# how long does strength last

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/how-long-does-strength-last/5661>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [May 4, 2019, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/how-long-does-strength-last/5661 "2019-05-04T12:49:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cole](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/cole/32/167_2.png) [@Cole](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Cole)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/how-long-does-strength-last/5661/1 "2019-05-04T12:49:25Z")

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say you are on week 12/16 of a strength program, have gained a lot of strength, then take a 1 week off for vacation (no training). do you lose some of that strength that you just gained the past 12 weeks? and when you come back, do you go straight to week 13, or do you re-do week 12? thanks!!

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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:** [May 5, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/how-long-does-strength-last/5661/2 "2019-05-05T16:41:22Z")

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No one knows the exact time the decay in strength performance takes. There is also likely to be large inter-individual variance here. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how would knowing the answer change your management? We don’t have any 16 week programs (save for the knee rehab one) so it’d be hard to comment on what week someone should jump back into without knowing the program.