Go to https://squarespace.com/bioneer to get a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. *** My ebook and training program: https://www.thebioneer.com/shop/sft2 It’s on winter sale right now! *** Here is Jeff Nippard’s excellent video breaking down the science of muscle loss with detraining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0vHR2mAw2U *** Have you ever thought about NOT getting stronger? Have you ever thought about just maintaining muscle, rather than building it? This might not sound like the most encouraging suggestion… but at some point, that does need to be an option. At some point, it’s okay to say that you’ve done enough. And I bring this up because it’s not really something you hear people talking about. In fact, fitness influencers are sometimes criticised for “not making any gains” even when they’re in awesome shape. Why is this the default? Why must we always get stronger and bigger? Isn’t maintaining muscle for years also impressive in its own right? For someone who maybe works out primarily as a way to feel better and boost their confidence, it actually makes a lot of sense to reach a certain point and then just be content with that. Why? Because, of course, it’s actually much easier to maintain muscle than it is to grow it! And if you go into your training with this ambition - knowing you only need to push yourself hard for a 6-18 months… You might find it easier to stick with the plan. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t also be ambitious. Why not set your sights on something else? If you’re mostly strong enough, why not scale back your resistance training but work on your mobility or your cardio, instead? None of this may apply to you! But just keep in mind: you always have options. And choosing to maintain muscle, rather than build it, is an interesting one. Me personally? I’ve improved and improved. Then gotten worse. Then better. Than plateaued. Then gotten better. Then worse… And being okay with that is also pretty important from a mental health standpoint!