So, I was traveling on biz this week and was just balls to the wall. I couldn’t get to a gym other than the hotel’s “fitness center” which only had cardio equipment, so I did 3 days of early AM fasted cardio.
I thought about how much I’ve read that a week off from lifting a few times a year is supposed to be good for you.
I feel like SHIT! My hams are tight as logs, my back is stiff (I can chalk that up to flight/car time), my shoulder is killing me, and my forearms and hands feel arthritic.
To top it off, Wifee says I look like I lost weight— NOOOOOO!!
My God, does a constant workout routine mask all this stuff?
If resting is supposed to be good for you, I’m starting to doubt I’m ever going to actually plan on doing it.
A week off generally makes me feel better and stronger(after the first session back, it always blows)but anything longer than a week and I’m worse of then before the “rest”.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
So, I was traveling on biz this week and was just balls to the wall. I couldn’t get to a gym other than the hotel’s “fitness center”
I all ways assume there will be no gym when travelling.
Occasionally, there will be a pleasant surprise and a hotel will have free weights. Many times the hotels start out with decent equipment,but disrepair and thievery takes its toll.
Decline push ups,jump squats,and Russian twists,with high volume do it for me. And of course, bring running shoes don’t leave home without them.
Week off always helps me, too, so long as it only happens 3 or 4 times per year. No-lifty Big-sleepy! works everytime. But ditto Joe, the first one back usually feels pretty tight.
Week off always helps me, too, so long as it only happens 3 or 4 times per year. No-lifty Big-sleepy! works everytime. But ditto Joe, the first one back usually feels pretty tight.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
So, I was traveling on biz this week and was just balls to the wall. I couldn’t get to a gym other than the hotel’s “fitness center” which only had cardio equipment, so I did 3 days of early AM fasted cardio.
I thought about how much I’ve read that a week off from lifting a few times a year is supposed to be good for you.
I feel like SHIT! My hams are tight as logs, my back is stiff (I can chalk that up to flight/car time), my shoulder is killing me, and my forearms and hands feel arthritic.
To top it off, Wifee says I look like I lost weight— NOOOOOO!!
My God, does a constant workout routine mask all this stuff?
If resting is supposed to be good for you, I’m starting to doubt I’m ever going to actually plan on doing it.
Note: Cross-posted in T-Cell Alpha[/quote]
Sounds like you’re due for a scale-back. Past a certain level, completely stopping any sort training actually makes you feel worse. The body actually comes to expect and DEPEND on experiencing a certain level of stress. Zatsiorsky writes about implementing retirement training programs for elite-level lifters to get them used to a reduced amount of exercise when they’re preparing to leave the sport.
I would say that you need a few weeks of lighter, higher rep lifting for straight sets. Nothing that beats you up, but gets a light sweat going. That’ll keep the muscle, work the joints and possibly prehab/rehab imbalances. Maybe take one intense day a week, so you can feel like you’ve worked, but keep the volume low.
[quote]Elaikases wrote:
I need some aerobic load from time to time. Skidmark is right, I’m physically addicted to it and my body really needs it or else.
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I finding out the same thing. The bike has been in for a winter tune-up and I’ve been missing that aspect of my training.