Time For a Week Off

[tH3NinJ4!!]

Originally Posted by IronMan

Kyle - has research shown any difference between lowering volume and taking time off completely in order to kick start the bodies recuperative abilitites?

Personally, I think I do better by lowering the volume.

We can think of it like this. Our body has to have a certain amount of stress inorder for it to be above the 'adaptive' threshold. If the stress is a considerable amount lower than that threshold the body has no choice but to recover. Think Fitness Fatigue. With an increase in adaption (fitness state) there will be an accumlation of fatigue. During the time of reduced volume fitness state stays level, as fatigue is reduced.

Kc

[copperman]

I am in the middle of my week off right now... I hate, beause I still go to the gym and spot my buddy. It i hard not to lift with him, but if I dont take time off 4 or 5 times per year, My weights decrease and I lose my desire to workout. When i come back I feel like I can throw any weight around that is put in front of me

copperman, have you ever tried Kyle's advice? Rather than give a balls to the wall workout like you normally would, why not simply decrease the volume for a week or two? If you are still going to the gym, what do you really have to lose?

[copperman]

I have tried that... whether it worked or not, I still felt like my body needed rest. I know taking a week off works for me, and I love the anxiety and the refreshed feeling when I go back in the following week.