What happened when you stopped lifting weights?
anewell28
Posts: 79 Member
Just curious... seems like the opposite question to ask
Did you get smaller? Softer?
What about just a break from weight training? Any differences in body or mind or strength?
Did you get smaller? Softer?
What about just a break from weight training? Any differences in body or mind or strength?
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Replies
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I got weaker4
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I got smaller and weaker and my joints started to hurt. A lot.0
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I got fat. (The pregnancy may have helped with that.
) 7 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »I got fat. (The pregnancy may have helped with that. )
Oooh, good answer! Me too.1 -
My toneage went away.
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I took off my sweaty clothes and hopped in the shower....
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I started to have pains in my joints. I didn't stop on purpose (life happened) but I am back at it, hoping the pain in my joints get better soon!4
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I stopped for most of July and didn't really notice any changes. When I returned to lifting I was able to pick up right where I left off. However, I'm not sure that would be the case if I stopped longer, plus, I did lift like 3 or 4 times randomly over the course of the month when I had some spare time.0
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Not a huge/rapid change, for me. Moderate strength loss, not much appearance impact that I can see. But I'm possibly a little bit weird case.
My regular "cardio" obsession (rowing, on-water and machine), is on the strength-y-er side. (A solid hour of on-water rowing is about 1200 reps of lower-body push and upper-body pull (with added mechanical advantage via leverage) of my body weight and my share of the boat/equipment weight, horizontally, against the friction of the water. It's not a huge amount of resistance, and it's only in one direction, but man, that's a lot of volume. Even with water breaks and a lower SPM during turns and such, an hour is still 900-ish reps or so, and I do it 4 days a week in season. And we carry the boats, overhead or on shoulders, to and from the water.
If/when I can talk myself into strength training - because I'm hedonistic and don't enjoy it, even though I know it's best to do it - I usually do it in my off-season from on-water rowing. If I manage to get myself in gear two years in a row, I usually have something up to a month-ish of make-up time to get back approximately where I was when I left off before the 4-5 month or so gap. (I do intentionally ramp up slowly because I'm a li'l ol' lady with some parts that have "issues", so I'm always very cautious about progression (but do work toward it)).
I don't follow a respected strength program. (Reasons are complicated, because I believe a sound program, is a better idea in general, and advise others accordingly). I don't stop using many/most of my muscles, fairly intensively, when I stop lifting. My bodyweight doesn't much change (since 2015). It's been literally years (decade?) since I did all-year-round strength training with any kind of reasonable program, and even then, I only did it consistently for a couple of years.
So: When I strength train, I do things (knowingly) that limit my strength/mass gains. When I don't strength train, I don't stop providing some consistent though lesser level of muscle stimulation.
If I don't strength train, it usually affects my mood neutrally or positively (I don't like to strength train, like I said). However, if I don't work out for days/weeks, I get moody and mildly depressive, and hold stress in my body (so more discomfort from arthritis and stuff). If I don't row, when the weather permits, I get very, very cranky, because . . . rowing
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I know that was too long and wordy, but I thought maybe a perspective from a non-fan would provide some contrast.
People ought to strength train. Including me. 8 -
Just curious... seems like the opposite question to ask
Did you get smaller? Softer?
What about just a break from weight training? Any differences in body or mind or strength?
I did a lot of weight training about 10 years ago. Went to the gym 6 days a week, could do 60 real pushups, was strong. Stopped going after hurting my back, and ended up just totally straying off that path and gaining weight. Now I'm 50, everything hurts, and I have zero strength. A break I think is fine, for a few weeks. But, you lose muscle after a while if you don't keep working it. It is the working that builds it, after all. Tear and repair the muscles to grow them. It's easy to get cardio back, but strength can take a long time to rebuild.2 -
I lost a lot of strength, gained a lot of weight and everything hurt all the time.1
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Interesting to see a number of you mention pain.
I am currently lifting sporadically due to golfer's elbow. (I do bodyweight for lower body due to knee issues and not being set up for anything else at home.)
When I take a long break I feel flabbier and weaker.0 -
I also have golfer's elbow. I recently took two weeks off for vacation and the pain became unbearable. Now that I am back at my workouts it has improved significantly.0
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This is the 3rd year I have had to take 3-4 month off lifting. (March-August) for unavoidable personal reasons which includes quite a bit of travel.
I do a basic bodyweight programme while I’m away.
What I have found is I start losing strength at the ~4week mark and it declines from there.
I judge this by how I can manage my suitcase (half my bodyweight) during my travels. At the start I can manage airports, underground, trains, buses etc, with little problem (carousel, stairs, lifting here and there etc) Going home ugh, I’m seriously struggling with what I was perfectly capable of before.
Visually, I go from looking lean, as though my muscles have tone and my skin is plumped and glowing, to skinny, flaccid muscle tone, and stringy striated dull skin.
(ETA: and my belly gets lax (loss of deeply hidden abs) and jiggles even more than usual)
I don’t get aches and pains, but my flexibility and stamina drop a little.
It takes about 6 weeks to ramp up to where I left off, then I have 7-ish months to progress before starting the cycle all over again.
I could find a few gyms along my travels but, for a good body and soul balance, I have opted not to so far. (Seriously considering doing a simple machine routine next year)
Cheers, h.4 -
I noticed a huge difference, lost all definition, my arms and legs went soft, felt weaker and overall looked bigger x0
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I lost a lot of strength, gained a lot of weight and everything hurt all the time.
I was a little different. I quit stopped working out before Christmas. I lost a lot of strength, lost a solid 10lbs, and just stayed at the same weight for several months . I actually felt so much better. Aches and pains honestly went away. My body felt more functional, in the way that my muscles weren’t tight all the time. I started feeling like a strongman or bodybuilder who has to use effort just to reach across and touch my shoulders, lol. I started my diet right after the 4th and have lost 30lbs. I feel even better than I did when I stopped working out. Today was the first day that I started lifting again. But my goal now, is to just maintain muscle mass and keep losing BF.
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I think imo, that is why we call it a lifestyle. I sometimes even lift just my daughter for a few reps. I squat with her in my arms, she loves it, bonding, double whammy. And I plank next to my bed, until my SO is done brushing teeth before we go to bed. It's just these simple things that add up. I believe in no excuses. Hehe. I am an extremely motivated person in general, quite a few of my friends have encouraged me to become a trainer, but I just can't deal with the 'I cannot' mindset. If you're not 'able' to lift 10lbs, then lift 5lbs, if that's too much do the movements with no weight at all. Example, do flys, with no weight, just contract the muscle, I know it sounds silly but it works 3
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When two of my kids got braces on the same day, I gave up my gym membership to pay for them. Just over a year later they were paid down sufficiently for my tax refund to pay them off in full and I could rejoin the gym.
Lost a TON of strength, my shirt sleeves went from stretched tight to loose, and the joint pain in my knees returned. But an even bigger problem for me has been regaining the motivation I had before. I still want to train, but where before I never let anything keep me from the gym 3-4 times per week, now I keep making excuses and can barely make it twice a week.6 -
My body looked softer/bigger even for the same weight, I felt flabbier. I developed recurring issues with my SI joints because I let my core strength go.
I have regrets!1 -
The longest I've taken a lifting break is 3 weeks - I can see some softening in that short time, my arms don't look as defined and my midriff gets fluffy. I know its good for me (for my bones and for aging) so I lift at least 2 days a week, I don't enjoy it but I always feel stronger after a session. Even on holidays I still aim to squat/plank etc to keep some strength so I'm not back at square one.
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First I lost weight, then I gained fat and got flabby. I also felt weaker (hiking uphill without lifting was much more difficult). All this over 2-3 months. I immediately noticed a positive difference as soon as I started lifting again.2
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I got weaker, gained bodyfat, and become sore all the time.1
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Both gained and lost wt while "in maintenance" between 150-160 but also lost strength, lost muscle mass and gained fat, the latter 2 results also contributing to an increase in BF% from about 10 to 16% at a current wt of 150, based on DEXA and hydro testing.0
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I’m 2 weeks and 4 days out from surgery, still not cleared to lift until at least next week. I feel flabby and my well-muscled (to me) back looks soft and fluffy. I’m the same weight, but pants and shirts are fitting differently—midsection/hips are bigger and so clothes tighter. A bit is still that the muscle and skin in the bigger incision haven’t totally healed, so there’s a little protrusion there, but some is just puffy.
I’m cleared for lower impact cardio and some non-core (so lower body mostly) body weigh stuff, which I’m doing and hate every second of. I’m trying to be patient and let things heal and I am quite frustrated (MD husband continually warns me of looming hernia if I overdo it, so I am complying with gritted teeth).2 -
Just curious... seems like the opposite question to ask
Did you get smaller? Softer?
What about just a break from weight training? Any differences in body or mind or strength?
I fractured my knee cap in February and I'm just now getting back to the weight room as I spent the summer just focusing on my cycling.
I'm basically starting from scratch...I can't push or pull even close to the weight I was before.
I'm the same weight right now as I was when I stopped lifting, but I'm noticeably softer with a higher BF%
I look like I used to lift, but gave it up
Aches and pains that dissipated with regular strength training have returned.1 -
I stopped weight training for about a year and a half due to some life insanity. I ended up having two hip surgeries because my glutes got really weak, other muscles started compensating and that tore up my joint cartilage. I will also say, based on my surgery recovery experience, that muscle loss and atrophy will start within 1-2 weeks depending on the muscle condition. I occasionally take a week off for a vacation or because I’ve pushed myself too hard and my body is screaming at me but I don’t think I will ever just totally stop weight training ever again.0
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2 month break (bench and deadlifts) due to a shoulder injury. I lost some strength but not a HUGE amount....I was able to get back to the same bench strength in about a month-month and a half (intentionally starting slowly).
No significant changes to my appearance...I continued to squat and work my lower body harder to compensate for the break in upper body movements.
I just changed my focus to building lower body, so I didnt get discouraged and quit completely.1 -
I lost strength, I lost definition, and gained weight. Of course it coincided with making poor dietary choices as well so .......0
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I lost motivation and gave up on eating right and healthy choices too. Gained 100 lbs in the next 15 years....Last April had many health scares and so far have dropped 70 lbs and am back to weight training 3 times a week and cardio the other 3.. age 54 and feel like a new man3
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I had to stop lifting heavy a few months ago per my PT. I had developed severe muscle imbalance and inflammation issues from not taking enough recovery time after injuries.
I definitely don’t feel as strong and feel a little “fluffier”. I still do Jazzercize and trail run so the different isn’t dramatic though0
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