Breaks

millenium girl

millenium girl

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A question to those among you who are 40+: how often do you take a complete break from the gym?

I'm really tired (working 6 to 7 days a week takes its toll on my body) but on the other hand I'm addicted to my workouts and find it hard to skip a session ... It's a dilemma!
 
Im almost 40,,,,,,And I used to very rarley take breaks from the gym .although I have found myself on 4 weeks break currently ...My body was just getting tired and Im sure I was noticing a hault in growth due to many factors ,and with Deer season coming in I needed to stock the freezer with meat for the winter months .
I will get back to it harder than ever shortly and mentally my mind is telling me its time to get back to the iron
 
I will take a 10 day break while in NYC next month but I walk a lot and will probably go from the Upper West Side to the 34th St and back a couple of times a day :D
 
7 to 8 days CNS break every 12 weeks or so.. But I do play hard the 12 weeks I'm there! lol
 
I dont take enough breaks. They happen by accident for about 5 days every 4 or 5 months.
 
perhaps i need my own forum but i am over 65 and get my breaks during the 4 weeks a year i go on vacation otherwise i am in the gym injuries notwithstanding

jb
 
jboldman said:
perhaps i need my own forum but i am over 65 and get my breaks during the 4 weeks a year i go on vacation otherwise i am in the gym injuries notwithstanding

jb
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A lot of people tell me that I'm overtraining and doing too much but when I ask them if or when they take time off their answer is no or never :wiggle:
 
I'm pushing 60 in a couple more years and I find that I need a week off now and then. Of course with my work schedule of late it gets hard to get into a regular routine to need a break from.
 
if you have been doing it as long as most of us here have, it becomes a self-defining answer. the symptoms of over training will usually shut you down and the ultimate consequences always will: injury. perhaps the answer is to vary the intensity. set some goals, work your ass off and cruise for a while and enjoy it! since my vacations are spread evenly over the year it is easy to fit that in, work out and diet for the vacations and relax and slide during and to a lesser extent after.

jb


millenium girl said:
A lot of people tell me that I'm overtraining and doing too much but when I ask them if or when they take time off their answer is no or never :wiggle:
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I've had my share of injuries over the years but what really worries me is that instead of progressing I'm regressing and my muscles are kinda melting ....
 
I usually wait until I'm on work travel and when away I will stay out of the gym. Lately I haven't been doing so and workout when away. Also, when I feel like I'm coming down with a cold I will take an extra day off.
 
millenium girl said:
A lot of people tell me that I'm overtraining and doing too much but when I ask them if or when they take time off their answer is no or never :wiggle:
Click to expand...

just try to take 4-5 days off. You won't really detune much and your body will do a good deal of recovery in that time. don't be afraid to eat a little. Fat is 3500 kcals/lb. You will gain more than fat in water but that drops off fast.
 
millenium girl said:
I've had my share of injuries over the years but what really worries me is that instead of progressing I'm regressing and my muscles are kinda melting ....
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on what you're shooting for. We are both older individuals yet for me I still like to compete in power lifting events. In fact I just got back from Denver Colorod competing in a bench press event there put on by the napl. 5th in my category with a 585 bench, 12th or 13th overall in the raw division.
But if your just trying to stay sexy looking then you just want to stay toned and not get soft and flabby.
Do you compete, or want to, or do you just want to look good for all those young bucks out there?
 
perhaps if you are worried about it, it is time for a break to rest recover and recharge!

bufbiker, you are amazing!

jb
 
If you stop progressing then you definately need it. Lack of pregress is a sure fire sign of either overtraining or under eating.
 
bufbiker said:
Lack of pregress is a sure fire sign of either overtraining or under eating.
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Both .... I can't eat much and people keep telling me that I do too much. Maybe you guys could check out my training log and tell me what you think. Thanks!
 
millenium girl said:
Both .... I can't eat much and people keep telling me that I do too much. Maybe you guys could check out my training log and tell me what you think. Thanks!
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I know you do quite a bit MG, but I cant say your overtraining. After NYC why dont you downsize your routine, go to the gym say 4 days a week instead of 7. Take your favorite routines and make one consolidated routine out of them. Then take 5 to 7 days off after every six weeks. Try that for a year and see if you like it and feel a little better and dont feel like your muscles are melting.:xmas:
 
millenium girl said:
I've had my share of injuries over the years but what really worries me is that instead of progressing I'm regressing and my muscles are kinda melting ....
Click to expand...

These are the signs of over training!

I have always Advocated when people hit this spot take 1 week off. Then come back you will be fresh and pass any plateau. Problem is most wan't listen those that do have always come back and thanked me.

Listen to your body it will tell you when to take a break. From what I read it's telling you. I know this post is a little late for your NY trip but u had tens days off there!

Let me ask you how did you feel after that and are you progressing again?

Phat
 
You know MG I seem to do better when I'm off the juice.. I know it's weird and deosn't make sense.
 
willsgotrythm said:
I know you do quite a bit MG, but I cant say your overtraining. After NYC why dont you downsize your routine, go to the gym say 4 days a week instead of 7. Take your favorite routines and make one consolidated routine out of them. Then take 5 to 7 days off after every six weeks. Try that for a year and see if you like it and feel a little better and dont feel like your muscles are melting.:xmas:
Click to expand...
I don't hit the gym 7 days a week. I workout 3 times a week most of the time.
Phatbastard said:
These are the signs of over training!

I have always Advocated when people hit this spot take 1 week off. Then come back you will be fresh and pass any plateau. Problem is most wan't listen those that do have always come back and thanked me.

Listen to your body it will tell you when to take a break. From what I read it's telling you. I know this post is a little late for your NY trip but u had tens days off there!

Let me ask you how did you feel after that and are you progressing again?

Phat
Click to expand...

No matter how many breaks I take, I'm not progressing anymore.

Glycomann said:
You know MG I seem to do better when I'm off the juice.. I know it's weird and deosn't make sense.
Click to expand...

Those on steroids recover more quickly or better from their workouts.
 
I dont like breaks and I dont plan them.

I just listen to my body, it always has the answer. Most of the time because I am always changing workouts and intensity levels things are fine and growth continues. Just went through a hard time and debated about taking some time (days only my friend) off but all I had to do was back off killer intensity and I perked up and growth resumed.

Bout to go on an nice trip. There will be a gym and probably a nice one at that. But it would be a good week to stand down for a rest. But will I do that? We shall see.

Also lack of sleep or lack of eating kills.
 
Also,

I dont expect to progress forever. Even for those of us who are enhanced there logically is a wall. Ive gone over several walls but I don't think I will make it to 300lbs or the kind of lifts Deacon posted....But I'm not going to give up either. Maybe I will see those goals.

But if I find things do one day stop as I expect, I will be satisified knowing that I have achieved some incredible goals. I enjoy this and it is fulfilling. I intend to do this until I cannot. Griowth or not.
 
I think that I've been doing too much cardio the last few weeks. I worked out twice a day focusing on calories and now I have insomnia I have lost weight, I have no appetite, my digestion is far from good and I can't focus. I feel tired all the time... Time for a break I guess.
 
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From your last post M GIrl it screams of over doing it.

I have found it is very hard for me to amp up for my work outs. I';m down to 4 days a week. Just maintaining lean mass. Sure as hell am not building any new muscle. IMO we all young and old could use a 5 to 7 day break every 8 to 10 weeks or so. Life has it's way of beating us up.

Hope you are feeling better soon. Take a break. Eat and rest and stay off the scale.
GC
 
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