Author
I took 6 weeks off the gym, and here is what changed:
Nothing!
Coming back to the gym after a break can feel daunting.
What if I’ve lost strength? What if I can’t train as hard as I used to?
These worries are likely true. But does that mean you should stop training forever just because you lost your streak?
Muscle doesn’t disappear overnight. If you need to lower the weights on exercises and adapt your routine to fit your current state of fitness, that doesn’t mean it will remain that way forever.
Progress isn’t linear. Even when you are going to the gym regularly and have a routine, that doesn’t mean that every time you go to the gym you will train the exact same way. And this isn’t a bad thing!
Instead of thinking about how much strength or endurance you have lost, reframe it as a challenge to get back to where you were.
It’s your mindset that dictates your approach to exercise. If you are reluctant and unmotivated, you will find coming back to the gym after a break more challenging than if you come back enthusiastic and determined, as this will make you much more likely to train hard.
So instead of thinking that it was all for nothing and you might as well not bother anymore, think back to where you were earlier in your gym progression, and how you managed to get to where you were before your break.
If you did it before, why can’t you do it again?
If you need some encouragement, or help with adapting your old routine to your current fitness level, why not book a session with one of our trainers, who can help you get your confidence back and start training again? Or join a class and exercise with a group of people with different fitness levels.
