Buzz
How long can you take off before your fitness levels start to drop? The answer depends on your initial fitness level and whether we’re considering strength or endurance.
Nick English at Greatist dives into the different scenarios. For someone with a regular gym routine, taking up to a four-week break might not significantly impact your strength.
Molly Galbraith, a certified strength and conditioning expert and co-founder of Girls Gone Strong, explains that most individuals begin to lose strength after about two and a half to three weeks of inactivity. However, this is largely influenced by the reason for the break.
If illness is the cause, your body undergoes extra strain, leading to strength loss after two to three weeks. But if you’re healthy and can still engage in light movement or exercise, you can probably take up to five weeks off without much of an impact on your strength.
Cardiovascular fitness tends to decline more rapidly: after a four-week break, you might lose 20% of your aerobic capacity. The good news is, it's easier to rebuild cardio fitness.
For those just starting out with exercise, the situation is different. Since beginners show rapid progress, they may find it easier to maintain their improvements.
For more details, check out the full article on Greatist, which includes advice on how to minimize fitness losses by staying somewhat active during your time off.
Photo by Laura D'Alessandro.
