# Beginner template - coming back after a break

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/beginner-template-coming-back-after-a-break/6531>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [July 22, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/beginner-template-coming-back-after-a-break/6531 "2019-07-22T10:49:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jamie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@Jamie](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jamie)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/beginner-template-coming-back-after-a-break/6531/1 "2019-07-22T10:49:22Z")

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The beginner template is recommended for “Individuals **returning from an extended layoff** (more than 4 weeks) from resistance training”. I haven’t had a complete break, but only managed a few sessions in the last month or so due to holidays and illness. So think this is a good place to pick things up as I own the beginner template as I bought it for my wife.

Having read through the accompanying information I can’t see anything on how I should use it in this situation. It doesn’t seem like running the whole template (min 12 weeks) is necessary. Would doing the last phase be appropriate?

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/beginner-template-coming-back-after-a-break/6531/2 "2019-07-22T16:40:53Z")

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Hey Jamie,

Thanks for the question and the business. As far as appropriateness, it really depends what you were doing before and how well-trained you are. If you’re pretty new to training, e.g. \<1 year of experience I’d have you start at phase I and run the whole thing as planned. If you’ve been training between 1 and 3 years, but have recently had a break- I’d plan on starting on phase II. If you’ve been training \> 3 years, I’d start on phase III. I just made all of this up, but seems reasonable to me.

-Jordan

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**Author:** ![Jamie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@Jamie](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jamie)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/beginner-template-coming-back-after-a-break/6531/3 "2019-07-22T17:29:51Z")

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Thanks for the reply. I’ve been training on and off for over 2 years, was part way through legacy 7 week hypertrophy before going on holiday for 2 weeks (no training at all) and then just being a bit lazy post holiday and a bout of illness last week. I’ve completed a handful of training sessions in this time (about a month since holiday), so not a complete break.

Didnt see your reply before I went the gym earlier so I did first day of phase 3, the 1@8 (140kg) squat wasn’t a million miles from my previous 1@8 best (157.5), so I think i can get back to that, or close to it in 4-6 weeks. Possibly could’ve gone a little higher, but prefer to be conservative.

If it was a longer (or complete) break I’d definitely be looking at phase 2.