What is fitness deloading?
Sources:
Fitness deloading involves intentionally reducing the intensity or volume of your workouts for a short period to allow your body to recover. This practice can help prevent overtraining, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance long-term performance.
Here are some key points about fitness deloading:
- Purpose: Deloading aims to facilitate recovery and repair by temporarily decreasing the workout load. This can be done by reducing the weight, volume, or intensity of exercises.
- Methods:
- Cut the weight and volume in half (e.g., if you usually lift 200 lbs for an exercise, lift 100 lbs during deload 1).
- Focus on restorative activities like mobility exercises, yoga, or bodyweight movements 2.
- Schedule deload weeks based on your training intensity, typically every 8-12 weeks for consistent trainers 3.
- Benefits:
- Signs You Need a Deload:
Deloading isn't about completely stopping your activity; it's about active recovery and giving your body the rest it needs while staying somewhat active. Implementing these strategies can help maintain progress and overall health.
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