One week break- effects? diet?

[Lestat]

Ok I have been putting on weight over the past year. I do a 3 or 4 day split. I've been hitting it consistently for a year, and upped the intensity over the last 2-3 months big time.

My shoulder is sore, and overall I have a bunch of aches. I was going to take this week off to heal. I worked out yesterday, I was just going to take Tu-Su off and get back on it Monday.

Question: will this affect my stength or progress?

More importantly: Should i continue eating anything and everything in site? Should I do my protein shakes? Or will all the food I eat this week go right to my stomach?

I am 6'2" 196 10.5% bf

Was 162 5.2% bf last July.

That's 34lbs (30 of it LEAN mass) in a year, au naturale!

Brian

 

[gymtime]

The time off from the gym will do you good. You might even come back stronger, that's not unusual. As for your diet, you'll need to make some adjustments for your lowered activity level. So lower your cals and carbs somewhat.

 

[Thaibox]

The last two times I took a break, I came back and hit a PR. The first time I hit a bench PR, the second was a deadlift. I felt great. I think a week off about now is a great idea. The hard part is not going to the gym. It just felt wrong. Didn't know what to do with myself

Good job on the gains since last July by the way.

 

[MarshallPenniford]

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but that's only 21lbs of lean mass - which is still great for one year.

 

[Lestat]

Thanks for the math correction.. I knew it seemed off.. i had done my gain (34lbs) * bf% 10.4% to subtract off 3.4lbs or so.

But yes in reality at 162 I was carrying ~8lbs of fat....
Now at 196 I am carring about 20lbs.,.. so I gained 34lbs total.. 12 of which were fat...

hmm that kind of suck now that I think about it..when I cut down to get my babs back I will probably lose 10lbs or so.. I want to be 200+ damnit!

 

[Thaibox]

Then don't cut down bro. Fuck abs. Just grow for a while

 

[MarshallPenniford]

Dude - I still think 21lbs naturally is damn good. BF% always rears it's ugly damn head!!! I've worked out seriously twice in my life - 6mo's at 18 (to about 170 lbs LEAN) and now at 29 for 1yr (to 211 lbs currently). My BF% is just starting to get a little to high for my taste (ab's are almost gone - so I'm thinking 15% or so) and when you couple that with my weight that's a lot of fat! It makes me sad when I think about getting ultra lean, cause I'd like to stay 200+ naturally.

As far as the week off, those can be a nice break.

 

[Lestat]

I am in no hurry to cut down... but every once in a while I look at myself and I think i see a gut sticking out a bit... I don't like it! I used to be so lean and have killer abs that now people notice and they don't say "wow youur arms and chest are bigger".. they say "aww where did your 6 pack go??"....

I am going to continue pushing until I am over 200.. say 205 or so.. thats about 10 more lbs.. then cut down to 200.. see how that looks... next summer I want to be 210 lean.. and then 220 lean the summer after that.. I know I still wont be satisfied completely then (who ever is) but I think they are reasonable goals.

Brian

 

[brooklynboy]

as for your diet just keep eating like you have. Your body need to heal and food to do it. Keep taking you protein drinks. you will be suprised at you results when you back into the gym and how you look out off the gym. Your muscles will look fuller harder and you will grow.

 

[noahfor123]

.