What’s the longest break from the gym you’ve ever taken?

[Vision]

Quick question for the hobbyist long time lifters: What’s the longest break from the gym you’ve ever taken? It doesn’t matter why - work got crazy, life threw you a curveball, or you were sidelined by an injury, how long were you out???

And when you finally got back to lifting, did you come back stronger than before (Like a dramatic movie about the under-dog, just without that sappy inspirational music).....

OR did you just accept the DOMS and celebrate being back in the gym?

Your comeback story, let's hear it.....

 

[DadBod45]

I stopped lifting completely for about 5yrs and hadn’t been inside of an actual gym for 10yrs until January of 24.

It felt so good getting back in the gym that it didn’t bother me that I wasn’t as strong or didn’t look as good as I once did.

Here it is a year later and I’m just as strong as I ever was but still working on the look I once had and losing a little more fat around the mid section. I’ve hit a wall and that has been a struggle and discouraging at 45 lol.

 

[Astro95]

Years, once you lose your hard earned gains you fall into a suicidal depressive abyss where you may as well just be a piece of bacon. Then returning becomes a desire, but you’re ashamed of the tub of lard with 14 inch arms you’ve become and never actually get back to it, BUT then you get your hands on the shadiest 300% marked up bottle of test, from your buddy whose 35% body fat bulked up 365 days a year on Test, Deca and Dbol and just like that you rise again from the ashes like the anabolic phoenix you’re destined to be.

 

[TomJ]

Not a full break, but definitely was training not at all or very inconsistently when I was recovering from my hand surgery

 

[Cypher]

Since March of 2017 I’ve basically stayed out of the gym—maybe lifted three or four times total. Instead it’s been BJJ, brutal warmups, pushups, and whatever calisthenics come with it. All that movement and scrambling in rolls has kept me loose, flexible, and pretty damn injury-proof. My neck’s gotten thick and stupid strong, same with my forearms and overall strength. Two shoulder strains and a torn peroneal but that's it (thank god for toradol, I heal quick). Lower body’s always been solid—from being a fat kid to lugging a machine gun around for work and getting into amateur powerlifting. Now I’m ready to get back in the gym and start lifting again.

 

[celrin321]

Similar to the above, prolonged break that started with COVID gym closure, where I lived at the time was pretty draconian. That created depression and other things associated with a massive decline in my physical health going from peak physical specimen to fat. Mental problems lasted after covid but eventually got my ass back in the gym and turned things back around. Maybe 3 years.

 

[BBruce]

I don’t think I been out of the gym (lifting/fight training/no training at all) for more than a week for the last 30 years…

 

[heavydutygorilla]

Honestly Covid and the gym's closing was the first time I got separated from the iron sanctuary since I found it many years ago. Life started happening, buried my mom, grandfather, started a new relationship, had another kid, finally got my way back into the iron sanctuary this last year when we finished remodeling the house and built our home gym. A year back in and feeling and looking better than I did in the last half a decade and my mental health is back to what it used to be having the iron to go to. Nothing but death will separate me from this again.

 

[Bolan]

2 years. 2 shoulder surgeries.

 

[Glycomann]

4 days after surgery.

edit: maybe I should take a week off?

 

[Vision]

Since March of 2017 I’ve basically stayed out of the gym—maybe lifted three or four times total. Instead it’s been BJJ, brutal warmups, pushups, and whatever calisthenics come with it. All that movement and scrambling in rolls has kept me loose, flexible, and pretty damn injury-proof. My neck’s gotten thick and stupid strong, same with my forearms and overall strength. Two shoulder strains and a torn peroneal but that's it (thank god for toradol, I heal quick). Lower body’s always been solid—from being a fat kid to lugging a machine gun around for work and getting into amateur powerlifting. Now I’m ready to get back in the gym and start lifting again.

This is one of the benefits that I have received from not training, is having more mobility on the mats.
But the only downfall, being on the mats is where I have sustained more of my life injuries than anything.
My fingers are destroyed, most especially my left thumb.
My back can handle it, but my back can't handle the load of lifting

 

[Vision]

Honestly Covid and the gym's closing was the first time I got separated from the iron sanctuary since I found it many years ago. Life started happening, buried my mom, grandfather, started a new relationship, had another kid, finally got my way back into the iron sanctuary this last year when we finished remodeling the house and built our home gym. A year back in and feeling and looking better than I did in the last half a decade and my mental health is back to what it used to be having the iron to go to. Nothing but death will separate me from this again.

Brother I'm sorry to hear about the losses that you've experienced, we have some things in common with what you have shared entirely.
Good for you with the rebound man!!!
Truly, I'm happy to hear it..

A pole barn is literally in my near future.
And people are selling their COVID gym equipment everywhere, for cheap..
I'm just waiting on the permit and approvals, soon as the barn is up, in goes the home gym.

 

[Bigdaddyjak]

Stopped working out at about 28 . Never stepped into a gym until 4 years ago now 54 . So about 20 yrs .

 

[heavydutygorilla]

Brother I'm sorry to hear about the losses that you've experienced, we have some things in common with what you have shared entirely.
Good for you with the rebound man!!!
Truly, I'm happy to hear it..

A pole barn is literally in my near future.
And people are selling their COVID gym equipment everywhere, for cheap..
I'm just waiting on the permit and approvals, soon as the barn is up, in goes the home gym.

Thank you brother, never easy burying our elders, but it's part of the journey that is life! I appreciate the kind words my man.

I'm beyond excited to hear you're in the process of getting your pole barn built and home gym put together! I was able to get most of my equipment from people selling their home gym equipment from the covid boom myself haha! If patient, deals can and will be found over time! Wife and I are always talking about the end goal once the kids are grown to buy land and build out our retirement compound. Told her a barn or stand alone detached garage will be a requirement for the home gym!

 

[Lustyscripps]

Not necessarily a proper “break” but I’ve gone on week long vacations. Try to minimize the garbage eating but the extra calories make me feel so much stronger when I return. Also idk if it’s just me or maybe some of you can chime in- I rarely drink alcohol- maybe 2-3x a year on special occasions. A few days of drinking some Guinness makes me feel super human when I return- idk what it is man. Nothing like a proper pint after going months and months without it.

 

[Rot-Iron66]

Ive had a home gym since 1978, so I never took proper time off. I did however take 2 full weeks away in 1989 when I got married.
That was the last time...

 

[Vee]

2 weeks. In 32 years of training, 2 weeks off purposely to “reset” my mind and waning body… I grew from it!! It felt good to be on a purposeful break for once.

 

[MBW212]

I been out for a year, I got sick with my kidneys in like Feb, I haven’t been back because they racked up a huge bill, I tried calling their customer service and show them my hospital paperwork that I was in no condition to go to the gym but they told me to go into the gym and they have to do it and idk why I haven’t gone I have to go because I’m ready to get back

 

[JamesT13]

I have a story I normally don’t like talking about. A long time ago Some friends and I got jammed up and I ended up having to do a bid. Four years day for day. I went in county jail fcking jacked like a Greek God. I was taking my favorite Tri Tren (tren storm) and test. I also had a serious addiction to benzodiazepines and opioids all prescribed by a shady dr I had been using for years. Getting the max on everything. What ensued after being booked and a couple weeks had gone by was nightmarish. The extreme hallucinations from the benzo withdrawal actually helped by sparing me actual reality. Watching your body physically change like that was the worst part and there was nothing you could do about it. feeling like a 90 year old man for over a year because my test was tanked. Back constantly hurt every time I got up. It took 18 months before I felt somewhat normal and could start working out again. I knew I couldn’t build muscle but I needed the endorphins and I needed it as part of a routine, which is everything when fighting time itself. After I got out I got myself back on track physically. As traumatic as it all was it was necessary for me. A lesson learned.

 

[Darkhrse99]

II took 7 years off and that was a bad decision. My tendons and ligaments got weak. I started back and within a 2 month I tore something in my shoulder. I don’t remember doing anything too heavy or with bad form, but it took over a year to get better.


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[lottalead]

Quick question for the hobbyist long time lifters: What’s the longest break from the gym you’ve ever taken? It doesn’t matter why - work got crazy, life threw you a curveball, or you were sidelined by an injury, how long were you out???

And when you finally got back to lifting, did you come back stronger than before (Like a dramatic movie about the under-dog, just without that sappy inspirational music).....

OR did you just accept the DOMS and celebrate being back in the gym?

Your comeback story, let's hear it.....

about 5 years -heart spine knees shoulders lol-----surgery on all but knees

 

[Vision]

II took 7 years off and that was a bad decision. My tendons and ligaments got weak. I started back and within a 2 month I tore something in my shoulder. I don’t remember doing anything too heavy or with bad form, but it took over a year to get better.


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Brother I'm sorry to hear that man, it's interesting you mention that, because I'm going back on TB500 with my trt, because my joints and ligaments just randomly are hurting. This almost always goes away soon as I train again. But I definitely have it on my mind the potential of getting hurt, like you emphasized, that's my fear.
I tweaked my back again the other day, just doing dishes, simply rotating from the sink right to the dishwasher. Like really?!?!?!?

 

[Meetketchup]

Ironically last year on my 10 day trip to Japan. Never will I be out of the gym that long ever again if healthy. Before that I hadn’t gone more than like 3 days off in a matter of a decade.

 

[Captain_Furious]

Brother I'm sorry to hear about the losses that you've experienced, we have some things in common with what you have shared entirely.
Good for you with the rebound man!!!
Truly, I'm happy to hear it..

A pole barn is literally in my near future.
And people are selling their COVID gym equipment everywhere, for cheap..
I'm just waiting on the permit and approvals, soon as the barn is up, in goes the home gym.

Home gym has been the greatest thing ever. Mine is pretty sweet. Full set of DBs from 5-100lbs, KBs from 12-78lbs, squat rack, multitude of bars and bumper plates, 2 Beyond Power Voltras with a variety of cable attachments, ergometer, different seats and attachments for leg extensions, leg curls, and pulldowns, variety of mobility gear as well as various shelving and racks for DBs and KBs, AND a Rogue Rhino. Put this together over the last 2 years. I HATE going to commercial gyms unless I have to due to travel.

 

[Darkhrse99]

Brother I'm sorry to hear that man, it's interesting you mention that, because I'm going back on TB500 with my trt, because my joints and ligaments just randomly are hurting. This almost always goes away soon as I train again. But I definitely have it on my mind the potential of getting hurt, like you emphasized, that's my fear.
I tweaked my back again the other day, just doing dishes, simply rotating from the sink right to the dishwasher. Like really?!?!?!?

Yeah I would have never of guessed this would happen. It’s not like I was doing heavy weight, just one day I woke up and found I had very little shoulder movement before the pain hit. So this January it would be a year in and my shoulder’s still ache, but at least I can move them. I just think back of 10 years ago how nothing hurt and now I’m having shoulder issues and old man problems I guess lol.


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[squat to death]

I think the longest break I took was 7 years. Life happens.

 

[BigC235]

Probably about 2-3 weeks and not by choice..influenza A hit me harder than ever last year, tried to go back too early , nurse practioner at work encouraged me to take additional time off and I listened. Worst I've ever felt before during that period.

It killed the end of my growth period and lost 7-8 pounds that I never got back.

 

[Wiseguy]

6 miserable weeks due to Vertigo. It's When your head is spinning due to dislodged "rocks" (microscopic calcium carbonate crystals) in your inner ear, it is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

 

[Mrsrobinson]

Quick question for the hobbyist long time lifters: What’s the longest break from the gym you’ve ever taken? It doesn’t matter why - work got crazy, life threw you a curveball, or you were sidelined by an injury, how long were you out???

And when you finally got back to lifting, did you come back stronger than before (Like a dramatic movie about the under-dog, just without that sappy inspirational music).....

OR did you just accept the DOMS and celebrate being back in the gym?

Your comeback story, let's hear it.....

welllllll, the last couple of years cancer and covid is a bitch.
no comeback story yet, but here I am, lurking again LOL

 

[Vision]

welllllll, the last couple of years cancer and covid is a bitch.
no comeback story yet, but here I am, lurking again LOL

Heyyyyy stranger where you been?
Glad to see you're still lurking, stick around this time...