taking a week off....

[dontsurfonmytur]

i havent had a week off in a while....
on my week off should i njot do anhyting at all
abs, jog, etc

 

[fufu]

Nothing too intense.

 

[dontsurfonmytur]

ok so anything goes as long as its not intense

 

[DiGiTaL]

stretching and some home exercises are sweet

 

[fufu]

well I'm no expert, but what are you planning on doing? There is a method of training called "active recovery" where you train at a very low intensity instead of taking time out from the gym completely. I believe nothing higher than 50% 1 RM. Someone like Cowpimp could elaborate more on it than I can though.

 

[CowPimp]

When I deload I generally continue to do cardio. I also do some weightlifting, but I try to avoid using anything over 60-65% of my 1RM, and I keep the volume pretty low. I think this time around I'm going to avoid directly loading my spine too; I haven't given my spine a break in ages.

 

[P-funk]

if it is a week off, i do nothing. i may go for some long walks (slow) but really, just nothing. give your body a break.

 

[Action-Jackson]

Is there any real benefit to a week off? (Genuine question).

 

[GFR]

It cracks me up how most of you kids think taking a week off is a big deal. I wouldnt even bother taking one week off, I would take two weeks off and I would not go within a mile of a gym...no weights at all!!! Going for some walks with your girl or going swimming with friends is just fine.

 

[P-funk]

there is a benefit to doing an unloading week and dropping the intensity and doing active rest.

However, even with that you are doing work. I would still take a week off after so many training weeks. Your body needs to rest and recover. A week off is not going to kill you and may even make you stronger.

Grow outside of the gym. Not in it.

 

[CowPimp]

It's really hard for me to take an entire week off. I've done it before. I start to get a little bit stir crazy, and my level of nervous energy goes up dramatically. That's why I've chosen active recovery lately. It seems to do the trick, and I feel quite energized when I return to the gym full blast.

If you work a desk job and follow a good nutrition filled diet with ample caloric intake, then I don't think taking an entire week off is necessary a lot of times. If you work 40 hour weeks doing construction work, then a full on rest week is probably more warranted. You have to look at the big picture, not just what you do in the gym. When I used to be a baggage handler I would take off weeks because that's what I needed.

 

[DiGiTaL]

if it is a week off, i do nothing. i may go for some long walks (slow) but really, just nothing. give your body a break.

True story.

Take a week of to chill with friends. live life a little .

 

[dontsurfonmytur]

ok, most likely i'll go swimming and light jogging but that'll be it

 

[fufu]

I did tried active recovery once but I usually just take a week off from everything.