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4–6 weeks of rest and repair does a body magic
It’s not the easiest break to take; throughout it, I notice how my body loses muscle, and then there are times I get antsy and think to myself, I should cut my break short and get back in there, but for the most part, I make myself complete the break because my body needs it.
The Signs That Tell Me A Gym Break Is Needed
Plateau: My gains are consistently slower.
Burnout: I start to experience a lack of enjoyment in my workouts.
Workout Switchup: I start desiring to switch up my workouts too often.
Lack of fun: It’s not as fun, and I don’t feel refreshed when I work out.
Physical Exhaustion: My body is frequently tired – even after workouts.
Some of these reasons might seem “emotional,” but when you’ve been in the gym most of your life, how can it not be emotional sometimes?
I’m not overweight and tend to eat an overall healthy diet, so when I take a break from the gym, I lose muscle mass and weight.
Benefits From A Gym Break
I take a break from the gym each year because it works; it’s not pseudoscience. Each year, I notice tremendous benefits in and out of the gym that I probably wouldn’t experience if I didn’t take time off from resistance training.
What I Notice Outside The Gym
My energy levels slowly increase.
My muscle fibers have time to heal.
My stress levels rebalance themselves.
My muscles become thirsty for new workouts.
Any physical pain obtained from decades of weightlifting decreases.
What I Notice Inside The Gym
More energy.
Quick muscle acquisition.
Higher muscle responsiveness.
Less physical pain with specific exercises.
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If You Have Fitness Goals: Sabbaticals Still Can Work
This break might seem unrealistic for competitors, models, people trying to lose weight, or people who must maintain a particular physical image. For some of you, it might be, but for others, you might want to consider it.
One of my favorite bodybuilders, Dexter Jackson, mentioned he took about a month off from working out each year when competing full-time.
How do I know the sabbatical worked for him? He is one of the few bodybuilders, if not the only one, who has had the longest bodybuild career. He takes care of his body, and his body never lets him down because of it.
Cons Of Gym Sabbaticals
You should know there are some cons I experience from taking a break from the gym, but nothing too crazy; here are the only two cons:
I lose weight since I don’t carry a heavy appetite generally.
I lose muscle mass.
However, I can recover all these things in 2–8 weeks of restarting my gym regime. If you tend to have a tough time holding weight, keep up your eating; this will help you retain about 99% of the time outside of additional natural supplementation.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.