What happens when you don't train for a week?

What happens if you take a break from the gym?
 
Maybe you’re going on vacation, or you’ve got a lot of stuff to do, or let’s face it, you’re just feeling a little lazy, and you need a break from the gym. The problem is, you’ve got this question lurking in the back of your mind: what will happen if I take a day off from the gym? What if I go a week without exercise? What about a month? Will I lose all the muscles I’ve gained and regain all the weight I’ve lost? When I go back, will it be like starting all over again? 
 
First of all, rest assured, taking a small break from the gym won’t erase all the hard work you’ve done. It’s actually healthy. Did you know that professional athletes make a point of scheduling a week without exercise every two months? This allows their muscles to recover from all the hard work, and it avoids any injuries.
 
That makes going on vacation every once in a while to disconnect from everything —including fitness— necessary. We don’t want to wear ourselves out. Our minds and bodies need a break. This way you’ll feel nice and recharged, and ready to rock when you get back to the gym.
 
Okay, fine. You’re probably still wondering how long it takes for your body to get out of shape. As with everything else in fitness, it depends on the person. In general, you lose your endurance before your muscles. Your aerobic capacity drops by 5 to 10% after three weeks of no exercises, and after two months of inactivity, you’ll definitely find yourself out of shape. 
 
The good news is that if you’re generally an active person even when you don’t go to the gym, then it will take longer for you to lose those hard earned muscles. So when you’re taking a break from the gym, aside from staying active, don’t overeat or go on drinking binges. 
 
When you do return to your routine, take it easy at first. Pay attention to how your body responds to exercise again. You’ll probably need to spend less time on the machines or lifting less weight. But don’t worry, you’ll be back in the full swing of things in no time! So go ahead. Take a break and enjoy a week without exercise. It’s good for you!