Thinking of Taking a Month Off......

[juanderlei]

For the first time in a long time I'm experiencing serious issues with motivation when hitting the weights.

I have always looked at weight training as my one hour "away" each day.. Away from work, away from kids and the wife, away from everything... Not right now though...

After a really shitty month of training which has included a pretty severe cold (which I still have) that significantly affected my strength and endurance, I think I need a little time away to recharge.

The crazy thing is that there's no part of me that wants to take time off, but when I actually step foot in the gym, I start feeling like shit and lose all motivation. I know it sounds strange, but that's what I'm dealing with right now.

2 things for everyone here:

1. What is the best way (if any) to help maintain size and strength during time away from the weights? Cardio while maintaining the same diet as usual? Diet? Or is it unavoidable in this situation?

2. I'm searching for inspiration to get my intensity back in the weight room. Anything that typically works for you guys?

As always, thanks for your contributions...

 

[Arabian]

Everyone goes through training slumps and you will regain the motivation to hit it again. Life is full of stressors that affect our lives dramatically however REMEMBER: times do not last , however tough people do.. In an effort to maintain your gains, I would limit my cardio and eat CLEAN. You can try some otc things such as Hcgenerate however it appears this is temporary and you will be fine. I would view this time as a way to adjust my training and perhaps generate a new diet or workout routine.Best of luck to you..

 

[Ranger11B]

Been here bro... your in the gym and you really feel like your wasting time, not moving the iron like you know you can. It sucks..... Ive gone through little slumps like this, but a change in music or going out and getting eye fucked by every chick was motivation enough..... one time i was feeling very shitty after an injury, and having a buddy go with me and work out together really helpped me through that. A good bro will not let you slack and it will piss yoou off in a good way... motivation comes back..

While away as stated keep your diet in check. Keep your protein intake up as im sure you know.. and limit your cardio. Muscle memory is a thing of beauty so when you do go back the first week or so will suck but after that youll be good to go. Hope its gets better for you bro , remember we are always here to help!!!

 

[machine23]

I been there... Taking a few weeks helped me. Try not to eat like shit tho that can spiral out of control pretty easily.

 

[ALIN]

For the first time in a long time I'm experiencing serious issues with motivation when hitting the weights.

I have always looked at weight training as my one hour "away" each day.. Away from work, away from kids and the wife, away from everything... Not right now though...

After a really shitty month of training which has included a pretty severe cold (which I still have) that significantly affected my strength and endurance, I think I need a little time away to recharge.

The crazy thing is that there's no part of me that wants to take time off, but when I actually step foot in the gym, I start feeling like shit and lose all motivation. I know it sounds strange, but that's what I'm dealing with right now.

2 things for everyone here:

1. What is the best way (if any) to help maintain size and strength during time away from the weights? Cardio while maintaining the same diet as usual? Diet? Or is it unavoidable in this situation?

2. I'm searching for inspiration to get my intensity back in the weight room. Anything that typically works for you guys?

As always, thanks for your contributions...

A break in can training is often a good thing. It will help you fully recover from injuries,,fatigue and mental burnout. Just dont take off too long.
I would keep your diet in check while your off. Eat as though your still training.

 

[juanderlei]

Thanks for everyone's advice/comments, I sincerely appreciate it...

You know it's funny... I've actually been peaking lately... Finally hit 220lbs under 10% BF, diet in check, getting great gains naturally, etc. and now this... LOL

Looking back on it, that's probably why I'm burnt the fuck out right now... Months and months on hard training, eating day and night/night and day, etc. My biggest issue is the fear of losing my newfound gains, but hey, as Arabian mentioned, if I keep my diet in check and keep cardio on the regular, I should be good to go.

Hopefully by the end of this thread (and sorting through this fucking slump with all of you) I'll have the motivation to take the skirt, get my ass in the gym tomorrow and just fucking kill it...

Thanks Bros and keep the inspiration coming if you can!

This board and it's contributors are awesome... I lurk a few other forums and there's a very good reason I don't post - all the responses are childish and the people are completely fucking toxic. Not here... You guys (and girls) rock...

 

[stevesmi]

don't take a month off man... a week is fine, but a month don't do it. your strength will be shot if you take a month off.

change up your music, change up your gym, get some new workout partners. even change the time you go in to the gym or food you eat. no reason why you can't take a week off then come back.

 

[Ranger11B]

yea that mini vaca for a week will do wonders bro... shit its a good excuse to get you and the ole lady out somewhere.. come back refreshed and ready to kill that shit

 

[RADAR]

Sometime a week or two is good ,You're beating your joints up everyday so time off can really help, Why not take that time off and outline you a completely new routine,set some Goals ,Write them down,all of this will get you in a new mindset to get back going again.

 

[WillKill]

yea that mini vaca for a week will do wonders bro... shit its a good excuse to get you and the ole lady out somewhere.. come back refreshed and ready to kill that shit

^^^^^this!

 

[juanderlei]

don't take a month off man... a week is fine, but a month don't do it. your strength will be shot if you take a month off.

change up your music, change up your gym, get some new workout partners. even change the time you go in to the gym or food you eat. no reason why you can't take a week off then come back.

Thanks Steve...

I'll take a week off and see how I feel... Actually looking forward to a little downtime now that I think about it...

 

[juanderlei]

Sometime a week or two is good ,You're beating your joints up everyday so time off can really help, Why not take that time off and outline you a completely new routine,set some Goals ,Write them down,all of this will get you in a new mindset to get back going again.

Great idea, thanks Radar!

 

[juanderlei]

yea that mini vaca for a week will do wonders bro... shit its a good excuse to get you and the ole lady out somewhere.. come back refreshed and ready to kill that shit

Starting my week off 2mor...

 

[Ranger11B]

Starting my week off 2mor...

Good shit bro..... let us know when you miss sweating your balls off and straining so hard on that last rep you feel like your gonna puke your brains out , so much that you get back in the gym lol... untill then enjoy your vaca .

 

[Zoofus]

It happens. Also realize that you are likely quite a bit burnt and overtrained. That long drive to peak condition then you get sick and blow anything else in the tank. Body is just telling you what it needs. Take a week and if you don't bounce take more. One thing I like to do on any extended break (injury or other) is to use the time on something unrelated but that you have always wanted to do (guitar lessons, read a few great classics, learn a new skill or art. Just some ideas.

Good luck.

 

[Judo Tom]

take 1 week off and then if you need more time try some new stuff like working out just bodyweight stuff like pull ups, push ups, sit ups, squats, burpees, jump squats, hand stand push ups.. train in the park, in the woods.. play some new sports.. take a boxing class or something..

heck take 2 golfing lessons and i bet you are dying to get back in the gym

 

[kiai]

if I'm really burnt out I usually take like 1-2 weeks off and upping my calories abit if I were cutting usually does the trick keep a bit of low intensity cardio as you will find out ur losing ur appetite quickly.

it usually gets better around 10 days in most cases but I've been off for 2 weeks or a bit more for some times and I've always always came back stronger than I was when I left but I always train balls to walls all the time and never ever back off until I feel something is wrong lol.