over 2 years without taking time off :frustrate


CROWLER
 
usually i like to take a full week every 8 weeks or so .. and then invariably i manage to take 2 full weeks off in a row at least twice a year due to being super busy
 
I usually take off somewhere around after 10-12 weeks. I usually rely on my body more then a set schedule to know when to take a week or so to heal up some.
 
I've worked the rest into my program. I do 4 weeks of slightly excessive volume, which leads me to eventually overtrain. At the end of these 4 weeks I'll usually feel a little bit tired all the time, like the onset of overtraining, take 3-4 days off, then come back for 4 weeks of lower volume. After 4 months of this, I'll take a real week or even 2 off the gym. When I'm on cycle, I wait after PCT. Of course.
 
I usually just listen to my body. I can tell when Im starting to get worn down and then I'll take about 5-7 days off. I usually start to feel like this every 14 weeks or so.
 
I feel guilty when I'm not in the gym lifting. I also always worry that I'm going to get weaker if I take a week off. I know thats mostly in my head. Actually if I take a week off, I notice the opposite. I feel better and can usually lift more. As it is now, I usually will only take a week off if I am sick or something. But I think I'm going to try to start doing something like 8 weeks on and 1 week off.
 
I think you'll find with a week off every 6-8 weeks, you will give your muscles a shock when you start back up.... Plus you give them a chance to heal up nicely before you tear them up again :hammer:
 
I usually take off every 2 to 3 months depending on how I feel. The past two weeks I've missed a couple of workouts due to a bad cold and recently a horrible stomach virus.
 
If you come back stronger after taking a week off, why not allow more time off between your workouts normally? If you got stronger after a week off that is proof that you did not lose anything during that week as you obviously gained from the extra time off. Just something to think about........


Yes I'm a HIT advocate.
 
I believe in listening to my body. I know when I'm worn down and my joints hurt and then I try to take some time off. I admit it's hard to do but I think you're body will tell you when you need to rest.
 
I usually take a few days off after about 12 weeks or so. Unless Im feeling sick, i will take off then. I don't take a week off, I usually take a few days off. I usually go real light the other days. I don't like taking time away from the gym.
 
phil216 said:
If you come back stronger after taking a week off, why not allow more time off between your workouts normally? If you got stronger after a week off that is proof that you did not lose anything during that week as you obviously gained from the extra time off. Just something to think about........


Yes I'm a HIT advocate.

You make me laugh dude, have you posted in a single thread without hawking HIT?..Though, I suppose this would be one of the few that it is warranted..Not starting anything either, just merely stating..Anyway, I like to do around 3-4 months as well
 
Hey what can I say I like HIT. With that being said i have posted may times withut mentioning HIT or Mentzer when in the other parts of this board.
 
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