Deloads/ Breaks

[IronInsanity]

What kind of, if any, schedule do you keep for deloads or breaks from the gym? Do you keep a certain schedule or just listen to your body when it needs a break? I’ve recently rededicated myself to lifting as hard as I can and I’m loving it. In those times I really hate taking a week off even when I know I need it.

How do you handle delaods or breaks?

 

[BD Cool]

I take off from lifting 1 to 2 months per year... typically in December, January, or February. I still do cardio 4 - 5 days per week and eat somewhat clean, but no lifting. The break actually helps me more mentally than physically... it keeps me from burning out. Going to the gym is something I feel I should want to do, not have to do.

 

[Massive G]

What kind of, if any, schedule do you keep for deloads or breaks from the gym? Do you keep a certain schedule or just listen to your body when it needs a break? I’ve recently rededicated myself to lifting as hard as I can and I’m loving it. In those times I really hate taking a week off even when I know I need it.

How do you handle delaods or breaks?

I never take off. I have a payday in which I blast heavy and hard. The next workout will be a playday which I go in and do a ton of light sets with 5 reps nowhere near failure.
Keeps me fresh. Basically hitting body parts heavy every two weeks or so.

 

[parttimer]

I take a break whenever I get sick or break something, last month I spent 3 weeks in AFIB, so I basically ran a marathon for those weeks and considered it my cardio. Otherwise when we go on vacation to an all inclusive I'll go 2 days just to get something in. Those gyms aren't super loaded with equipment so it's something to keep me moving.

 

[Littleguy]

I have found that LIFE gives me all the breaks I need in one form or the other, either travelling, I injure myself again or just another holiday.
Train WHEN you can is my motto cuz sometimes logistically it doesn't work out very well.
Cheers

 

[beefnewton]

I deload frequently, usually every morning.

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

I do a deload every 6 weeks with a 5 day light training sessions. My schedule is very precise with max effort for 6 weeks (BJJ training with weight lifting) then always a week of light light weight lifting with easy sessions at class rolling. I am 52 and look mostly at injury prevention, maintaining strength and some size. I competed as a bodybuilder from 1992-2010 and competed at a middle weight (2010 i had no right making 176 but i did). I current sit around 205-210 most of time. Deloads definitely have saved my ass over the years. Injuries can fuckin ruin you for weeks and sometimes months so doing so makes it possible to train very hard now that iam into my 50”s.

 

[genetic freak]

I have found that LIFE gives me all the breaks I need in one form or the other, either travelling, I injure myself again or just another holiday.
Train WHEN you can is my motto cuz sometimes logistically it doesn't work out very well.
Cheers

This is where I am at. I used to plan deloads, but found life plans them for me most of the time. Sometimes it may be no gym at all for a week and other times it may be hotel gym for some easy pump work.

 

[Halo]

When I was competing in powerlifting and we were doing 10-12 weeks of contest prep we would deload every 4th week. But not competing I’m with a bunch of the other guys life tells you when and it’s important to listen and deload doesn’t mean not lifting it’s more appropriate reps in the 50-60% range. That being said I went years without deloading but I definitely didn’t see the increases I did when deloading was a part of the schedule.