View Full Version : the scariest thing a bodybuilder can do.........
If your guys are anything like me the idea of taking time off of training is a terrifying thought. For me its not so much that i think physically I will suffer but more mentally. When I don't train I find I start to feel like a rat in a cage. I have all this pent up aggression or energy I can't release. Training for me is therapeutic and calms both my mind and my body as weird as that sounds.
With this being said in the last 6 years I've never taken 1 week off training and right now I'm in the middle of my 3rd week and I gotta tell u..... I feel fuckin great!! I just came off of a disappointing mishap @ the toronto pro and after discussion with a close friend I decided to give both my body and my mind a break from the rigors of lifting and supplement use.
I got all my blood work done and I'm rectifying things that are a little elevated but aside from that my body feels great. The aches and pains are disappearing and I find myself really craving hitting the weights again.
The punishment we inflict on our bodies and central nervous system is very harsh so taking time off to maximally recover on both levels is a great idea. I recommend it to anyone.
I feel tha same as you described in your first paragraph.
Though 6 years and not 1 week off? How the fuck have you done that, physically and mentally?
Thats a hell of a record. You deserve time off! Hell I take a week off every 8 weeks or so.
I'm one week into my 11 days off. I decided to start this cut with time out of the gym. I'm losing my mind. I'm still doing my cardio, but no lifting. I also stopped all supplements (even the Pak) for this time period too. At first I was worried about sleep and recovery but I obviously needed this time off. Because even though I'm not taking ZMA, GABA and fenugreek... I'm sleeping harder than ever. I woke up at 8am the other day! WTF?! I usually wake up at 5am without an alarm clock every day. With the time off the supps and the weights, I can't wait to see how I look and feel next Monday when I start my supps again (a new modified stack) and train for the first time in almost two weeks. It'll be neat to see how the supps effect me after a little time off. Everybody should do this occasionaly. You just gotta.
Operator
07-07-11, 12:04 pm
Yeah I hear you man. Last week was my off week. And I was going crazy. I hate the feeling like your getting smaller, and your noticing changes, your pecks are soft, your bi's dont have that head, your forearms are getting smaller. Even though others dont notice you change, you do.
mritter3
07-07-11, 12:27 pm
im all about giving the body a break...while using 531 i deload once a month...and its hard to stay away from gym...it gives my body a well needed break.
I was out for 7 months due to back injury.
I was going fucking nuts and started to suffer mentally for it.
I just immersed myself in work to take my mind off it, but doing 80 hours a week was totally unhealthy in it's own right. Glad I am finally cleared to resume training.
chrisco915
07-07-11, 12:30 pm
"I decided to give both my body and my mind a break from the rigors of lifting and supplement use." BEST and yet the hardest thing you could have done!!!!!!!!.....
Aggression
07-07-11, 1:18 pm
Right on, Mike. I'm currently taking this week off after doing a 14 week contest diet. I'm on the same page as you; feeling good but also salivating at the chance to hit the weights again. I know my body needed a break, so I listened, but I'm counting the minutes until I can make my return to the gym!
I often wonder where commitment ends and compulsion begins.
zubda345
07-07-11, 3:25 pm
If your guys are anything like me the idea of taking time off of training is a terrifying thought. For me its not so much that i think physically I will suffer but more mentally. When I don't train I find I start to feel like a rat in a cage. I have all this pent up aggression or energy I can't release. Training for me is therapeutic and calms both my mind and my body as weird as that sounds.
With this being said in the last 6 years I've never taken 1 week off training and right now I'm in the middle of my 3rd week and I gotta tell u..... I feel fuckin great!! I just came off of a disappointing mishap @ the toronto pro and after discussion with a close friend I decided to give both my body and my mind a break from the rigors of lifting and supplement use.
I got all my blood work done and I'm rectifying things that are a little elevated but aside from that my body feels great. The aches and pains are disappearing and I find myself really craving hitting the weights again.
The punishment we inflict on our bodies and central nervous system is very harsh so taking time off to maximally recover on both levels is a great idea. I recommend it to anyone.
I took some time off, about a week or soo some 2-4 months ago, And U right on the money bro, I feel the same as u do when I am not training, it's more mental with me than physical. I just wanna go in a gym and blast the hell out! It's the rage in me which never ends, even after the gym!
The body will tell you when it needs rest, most people won't listen. Mike you have a great plan, and you will come back twice as strong and hungry...
LegendKillerJosh
07-07-11, 6:29 pm
The scariest thing a bodybuilder can do...IMO miss a meal. Going 5-6 hours without food should be everyones worst nightmare. I believe fully meal consistency is the key to greatness in bodybuilding or powerlifting. Missing a meal will lead to catabolism, fat storage and probably the worse effect - not performing in the gym.
IronWilson
07-09-11, 4:18 pm
You just have to think about it as a means to an end. When you do cardio, it sucks, and you know you could probably get away without doing it that day, but you do it anyway...Why? Because in the end, it is an important step of many in reaching your goal.
That is all time off to recover is... another step in the marathon to reach your goal.
You just have to think about it as a means to an end. When you do cardio, it sucks, and you know you could probably get away without doing it that day, but you do it anyway...Why? Because in the end, it is an important step of many in reaching your goal.
That is all time off to recover is... another step in the marathon to reach your goal.
Very smart way to look @ things bro. All to often guys including me feel that bodybuilding is a sprint and are in such a rush to get where we're going. Unfortunately this way of thinking can put u in harm's way when it comes to your health and your growth.
Stressing the body for too long and not giving it a chance to fully recover is like playing with fire
The scariest thing a bodybuilder can do...IMO miss a meal. Going 5-6 hours without food should be everyones worst nightmare. I believe fully meal consistency is the key to greatness in bodybuilding or powerlifting. Missing a meal will lead to catabolism, fat storage and probably the worse effect - not performing in the gym.
Although I agree the thought of going 5 -6hrs without food is a scary thought I have to admit sometimes it feels good to let the body go without. Let me explain. I tend to eat constantly I actually have a hard time adhering to the commonly accepted eat every 2-3 hours. I can literally snack and eat throughout the entire day. That being said sometimes I impose a mini fast and really give my body a chance to digest and assimilate all the food I have been eating.
Although its not something I do that often every once and while its nice. Especially in the off season when my food intake is high. Another thing I do sometimes is bottom out my protein consumption for a day or 2. I do this one bc I find protein in the off season although necessary doesn't do much for me, I consume massive amounts of carbs and grow and stay lean. I also do it to give my kidney's a break here and there
Chase "BIG COUNTRY" Browning
07-11-11, 12:54 pm
Although I agree the thought of going 5 -6hrs without food is a scary thought I have to admit sometimes it feels good to let the body go without. Let me explain. I tend to eat constantly I actually have a hard time adhering to the commonly accepted eat every 2-3 hours. I can literally snack and eat throughout the entire day. That being said sometimes I impose a mini fast and really give my body a chance to digest and assimilate all the food I have been eating.
Although its not something I do that often every once and while its nice. Especially in the off season when my food intake is high. Another thing I do sometimes is bottom out my protein consumption for a day or 2. I do this one bc I find protein in the off season although necessary doesn't do much for me, I consume massive amounts of carbs and grow and stay lean. I also do it to give my kidney's a break here and there
Mikes quote for the arnold weekend.. "I'm hungry"
Mikes quote for the arnold weekend.. "I'm hungry"
ya bro i'm seriously hungry all the time! i can eat anytime of the day. not a big eater in one sitting but throughout the day i'll eat more than anyone calorie wise its insane lol
I feel tha same as you described in your first paragraph.
Though 6 years and not 1 week off? How the fuck have you done that, physically and mentally?
Thats a hell of a record. You deserve time off! Hell I take a week off every 8 weeks or so.
ya man gonna start doing something similar . in the past i've taken a few days here and there when i feel like i'm not recovering well enough or i have some nagging nicks and dings
C.Coronato
07-11-11, 5:29 pm
After this show and being so beat up, im certainly taking at least a week off. I 100% need it, and im looking forward to some rest and relaxation.
zubda345
07-12-11, 4:34 am
After this show and being so beat up, im certainly taking at least a week off. I 100% need it, and im looking forward to some rest and relaxation.
U deserve it man. and Congrats on 4th place. U'll get a podium nxt time I believe it...
LegendKillerJosh
07-15-11, 9:24 pm
Although I agree the thought of going 5 -6hrs without food is a scary thought I have to admit sometimes it feels good to let the body go without. Let me explain. I tend to eat constantly I actually have a hard time adhering to the commonly accepted eat every 2-3 hours. I can literally snack and eat throughout the entire day. That being said sometimes I impose a mini fast and really give my body a chance to digest and assimilate all the food I have been eating.
Although its not something I do that often every once and while its nice. Especially in the off season when my food intake is high. Another thing I do sometimes is bottom out my protein consumption for a day or 2. I do this one bc I find protein in the off season although necessary doesn't do much for me, I consume massive amounts of carbs and grow and stay lean. I also do it to give my kidney's a break here and there
i agree sometimes it feels good to stray away from my diet or just not force feed myself when i'm not hungry. thats why i say cutting is easier than bulking. i can easily not eat if i dont want to, but eating when im not hungry is a challenge. but if its been 3 hours since eating and im not hungry i atleast have some whey or a nitro pack and gatorade or something to stave off catabolsim.
ya its fucked i haven't been able to stop eating since my show ended. the junk food only last 2 weeks and now i'm back on track . even though when i eat junk i still stay lean considering what i'm eating lol