Do you ever substitute a complete rest week for a deload week in any of your programs? If you do, do you workout for more weeks straight something like 4-5 weeks on, 1 week off etc.
I ask because I don’t know if I’m getting anything out of the deload week, and it takes gas and time to drive to the gym four times a week. It just feels like the weights are so light that I might as well not be lifting anything.
Is there an advantage to the deload, as opposed to a week off, that I am missing?
Thanks
EDIT: I’m currently using the 3 weeks on 1 week deload plan from your first book.
Don’t skip the deload. Most of us need the form practice and mobility work that training provides, no matter the weight. Taking an entire week off out of every 4 weeks is a great way to get lazy and tight. By the way, have you looked at the 6-week wave as opposed to the 3? That might be what you are looking for.
Lastly, if driving to the gym is such a hassle on the deload week, combine your lifts in to two days that week.
I second what Joey says. I recently took an entire week off instead of the deload as thought it would do me good, I did do some mobility work 3 or 4 times but still felt like shit in my first few sessions back in the gym. I won’t be taking a full week off again out of choice. I generally use the 2 day for deload week (1: DL/Press, 2: Sq/Bench) and think you’d be fine even just doing bodyweight stuff at home but I would do something.
I agree. That’s actually why I like the BBB template with doing alternate exercise for BBB, allows me to do each exercise twice per week, the repetition. I hate deload weeks, let alone just taking a week off. I would only take a week off if I had a legit injury or potential problem setting in that really required rest.
You don’t have to take a full week you know. So many people are locked into the 7 day week and it simply doesn’t mirror the human body. Often times after my 5-3-1 week I’ll take 5 days and do NOTHING. Ex: Last 5-3-1 day on Friday and start next cycle on Tues. or Wed. That way it doesn’t feel like I have lost everything but I am still really fresh. I also don’t lock myself in to the same days every week. Sometimes I might get and entire 3’s week in between Sun. and Thurs. and take Fri-Sat-Sun and do nothing. I learned out of age and necessity to consider 8 day and 10 day training weeks occasionally too.
Do you ever substitute a complete rest week for a deload week in any of your programs? If you do, do you workout for more weeks straight something like 4-5 weeks on, 1 week off etc.
I ask because I don’t know if I’m getting anything out of the deload week, and it takes gas and time to drive to the gym four times a week. It just feels like the weights are so light that I might as well not be lifting anything.
Is there an advantage to the deload, as opposed to a week off, that I am missing?
Thanks
EDIT: I’m currently using the 3 weeks on 1 week deload plan from your first book.[/quote]
Train!! There is a reason for it and if I didn’t want you to do anything - that’s what I would have done. Training just isn’t lifting weights.