The IFBB Pro coach Greg Doucette, renowned for his no-nonsense approach to fitness, recently tackled a myth surrounding muscle loss during breaks. In his YouTube video titled “9 Things You MUST Know As A Natural Athlete,” he pointed out a common misconception regarding the timeframe for losing muscle gains.

With unwavering confidence, Doucette debunked the notion that taking a brief hiatus, whether due to vacation, illness, or injury, spells doom for your hard-earned gains. In the video, he emphasized, “Remember this, the gains you make as a natural, they’re hard to lose just because you took a week off… it’s not going to affect your progress.”

Doucette further explained that the fear of losing muscle during breaks is often exaggerated. He points out that even if some muscle loss occurs, it’s minimal and easily recoverable. According to him, “Even if you lose some of those gains, which is very difficult to do… you’re not going to lose any muscle.”

However, there is a catch. Doucette highlights the stark reality for those who rely on performance-enhancing drugs like SARMs or ster**ds. When individuals cease using these substances, they experience rapid muscle loss, undoing much of their progress. Meanwhile, he urges individuals to take pride in their natural achievements and warns against the pitfalls of shortcuts. “You worked hard for it… you did it 100% natural… and you will keep this progress for years,” he emphasizes.

Doucette, also advised people who are tempted to get quick muscle growth by using performance-enhancing supplements. Even though getting big muscles fast sounds great, he warns that once you stop using these dru*s, you’ll lose most of the muscles you gained.

Earlier, bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger also shared his opinion on this matter. Let’s see the piece of advice Arnie offered his village.

Only over three weeks of inactivity can lead to muscle loss: Schwarzenegger

In an earlier edition of his newsletter, Arnold Schwarzenegger noted that holidays or temporary setbacks like injuries often make people to stray from their regular workout routines. However, he emphasized that these breaks shouldn’t be seen as permanent obstacles.

According to him, it takes about three weeks of inactivity for one to start losing strength and muscle, and two weeks for endurance to be affected. Missing a few days or taking a longer break doesn’t erase all your progress, he explained while adding that “it’s natural to feel down when you break your routine”. “But don’t stress about it,” Schwarzenegger advised.

Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Greg Doucette agree that taking breaks from workouts won’t make you lose all your progress. According to them, whether you’re traveling, on vacation, or sick, short breaks won’t ruin your progress. Natural gains are resilient, and with consistent effort, your body can bounce back and continue to grow.