How to Return Safely to the Gym Following Time Off

Just about everyone has felt like their life has been turned upside down at some point in time. Most people look for ways to get back to their regular gym routine and that includes strength training. We all want to get back at it and Jefit wants you to return safely to the gym. If there was ever a time to reap the psychological and physiological benefits of aerobic exercise and strength training it would be now!

This article will address how to return safely to the gym from an exercise standpoint rather than from a gym safety point of view.

How Quickly Does the Body Begin Detraining?

The body begins to lose cardio and strength gains made at the gym in as little as 2-3 weeks. The good news, though, is any gains lost due to time off can be redeveloped quickly. As long as you’ve been healthy. You can typically maintain strength levels for 3-4 week after a hiatus. Where you really begin to see the effects of missing workouts though is with the loss of muscle mass. This can occur in as fast as 3-weeks. The key is to always listen to your body before/during/after workouts. If you need to back off on the weight or mileage during a workout because you don’t feel 100 percent, then do so. If you experience any stiffness, tightness or pain, your body is most likely telling you to back off a bit.

Gradually Increase Workout Volume

When starting out or coming back from a hiatus, strive for 20-60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise according to the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. On the strength side, aim for 1-2 sets of an exercise using 12-15 repetitions with moderate resistance. As time moves forward, slowly decrease the amount of repetitions while increasing the amount of resistance and the number of sets. Increase the amount of resistance each week by about 10 percent for lower body and 5 percent for upper body exercises once you’re able to reach 12 repetitions. Begin with bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges and split squats before moving to machines or free weights. In both instances, 3 days a week is plenty, eventually progressing that to 4-5 days if and when needed.

Pay Special Attention to Muscle Recovery

On the off days you’re not strength training focus more on stretching and mobility. In addition, spend time on your foam roller to release any tight muscles and connective tissue. Also try using a recovery product like Hyperice to help in that area. In fact, think about adding a few days of either yoga, stretching or a mobility class to your weekly routine. If you like to run, closely monitor your weekly mileage, and build back up slowly.

Own Your Workouts

A valuable tool is documenting how your time is spent in the gym or at home during each workout session. Monitoring training volume (sets x reps. x load) on a daily and weekly basis. This will help prevent overtraining and you’ll get better gains. Research has shown that you’re more likely to stick to a new habit when a plan is in place and a record is kept. This of course is another area where Jefit comes into play.

Stay Strong Together

If you’re serious about building muscle and reaching your fitness goals in 2025, then the Jefit app is the perfect tool to help get you there! With over 20 million downloads and more than 12 million bodybuilders using the app to track their workouts, Jefit is the ultimate strength training companion. Rated as the 2024 Best App and featured by top publications like Men’s Health, PC Magazine, and USA TODAY. Jefit boasts 42,000+ five-star ratings for its user-friendly design and comprehensive features. Whether you’re focused on protein intake, building strength, or tracking your progress, Jefit has everything you need to succeed. Download Jefit today and join millions of fitness enthusiasts transforming their bodies.