Have you ever felt like you've been giving your training everything you've got but feeling like you're not getting back what you're putting in? Or maybe just feeling tired, starting to get niggles?
It may be time for a Deload.
What is a Deload? A deload is a short planned recovery and/or temporary reduction in normal weekly training to give your body and mind a break from hard training.
Building the body, you want is just like building anything. You have to invest a significant amount of time, effort and be committed! The more you put in the more you'll get back.
You'll have to train hard but beware of the point where hard starts to work against you.
The expression "Listen to your body" is very real in these scenarios.
Pushing your body week in & week out, without taking breaks or Deloads & you may start to notice
• Plateaus
• Overuse injuries
• Lack of motivation
Some of the biggest athletes and coaches in the world would say this is the most important part of any program because the consequences of overlooking it are so severe.
When it comes to achieving your goals, one of the best recovery tools at your disposal is the deload. If you're following a well-designed workout routine, deloads are an effective way to prevent injuries, plateaus, and burnout.
That said, they need to be planned and executed correctly or they will fail to adequately boost recovery.
The higher your training age, i.e. the more years you have been training the more frequently you need to Deload. Just depending on the intensity of your program you could schedule a Deload every 4-8 weeks.
Just remember we don't get stronger lifting weights; we get stronger by rest recovery. So, in essence deloading can help you become stronger long term and see more bang for your buck for all the hard work you're putting in.
Thought I'd share this as this was me, feeling tired and lethargic. I scheduled myself a Deload week and now I'm feeling good as new. Sometimes we get the small things.
Listen to your body!
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
