Going on holiday

[Lizard]

I'm going to go on holiday to Greece in three weeks. I will stay for two weeks.

The place where I'm staying has a nice pool. Although I will swim and jump into the pool everyday I won't be able to lift weights.

Will my muscles get smaller if I don't lift weights for two weeks? What should I do?

mmmm Can't wait to eat more Tsatsiki (don't think I spelt it right). It's made of yoghurt, garlic and cucumber and you dip bread in it. It's delicious and provides carbs and protein along with some vegetables.

[Biker]

If anything, the break from weight-lifting will make you bigger and stronger. You don't grow in the gym. You grow outside the gym, when you are resting.

[Biker]

Have a good holiday!

[Lizard]

Thanks Biker but I don't see how the holiday will make my muscles bigger. They only need 48 hours rest at the most. What I wanted to know was how long does it take before your muscles start to shrink?

[Tom Yum]

Who cares. Just swim in sprint intervals and you will maintain strength and improve your definition. Do some calisthenics as well.

[mr. bond]

you may lose a little muscle, sure, but swimming should keep you in decent shape. you can do some pushups, dips, and situps in your room too.

but quite honestly, forget about fitness for a second and enjoy your vacation. Greece is a really cool place (i speak from experience) and i envy you greatly.

btw, check out some of the gyms in Athens...i'm sure they're hideously expensive, but man, are they decked out.

[Lizard]

OK I'll do some calisthenics. What are dips?

Until recently I didn't even know what calisthenics meant. These forums are great for learning. It's reliable because people don't have a reason to lie, knowledge is shared for mutual benefit.

Have you noticed a sort of "gym culture" emerging amongst men? All these words, it's like with cars.

[Biker]

Originally posted by Lizard
Thanks Biker but I don't see how the holiday will make my muscles bigger. They only need 48 hours rest at the most. What I wanted to know was how long does it take before your muscles start to shrink?

Like I said, you do your growing outside the gym. Your body will react positively to a two week break. The 48 hours part is how long you should rest before training the same bodypart. Just because you stop working out for a short period of time doesn't mean you will lose strength and muscle mass. It slowly goes away. For a brief period after you stop training you will continue to get bigger and stronger because your body is still in an adaptive mode from the weight training. A two week rest will let your body get caught up on recovery.

[Lizard]

That's good. Biker you always have something helpful to say. Should I eat less when I'm on holiday since I won't be lifting? Would it be a good time to lose a little fat? (I only have a little but it's hiding my abs)

[Biker]

If it were me going on holiday, I'd just enjoy myself and eat whatever I wanted. I wouldn't say eat less, just try to stay away from high-fat foods and try to limit your carb intake.

[Lizard]

Ok I'll stick to tsatsiki (yoghurt-based dish) with bread and salad with olive oil (healthy fat).

That's what I want to eat anyway.

Oh and katafia (like shredded wheat soaked in syrup with lots of extra syrup)