I take time off from time to time... Some times because I'm sick or just too busy.
Like when I started work again... The first week is always so crazy I simply don't have the time.
But... Sometimes I take time off because I just need the break from the lifestyle.
I lift for fun and because I like looking good (and by good I mean the sexiest mother fucker alive) without my shirt on.
I don't get paid for this... And just like everything else in life... Video games, certain foods, sexual positions... You fall in and out of love with it.
While I absolutely love working out and everything that comes with it... Sometimes... It feels more like a job than an outlet. Like it's something I have to do instead of something I want to do.
When that happens, that's when I stop!
I walk away until I want it again. Granted that doesn't take long... Usually within a week or 2 I'm back into it.
And that usually only happens once or twice a year... But again we aren't getting paid for this... In fact most of us are spending a lot of money on this lifestyle. I know I am... Between my home gym, gear, pre workout and food.
I don't see anything wrong with stopping from time to time.... Just as long as you don't stop permanently!
But I can say every time I took a week off and came back... I came back much stronger and with more drive!
Plus if you are on gear and doing serious strength training, it's a good idea to either take time off or deload. Because your muscles grow and get stronger much faster than your tendons. So to avoid injury it's a good idea to let your tendons catch up!
Mitch Cooper said he does like 5 weeks on and 2-3 weeks off. Meaning 5 weeks of intense strength training, adding more and more weight every week. Then 2-3 weeks of less intense training and accessory work to let his tendons catch up. And he went from a marathon runner to worlds strongest man in like 5 years. So... I think he knows what he's talking about. Not to mention how much smaller he is than everyone else.