Deloads: Quick n' Dirty

Hi guys, so I recently got asked by a client about deloads. Since they're so little work, why bother? Why not just take time off? So I figured i'd transcribe my response, since it was one of the few times something other than drivel and memes left my thumbs.

Client:  Mate, quick question. I was talking to a guy at work and explaining what I was doing in my de-load week and when I told him it was less than 10 mins workout each day he asked what the point was, I wasn't sure if it was just psychological to keep me in the pattern of  going to the gym or some other reason related to keeping the muscles guessing?

Will:  Few reasons. 
​
1. You are right, it helps keep you ticking over. Much like getting 'rusty' from no practice of a sport. You start to lose technical aptitude after roughly 3 days of nothing.

2. As much as its very little, it isn't nothing. 6 sets /week is just half of what we started week 1 on. It means that you wont be significantly de-trained come week 1 of the next block. Think of it like a 'cool down'.

3. It's a good idea to have, since the measure of difficulty for our hardest training is that you wouldn't be able to repeat that same week, or more the next week. It gives us wiggle room for over cooking the hardest training.

4. Its also pretty cool as a mental stress indicator. If you are antsy and keen to get going again. That usually means its working. If we hit the previous week SOO hard that even during a deload, you felt burst. I'd need to re structure, and we'd have  fairly good idea of what you're maximum volume could be in a week.

5. Suppose it also helps you push in the week before. Knowing you have planned down time, can help you not hold back and really do the hardest possible work

As always, if you have questions, comments, or wanna fight'bout it. Leave them below!

---