Hi there hobby,
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Originally posted by hobby
Hey UIShrike,Interesting. Your experience indicates recovery from slight overtraining is what primes you for new gains. You don't experience catch-up growth during the rest period itself.
Exactly. Though now I’m experiencing growth like I’ve never had before. I’ve modified my routines, so that I only hang now, with the Bib Hanger. In the last 5-6 months, adding up, I have done about 10-15h of total hanging time. Though I’ve started to incorporate more “on fatigue” sessions, that is, reaching fatigue with let’s say with 15 lbs after 3 sets of 20 minutes, then doing another set with 13 lbs, and sometimes another set with 11 lbs (if I have the time). The layoffs in between are huge, weeks pass without me touching the BH.
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Originally posted by hobby
I'm wondering if “detraining” - tissues weakening from lack of exercise - plays a role in gains after a break. When exercise is resumed the weakened, unconditioned tissues are stressed more from the previous level, or even less, of exercise. Though I suppose this wouldn't happen in only a week.
This is what I’ve experienced. Of course when I just rested one week after 4 weeks of training, I didn’t have the spectacular gains I’m having now. Which proves, at least to me, that I need big breaks in between intense sessions (and might also prove that I’m an easy gainer, though not that easy has some here). And these big breaks provide that weakening of the tissues, since they sort of “atrophy” a little, as they’re not exercised much. Then suddenly I do a stressfull and intense session, and the body has to recuperate, and has some time to do it, since I normally don’t do 2 sessions with few days in between.
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Originally posted by hobby
Maybe there are a couple of things going on when gains come after a rest: 1) Recovery from overtraining, which would require a relatively shorter break, and 2) weaking of the tissues, which could take many weeks or months to occur. If this is the case, guys who are stalled may need varying amounts of time off to get primed for more growth. Perhaps a combination is best - something like a week off every month or two and a month off every 6 months or year.
This is a great schedule, and I agree with you completely. I know that when I was in my plateau, I was training using a normal 5 on 2 off schedule. Then I had some lay offs in between, and resumed training very sporadically, without a consistent routine. Now that I’ve adopted a consistent and intense routine (in the days that I do it), and with the weeks in between sessions, I’m getting good results. I’ll keep with this for now, but I’ll do a more normal routine, as soon as my privacy issues are delt with (probably in a few months).
It would be good also to have other guys input here.