Deload weeks always trip me up a bit when I’m deep into heavy lifting cycles. I know they’re necessary, but figuring out the right balance between reducing volume and intensity feels like a guessing game sometimes. Do you cut the weight way back but keep the reps similar, or drop the volume significantly while keeping the load relatively heavy?
I’ve tried both approaches, and while lowering intensity seems to help with recovery, I sometimes feel like I lose a bit of momentum. On the other hand, slashing volume but keeping the weight up leaves me feeling fresher without sacrificing strength but is that enough for a proper deload?
Curious how others handle this, especially if you’re regularly pushing near-max loads. What’s your go-to deload strategy when you need to recharge without losing progress?