To Deload or Not To Deload - That Is The Question

We are going to answer the age old question whether we should deload or not. Simply put, deloading is a fitness strategy where the participant purposefully decreases their exercise capacity or does absolutely nothing for a week or two, every 30 - 90 days. 

The concept of deloading is hyped as a way to allow your muscles to fully recover and heal. I know that all of you are aware from reading my entry a few weeks back that muscle recovery is important to the process of building a healthy and fit body. That being said, unless you are an elite athlete, competitive powerlifter, a very experienced lifter or straight up bad ass workout freak, this lack luster concept of deloading acts more like a progress buster, rather than a legitimate fitness strategy. I am all about mindset, so planning to be less than your normal self several weeks ahead of time will be a self fulfilling prophecy. 

I highly doubt most people's fitness routine is so strenuous that your body is severely fatigued, perpetually sore and over all overwhelmed. Although, in the event that their body truly does need a rest, your body will let you know, then by all means deload. It just seems awful silly to mark this on your calendar two months from now. This is equivalent to setting July 15th as the day you're going to be extra thirsty and thus planning on drinking extra water that day. It's simple, if you're feeling dehydrated drink more water, if you're exhausted, rest. 

If you're wondering how this became such a popular urban legend. You need to look no further than your local fitness outlets running 12 or 8 week quick fix fitness programs. Again, I am going to advise you to steer clear from marketing strategies and instead get to know your body, and what works well for you. Fitness has always been a path to self discovery and self mastery. When you buy into mass marketing concepts, you give away your power away to a one size fits all mentality. Everyone has a unique body, back ground, motivation and personality, there is, nor will there ever be a uniform method. Listen to your body, your heart and your instinctual mind and you will be successful.

TO DELOAD OR NOT