So I just went on a holiday trip in the last two weeks and I did not work out at all (apart from walking with a massive backpack). I ate normal but was not really paying attention to the nutritional value of my food and drinks.

I went back to working out today and I picked up where I left. I felt really full of energy and strength, more then some moments in periods where I work out often.

I have this from time to time when I quit working out for a week or two for whatever reason.

This made me think. Does anyone else have these moments as well? Or is there some sort of theory linked to this?

Anyway, feels good to work out again.

  • @KommandoGZD@lemmygrad.ml
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    71 year ago

    Definitely, that’s why you should cycle your workouts. A deload/rest period every 6-8 weeks isn’t just nice to have, it’s necessary to not burn out and often gives you new energy to break through plateaus.

    Or is there some sort of theory linked to this?

    Periodization. Really interesting to read about and imo keeps training much more dynamic and interesting if you implement at least some of it

    • DankZedong OPM
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      31 year ago

      Never knew it had a name. Will look this up, thanks.

      I will start to include these rest periods into my routine. I’ve been doing it without noticing it anyway, so might as well make the best of it.

      • @KommandoGZD@lemmygrad.ml
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        1 year ago

        I’ve been doing it without noticing it anyway, so might as well make the best of it

        I noticed the same when I first learned about periodization. The body kinda gets you to do these pauses anyway. Either you get burned out, find excuses, get minor overuse-injuries, lose strength, etc.

        But doing the deloads consciously makes the rest much more rewarding and keeps motivation high, because it’s a clear goal you can work towards.

    • Muad'Dibber
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      11 year ago

      I’ve noticed this too! I get back from a vacation or something and I feel a big boost of energy, and my muscles feel much better.

  • lemmygrabber
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    51 year ago

    I used to do this too. I liked that it free up time to just chill. In the end we work out to live, not live to work out. So it feels good to just reap the benefits of hard work for a while before going back to working hard again.

  • @201dberg@lemmygrad.ml
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    31 year ago

    It’s just because you gave your body time to fully heal and also fully refuel your muscles. A few days, even with proper nutrition, is just not enough to time to heal fully in-between work out days, even if you are rotating muscle groups those muscles are still working and more importantly the joints are still working. Joints take longer to heal that muscles as well. Especially when you are older. Refueling your muscles also takes time. Less time than healing but it’s like, your muscles are always going to perform better at 100% energy than at 95%.

    Every time I take a few weeks off my first few sessions upon being back I make a pretty good gain on my reps and weight because I’m fully healed. Then I usually end up having to back track the next week and/or am just not able to maintain the same level of gain.

    It also takes much longer than 2 weeks to loose your progress. Like 3 - 4 weeks before anything really starts to regress and even then you’ll gain it back in a few sessions.

    • DankZedong OPM
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      41 year ago

      Interesting, thanks.

      Makes me wonder how all the gym rats at my gym do it. They’re there daily and sometimes multiple times a day. But then again a lot of them are on gear anyway.

      • @OsrsNeedsF2P
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        41 year ago

        The better you are, the more frequently you can go. For most casuals like me, going 3 times a week is about the max efficiency you’ll ever end up at.

  • @wabooti
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    11 year ago

    Yeah pretty sure most experts recommend to rest for an extended period every few months to recuperate some of the energy that cant be recovered by the usual few days of rest in most training regimes