Max OT Week off

[Kitty]

Hi people,

I have been training Max OT for my first 8 weeks now and am really pleased with my progress. I've gained weight and increased strength so i cant complain at all.

Just had my week off though and i hated it!!!! By about the third day i felt lazy and felt like i had a slow puncture. By the end of the week i felt tiny. I know this is all in my head but i have actually lost a pound or two. Not the end of the world but just wondered if this was the general trend.
Having said that i was ill towards the end of my week off and had two days of not eating correctly.

It knocked my motivation and although i have been back now for a week i still dont feel as good as i did on week 7. Hopefully another week and i'll be back on the increase again.

[Dan C]

I'm not too familar with max-ot like so many people here are, but typically off-weeks inserted into a program are for when you've been at it for a while, pushing the envelope, nearing a plateau and sometimes on the virge of overtraining. The off-week serves as a mental and physical refresher, when timed properly, you should welcome it and come back feeling hungry for the weights.

No program is a one-size fits all though. This is why I don't pay much attention to the routines outlines in books and magazines, but the theory behind it! Learn why the author recommends the training schedule they do and tailor it to YOU.

If you don't *feel* like you need an off-week, don't take it. Listening to your body will take you further than listening to a generic routine. What you've experienced is a valuable lesson.

[skyman]

I took my off week and dedicated it to a little cardio. I don't know if thats allowed though .....

[cursor]

When you take time off from lifting heavy (like Max-OT prescribes), that doesn't mean that you cannot play sports, go for walks/runs, or do other challenging activities. Certainly, your eating patterns should remain responsible.

[Kitty]

Cheers for your replies guys.
Apparently according to the MAX OT rulebook the week off should be totally for rest. No CV no strenuous activities just rest.
I ate correctly for the most part until i got ill, then i couldnt physically keep food down for a day so that knocked me off track.
Im feeling better about my workouts now though. Just got to focus on the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives. I'm still up from eight weeks ago so the progress is still good.

[.V.]

Hey Kitty, when training Max OT the way they reccomend, you are working at your maximum ability, pushing to the very edge of the limits your body can handle, possibly setting PR's on every workout either with weight, reps, or at least if it is a repeat workout - improving the quality of each rep. That taxes the CNS and the recovery is needed. Some activity isn't forbidden, just hard strenuous activity. If you are eating the way they reccomend, you aren't eating any "extra", you are using exactly what your body needs for each day based on your activities. If the postworkout feedings are being done during the cycle, and not done after the cycle - there is probably some water loss during the week off. Think about it, you aren't having your postworkout dextrose to spike insulin and pull water with nutrients into the muscle cells every day. If you also take the week off from creatine (if you use it), that will also result in some water loss.

One thing about Max OT is the individualization you have to put into it over time, learning how to make it work most effectively for your body. Myself, sometimes I end up weaker if I take too much time off, or not enough time off. If I get it just right (usually 4-5 days) then I come back stronger.

If you were sick and couldn't eat enough to suit your body's needs - even for off time, then that would also account for the weight loss.