I think we've all been there. I recently took a week off as well because I had a slight mid-back strain from working out. When I started back into my routine the next week, I felt inertia setting in and making it hard to get started back into the routine. Now I'm back in the full swing, though. I"m not going to lie... it was harder to get back into the routine than to just stay in the routine.

That being said, I'm not sure how to counter that inclination where a break from the routine morphs into quitting the routine. I know my entire week off, I felt like shit and felt like I was getting fat/weak/out of shape. I just sort of kept it in my head that my mindframe needed to be that I was chomping at the bit to get back into the game. Part of that mental game was to sort of beat myself up a bit during my off week and keep reminding myself that I feel better when I'm working out. That gave me motivation to get back in at the end of the week.

My break was from an injury, though. If you're just feeling like you need a break from the routine... .why not just change up the routine? Instead of hitting it as hard as you have been, do something different. Go for a trail run or a hike or bicycling. Do something active and fun that will let you revel in the progress you've made physically.

It might be "common knowledge," but that doesn't mean it's backed up by any kind of actual scientific fact.

Yeah, but you know if you don't post in this thread for a week, you'll have people up your ass about it.

****. ********************!!!!!!!!!!!

Played the first league game tonight. I, of course, was in great shape. Everyone else... not so much. We were badly outplayed the first half, but still held them off for 0-0 at the half. About 5 minutes into the second, we were on a counter-attack, and I got the ball at the top of the box. Faked a shot, deked out 2 defenders and put a sizzling left-footed shot into the net. 1-0 to the good guys.

Then... calamity. One of my teammates is fouled and gets up yelling at the ref asking for a call. Red card. Thrown out of the game immediately and we lose a player for the rest of the game. It's now ten on eleven. We held them off until the last 10 minutes when they put 3 goals on us. ****.

I'm so pissed right now.

do you play for the wizards?

LOL no.

I still play to win. What's the point of playing if you don't want to win?

That sucks dude. From all the ****s I thought you were going to tell us you got hurt again. I'm glad that's not the case anyways.

So, you read the thread. Should I take a week off? Yeah, I'm struggling with motivation some here lately, but I'm not injured, and I can still perform. Do you do it every 8 weeks?

Nate Green, who's book I bought and blog I read regularly, says you should only take one week off a year.

http://thenategreenexperience.com/

As long as you stick to your dieting, there's nothing wrong with it. It's good for you. You'll lose enough weight by keeping a good diet that it won't matter if you're not in the gym.

Our Farmer's Market opened for the season this morning. I'll be eating greens and goodies for the next week: rainbow chard, dinosaur kale, baby arugula, baby spinach, pastured eggs, butternut squash, green onions, winter salad greens. Oh yeah.

Been reading this tonight... some of the shit he says is just straight reeruned.

Hey guys thought Id share this with ya,

last week when I was working out at the gym, i was doing some deadlifts and I bumped into this guy who lended me his wrist straps so that I could do the exercise more safely and securely. I thought the wrist straps he lended me were pretty unique. In comparison to the ones I used, they are waaaay better. The wrist straps I use are thin but rigid, and not as effective.

Get this, these wrist straps were made from seatbelts...lol its hilarious dude but awesome. They are thick, rigid and can withstand enormous amounts of pressure/weight. Im considering copying this idea. Its smart. What Im gonna do is, go to the junkyard this week, cut some seatbelts off, purchase them and shape them into loops and then get them stitched up by a professional shoe maker and voihla! Im good to go for my heavy sets for deadlifts.

Huh. I can see that working. Not to go all grammar police on you or anything, but I find the spelling of that word interesting. It's voila! ****ing French. :)

damn I was hoping i could edit that before you caught me;)

4 miles. Now!