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AR15.COM
2/10/2010 7:22:48 AM EDT
You dont see this talked about much here and i hate getting off my routine but this is a great article on taking a rest week from the gym and it's effects on muscle growth.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/russ24.htm
2/10/2010 8:48:37 AM EDT
[#1]
Ive started doing this every fourth week. I go from 4 main workouts to 2, with one of those being reduced volume and intensity. I actually really like it cause I feel its not just a physical break, but a mental break. Its one of the main contributing factors to what I feel is responsible for my recent increases in strength.
2/10/2010 8:55:56 AM EDT
[#2]
I take one week off completely every eight weeks.
2/10/2010 10:38:27 AM EDT
[#3]
I can really feel the difference when im back in the gym, but every day im not in there i feel like im getting lazier and lazier..
2/10/2010 12:49:45 PM EDT
[#4]
Depending on how you have your lifting week set up, every 4th week is a "deload" week on 5/3/1.  My 2nd deload is next week, looking forward to hitting the gym quickly and getting out.
2/10/2010 4:41:09 PM EDT
[#5]
I used to not take any time off, but I think this might be a good idea.

I just went 16 weeks straight doing an intermediate level weightlifting program and I think I wound up seriously overtrained.  I was totally exhausted, grumpy, wanted to sleep all the time, lost my appetite, etc....  I took a week off, and didn't feel better, so maybe I was overtrained to the point where one week off was insufficient.  Anyway, I feel a little better now since I've resumed my lifting.

I think in the future, I will take every 8th week off, or at least do a deload that week.
2/10/2010 7:38:48 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
I take one week off completely every eight weeks.


After a severe bout of overtraining, I adopted the 8 weeks on / 1 week off cycle, and I've never had that problem again.

2/11/2010 4:24:53 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
I used to not take any time off, but I think this might be a good idea.

I just went 16 weeks straight doing an intermediate level weightlifting program and I think I wound up seriously overtrained.  I was totally exhausted, grumpy, wanted to sleep all the time, lost my appetite, etc....  I took a week off, and didn't feel better, so maybe I was overtrained to the point where one week off was insufficient.  Anyway, I feel a little better now since I've resumed my lifting.

I think in the future, I will take every 8th week off, or at least do a deload that week.


I use to overtrain also, it took me about 2 weeks to feel back to "normal". Its easy to overtrain especially when you get on a schedule..