What are the pros and cons of taking week off?

A week will undoubtedly cause some damage on the scale but you have to decide if it's worth the fun and mental reprieve or not

I am taking a week off next week as well on vacation. When you return, just deload a bit on your routine to ramp your muscles back up.

You can take the week off without actually having to take the week off.

Each morning, get a light bodyweight workout in for about 20-30 minutes. Keep yourself in an anabolic state.

When you get back, then hit the gym hard again. You don't have to be lifting weights everyday for exercise to count.

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A week will undoubtedly cause some damage on the scale but you have to decide if it's worth the fun and mental reprieve or not

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It's just bloat and water weight. Within a few days back on your schedule the weight goes back down.

The body needs rest to recover and grow

I usually take 5-6 days off every 3 months or so. Especially with how hard I push.

On that off week, still keep your diet clean.

Thank you all for help

You will be fine. I went to the beach in april for 5 days.. didnt do working out, ate ice creams, pancakes, all the fried foods and doughnuts i could take. Got back and gained 3 lbs on the scale. By 4 days back home i had lost it again. Enjoy your vacation man, worst case you gain a few lbs of water weight. No way you gain hardly any lbs of actual fat. Does your mind good, and body good to take some time off for rest. Your body will use it as a refeed of sorts, and when you return you will be ready to hit the gym hard again.

Went to Las Vegas last year and didn't lift when I was there

Ate like a pig every day. I would fast 24 hours then pig out for the week I was there

Came back and weighed less than I did before leaving

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Started March 1 on a dare basically that's ended up into a lifestyle change complete with 31 lb loss to date.

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First off, congrats man. You have chosen the higher path, caring about your health.


That being said, a week of every 3-4 months via vacay, etc is not only needed, it's a must.

But don't go falling off the bandwagon. That's where the problems with off weeks stem from.

Sure after an off week will you have to do 80% of your work load? Maybe. But once you get back in it after a week or 2 you'll be back to normal.

The way I see it is I earned that vacation. I'm not competing or anything. Just trying to stay in good enough shape that my SO doesn't have to close her eyes when I knock it out.

One week won't hurt. Continue to watch what you eat. You're body needs the rest