How long should a short break be?

[PixlPushr]

Ok, After 12 weeks of not missing maybe 1 or 2 days..
3 days on, one day off...

I want to take a short break, long enough for me shoulder to get a bit better, and my elbow to stop feelin so sore..

Yesterday was a planned day off, Im thinkin, skip today, tomorrow. Saturday is maybe...


Whatcha think?
to long? to short?

[ChrisH]

If you mean a break from lifting altogether as many do. I think most take a week or so off every so often to allow their body to really heal and recover. Many times, as reported, you come back even stronger after that break because your body was able to really recover from all of the lifting.

If your shoulder/elbow is the reason then I don't know what to say. If you want to take a week from all lifting then that is fine, if just for your shouder, then drop your shoulder exercises for a week or however long it takes your shoulder to heal.

[Alex(AJ)]

you should take a week off every 7-9weeks

[PixlPushr]

Originally posted by Alex(AJ)
you should take a week off every 7-9weeks

Even if im in "fat loss mode"

[jay`]

I just took 2 weeks off, felt a bit weaker but after that 1st workout i felt back to where i was. I actually lost fat during those 2 weeks and my body was feeling really good.

Then i just did my first cycle of workouts (3 days set over 5) felt really good but then i had work, and its a "germ factory" with EVERYONE there sick as a dog, so now im taking another small break as to not run myself into the ground. I'm pretty pissed about it, because I really felt that the 2 weeks off was the perfect period i needed and that i would pack on the mass and strength over the coming weeks. Oh well, a little setback.

[cursor]

The question of whether or not to take time off from your program will depend on what your program looks like. If you incorporate some reasonable periodization as part of your long-term plan, then the question of relief has already been handled. Just as dieting or bulking at a constant rate won't allow you to reach your goals, doing the same routine week after week will offer only abbreviated results (and will, no doubt, require rest—or a change).

[PixlPushr]

Originally posted by cursor
The question of whether or not to take time off from your program will depend on what your program looks like. If you incorporate some reasonable periodization as part of your long-term plan, then the question of relief has already been handled. Just as dieting or bulking at a constant rate won't allow you to reach your goals, doing the same routine week after week will offer only abbreviated results (and will, no doubt, require rest—or a change).

Hmm... so maybe it might be a good idea to switch my routine around a bit? Instead of 3 days on, one day off, Maybe i should change it up a bit when i go back? (I dont realy want to take to much time off..)

[cursor]

Graduation, transition and evolution from one defined phase to another — that's what you're after. Plan them out in 12 week blocks (or some other increment). You could even have phases of varying length. Cycling, or rotating through, those phases, provides your body with more uniform and moderated growth (and rest).