Deloading. Point blank I am not a fan! I do understand the
reasoning for it. Most familiar with the term know the basic drill. Pretty much it has become
customary in certain circles to train 3 weeks then take the fourth off. The reason for is, to help
with recovery and warding off over training.,along with preventing mental burn out.
It is a great concept. Trust me; I am all about telling people about the need
for proper recovery. I am the first one to explain to someone that in the gym
is where you stimulate your body. While being outside of it is where you body
does the necessary things to grow and get stronger. But in all honesty in my opinion a large
percentage of people whom are new too weight training isn't even scratching the
service of becoming over trained. Honestly if they are somehow then what they
are doing is ignorant and stupid. Regarding the mental burn out thing I have a
hard time buying into that one also. Again most average or new lifters aren't going
to suffer from mental burn out. If they are after a hand full of weeks then
they are involved in the wrong fucking activity. Or they are just some damn
pussy.
My issue is ever since 5/3/1 it seems that it has become popular for
everyone and their brother to deloads. Not just from guys that
follow 5/3/1 but it seems allot of newer programs are following some sort of
planned deload. [Before you devoted bastard get your panties in a bunch I am
not knocking 5/3/1 or Wendler himself]. Excluding 5/3/1, again this isn't about
5/3/1. I'm seeing more and more program designers are using some sort of
planned deload. With these planned deloads normally all around the magical
fourth week. To me it seems that deloading is becoming a nice little band aid
for some of these guys. Instead of writing out programs which modulates volume
and intensity smartly. Which might allow for longer progression period before a
break is needed. There just dropping in a deload to cover possible flaws in
that area.
This is all well and good. But the down side of deloading is
for that period of time, someone is not actually providing any training
stimulation. Yes you might be doing something, but the bottom line is more
active recovery then actually training. That where the issue lies with me. Look
at it this way. A person lifts for three weeks then they deload for a week. If
one would look at the big picture, in a year a person would be on a deload
period a total of 12 weeks. So for almost 3 months out of the year that person
is honesty not doing anything to stimulate gains. Psychologically I have a hard
time with that one.
Another problem with planned deloads in programs that there
are too many variables to consider. One person might be able to train hard for
eight weeks and have no visible signs of diminished performance. Yet another
person might only be able to deal with training for two weeks. Obviously,
physical age would play a factor along with other controllable aspects of
recovery such as sleep nutrition training volume frequency and intensity. So for me telling someone they need to deload
at this given time just seems odd. On
another note I find it very hard to consider even worrying about using a
planned deload for someone whom is fairly young and is just starting out. Why
would you have too in the first place? They don’t have the ability to tap into
their strength reserves fully in the first place. There’s a big difference between
a 800 lbs squatter using 80% + on squats compared to a beginner whom is using
the same % with a sub 200 lbs max.
 |
I am really starting to find it amusing what I'm starting to
see on line. I’ve notice a growing trend
when someone complains about their gains or I should say lack of. 9 times out
of 10 the one complaining is a weak fuck or a total newbie. Someone always
seems to suggest that person needs to take a deload. Really, are you fucking
kidding me? Out of all the possible variables that could be the issue, Poor
eating, and sleep habits. Or, that person just has a plain old terrible
program. Or the person just sucks! I ask, how does an actual deload cure that? MY answer is that it fucking doesn’t!! Somehow it seems to fall back on the notion of
the dreaded overtraining bug.
Personally, at this point for myself I have found that I
progress better without deloading. Personally,
I would much rather be doing a routine which allows me to train consistent for
a long period of time before having to take a short break. I’ve found for
myself that if I’m training sensibly and not trying to knock my dick in the
dirt every session. I don’t need to download very often if at all. Case in point
for my last Meet I ran a 9 week cycle with zero deload and ended up stronger
for it.
For the record I’m not saying a person shouldn’t deload.
Obviously it’s going to depend on how a person is training volume, intensity
and so forth. I’m just saying I’m just not a fan of deloading and that I’ve
found for myself I done better without them. If I’m actually feeling beat up and need too
ill take time off .But the notion of having those times preprogrammed into a
program at my current level makes zero since to me personally.
No comments:
Post a Comment