Is it OK to skip a week of lifting?

Yes, it is. There’s no need to beat yourself up for having or wanting to take a week off from lifting. Limited workout breaks will actually help your weight loss and muscle gains more than you think.

Does taking a week off from lifting help?

Yes, it does. It is helpful to both your muscles and your mental health.

Can taking a week off from lifting help painful joints?

Yes, it can. Overworking your joints during exercise can cause them to flare up and ache, so resting for a week can help. However, if the pain doesn’t subside within two weeks, it is advisable to see a doctor, as you may have injured yourself ( 21 ).

Will I lose muscle after 1 week off?

No, you won’t. Muscle loss is said to happen after two to three weeks of not working out ( 29 , 13 ).

Do you grow muscle during a rest week?

Yes, you do. As stated above, muscle recovery time is 24 to 48 hours after light or moderate exercise. Intense workouts may require up to 72 hours for recovery ( 25 ). When muscles repair, they grow bigger and stronger.

Is taking 2 weeks off from the gym Bad?

While taking a week off from exercising is perfectly okay, taking two weeks or more off isn’t advisable. Cardiovascular fitness often starts to decrease in the first week and after two weeks, you start to lose muscle mass and strength ( 29 ). If you don’t need to, you should keep your gym breaks to just a week and no more than two weeks.