jane_grace
Cathlete
I finished Meso Cycle 1 and instead of 1 week i've taken 3 weeks off. Do I start over or just go with Cycle 2?
Cheers,
Jane
Cheers,
Jane
took too long of a break
- Thread starter jane_grace
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maddiesmum
Cathlete
I disagree. 3 weeks is long enough to have lost some strength and endurance. I would start back with the last week of meso 1 and then progress to meso 2.
Clare
Clare
Sunshine1528
Cathlete
If it were me I would do as Clare mentioned and revisit one week of Meso 1 to make sure you have endurance. Meso 2 is doing sets of either the same exercise for 12, 10, 8 reps and sometimes then a set to failure or doing tri-sets of exercises, 3 different exercises 3 times in a row. If you don't have your endurance built up you may not be able to build muscle like the cycle is intended to do.
I had taken practically 2 months off (pretty much from all exercise unfortunately) prior to starting STS again and had to lower my weights from the last time I did it a year ago. I was able to hit the same lbs after approx 2 weeks into Meso 1, so you don't really lose it all. Made me a believer that your muscles have 'memory' like the articles speak of.
I think taking an additional week may help you get the most out of your workouts.
I had taken practically 2 months off (pretty much from all exercise unfortunately) prior to starting STS again and had to lower my weights from the last time I did it a year ago. I was able to hit the same lbs after approx 2 weeks into Meso 1, so you don't really lose it all. Made me a believer that your muscles have 'memory' like the articles speak of.
I think taking an additional week may help you get the most out of your workouts.
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shanihib
Cathlete
Each meso cycle uses different muscle fibers and so it doesn't really matter in what order you do them. Some only do Meso 2 for instance. While there are benefits to doing Meso 1, 2 & 3 in that order it isn't necessary, which is why I said she'd be fine. Yes, she has lost some strength but that shouldn't affect meso 2 as much.
syzygy314
Cathlete
All exercises for a particular muscle group utilize the same muscle fibers. 3 weeks is a long enough time frame to lose some of your gains. I agree with Clare, you should start over. If you're doing the 6 1/2 month rotation, you probably could do just one week of each set of workouts instead of two, then pick up with Meso 2 as scheduled after a ONE WEEK rest. If you're doing the 3 1/2 month rotation, definitely start over.
The difference in the Mesocycles is the intensity of the workouts. Faster reps requires fewer muscle fibers as you are using more momentum, slower reps requires more muscle fibers, but you are always utilizing the same muscle fibers.
The difference in the Mesocycles is the intensity of the workouts. Faster reps requires fewer muscle fibers as you are using more momentum, slower reps requires more muscle fibers, but you are always utilizing the same muscle fibers.
DEEDEE2
Cathlete
I say do what you want. If you want to go ahead with Meso 2, go for it. Yes you may have lost some strength and you may have to start with a weight lighter than what you would have started with had you not taken the 3 week break; but that is the beauty of weight training. You lift the weight that challenges you...period.