KEEP WORKING OUT. A recent study found that taking a break from working out can dampen spirits. Missing just two sessions was enough to send exercisers into a funk. All the huffing, puffing and muscle soreness involved in starting up again may be enough to keep formerly devoted movers and shakers glued to the couch.
EXERCISE SLACKERS CAN TAKE HEART. Those first days back may indeed be rough, but the fact is, it takes much longer to get out of shape than to get in shape. Your rate of regression depends on how fit you are to begin with, but your body tends to hang on to the big gains quite tenaciously.
LOSING MUSCLE STRENGTH. On average, most people lose muscle strength at about half the rate at which they gained it. Thus, if you’ve been lifting weights for six months, it could take up to a year for you to fall back to your prepumped state. If, for instance, you’ve been doing multiple sets of each exercise, you’re likely to keep your strength longer than if you had been doing only one or two.
