*Our bodies aren’t built to go all-out all the time without a break. So these symptoms I listed are subtle warnings that we need to recognize, listen to, and take action on. If you’re unfamiliar with all of the unpleasantness that overtraining can put you through, I go into it in the next section.

I think these signals are a blessing, because our bodies are letting us know ahead of time that we’re headed towards the dreaded Overtraining Syndrome. In this condition, you’re not getting any stronger or more fit, but are actually starting to weaken.Īnd your mental attitude will have gone from one of drive & enthusiasm to feeling a little stale and not real enthused about working out.Ī built-in overtraining early detection system Your motivation & enthusiasm for training is lower.You fatigue earlier in your workout than usual, and your training volume (sets/reps) has dropped.Your energy level is lower, so your training effort is less too.You feel more soreness than usual, and may notice a little low-grade joint or muscle pain.Your recovery from the previous workout isn’t as good.You’ve plateaued or stalled – those new highs in strength, muscle, or endurance have stopped happening.You’ve been consistently working out hard for 6-12 weeks.When to take a week off from weightlifting Here are a few of the “hey you, it’s time for a recovery week” clues to be on the lookout for. This applies to weightlifting, bodybuilding, HIIT, or any other equally strenuous workout program.Īny training cycle that’s gone on for several weeks where you’ve been peaking - hitting new highs in strength, muscle growth, or endurance - is an intense experience for your body & mind.Īnd they will need a break at some point, or they’ll break.Ĭertainly not when everything’s clicking on all cylinders (you’re feeling great and your results continue to improve), that’s too early.īut experience will teach you that soon enough, your body will let you know it needs to recover, or you’ll push it into an unhealthy state.Ī state that could definitely sideline you and deflate your workout goals. The longer (in years) that you train consistently with good effort, the easier it becomes to recognize the signals telling you to chill on your workouts and take a recovery week. Next I want to list the physical & mental signs to look out for, the clues that your body is giving you that are saying you need a break from your intense training. Wrapping Up Benefits of taking a week off from working outĪhead I’ll show how it’s been proven many a time that taking a detraining week off from weightlifting exercises is very good for you - now and for the long haul.Īnd you’ll see that there’s no reason to worry that your current level of fitness will suffer because of any strategic break you take.

Should i take a break from working out