How often should one take a planned break from working out?

[desibaba]

About a year ago i had a pretty bad wreck on my motorcycle without a jacket or gloves although i had a helmet on. I was doing a wheelie and somehow fell sideways at around 50 mph. Most of my upperbody and hands were covered with road rash and the gsxr1k i was on was totalled.

Needless to say i was out of the gym for about a month. To my surprise when i went back and started training again i quickly gained my size and strenght back and it was more than before which made me realize that even non competetive average genetic shmoes like me could benefit from a break every now and then.

How many of you do it and how long is your break for? Do you do any cardio or stick to a diet during that time frame?

[AVBG]

I usually take a week off every 8-12 weeks

[Karuk]

Good question. I'm curious to hear what Palumbo thinks.

I just came off a 12 week keto diet cycle (see protein fart thread) and I was considering taking off 2 weeks and just doing cardio during that time.

[Ninja Loco]

I train HIT - specificaly Razor's HIT, so my body can only go 6-8 weeks tops at that intensity. I take 7-10 days off every workout cycle.

[buster12]

usually every 6-8 weeks for me.

[anthony1992]

I take a week off of training every 6-8 months

[Foreman_Rules]

Two full weeks off every 5.5 months if you train like a beast, if you train like a pussy who cares.

[DOIT]

Every two months or so. It also helps me get motivated again to train because for that entire week that is all I will think about. When I finally get my hands on the weights they will be the best workouts.

[Skeptic]

I am very old. 5 weeks on 1 week off. Best gains I've ever made.

[desibaba]

so im assuming most of you take breaks of like a week or two weeks. Never something like a month? Most of the pros i have read about in MD do seem to take a month off but then again they compete too.

[Ninja Loco]

Most of the pros i have read about in MD do seem to take a month off but then again they compete too.
Yup.

[MuffinMan]

I personally take breaks if i have been feeling really run down and fatigued lately. Otherwise I do not believe its necessary if you are still good to go.

[Triple-H_2005]

I have a staph infection and have just taken an unplanned week off.

Probably needed it. It's REALLY difficult to make myself take time off...

[desibaba]

So anything more than a week for a recreational lifter is a waste of time?

[anthony1992]

So anything more than a week for a recreational lifter is a waste of time?

I think it is

[jacshelb]

I think it depends on your situation. If you take a week off and are still dreading the gym, then you need a few more days. I took 12 days off a couple months back and was more than ready to go when I returned to lifting. I don't think there should be a hard and fast rule about this because it depends on your life style, stress, physical health etc.

[Voland]

every 3 months I take 1 week off and avery year two weeks off.

[way too]

I was doing a wheelie and somehow fell sideways at around 50 mph.
Hahahaha.

[desibaba]

Hahahaha.
I still do wheelies but i wear all my gear now :eek:

[txmuscle]

about every 3 months i take a week to a week and half off.

[way too]

I still do wheelies but i wear all my gear now :eek:
Haha. Smart thinking.
Your a good sport man:beerbang:

[way too]

I take a month or so off from the gym every winter.

[Wheels]

usually every 6-8 weeks for me.

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