+ 2 Changing the approach
I've been following a lifestyle based on nutrition and fitness for over a decade now. My approach, up until recently has been geared towards numerical values and following everything on paper. Growing up I was never into fitness and ate terribly. I'm far from a true athlete but living this type of lifestyle had really improved my life in all facets.
It wasnt until about a year ago that my approach really started to shift based on a long time passing and progress remaining stagnant, I also have been struggling with injuries for over 2 years. I'm basically trying to relearn and retrain my mind to think about everything in terms of listening to my body. I'm not looking to compete and I'm not looking to move serious weight, at this point. I feel that my approach in the past has really hindered my long term progress, with only looking at the situation from a numerical perspective. I also feel that really opened me up to the series of injuries I sustained.
I feel that your body will tell you a lot about what it needs in terms of nutrients, the quantities of nutrients and the difference between pushing yourself hard and pushing yourself to the point that opens you up too widely for injuries.
I have only been on trt for the past 3 years. I have added in a low dose on NPP or EQ at some points to assist with healing to try and overcome injuries. I have also started to realize that for my body, less is more when it comes to steroids. I have fewer sides and its smoother sailing. I guess it's just one of those less is more situations.
Has anyone gone through a similar transition or change on their fitness venture?
What are some ideas or things to consider that have worked for any of you in the past or currently that have allowed you to mentally connect with what your body needs?
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I guess it all depends on your personal goals.
Many people want to be the strongest they can be, so heavy weights and the risk of injury is something you will have to deal with.
Some want to have the most stamina, doing high intensity workouts for hours, many times almost everyday.
I have found that just like the supplements, more isn't always better, and that includes training.
I personally want to look good in the mirror, for my potential, and still have time for other important parts of life that I have neglected in the past. And injury free is a big one. Feeling good, and looking good can be accomplished by a good diet and safe training. At 38, I am not the biggest I have ever been, nor the strongest, but I can honestly say I am happy with my body and progress working out 3 to 4 days a week. Repping 60-70% of my max. Slow and controlled movements. But still pushing myself to failure, but safely. I too have been on trt for the last couple years and have had great results with the new approach. Looking forward to a safe cycle in the future to see what how the gear can push me past my natural potential.
I wish I would have trained like this long ago. Concentrating on hypertrophy and not killing myself or my body. I think you made a good decision that will help you in the long run.
I am very much the same way. Look at everything from a numbers piint of view. When i was in around year 3 of my fitness "careeer", i was lifting super heavy, usually in the 4-6 rep range for most of my freeweights. Eventually i started getting older and realized that my shoulder was more and more aggrivated the more weight i pushed. - eventually lead to a partial minor tear in my rotator cuff, so i decided to ease off and hut lighter weights, but with absolutely perfect form and take the count with each rep, that has dramatically.improved my training through the years and ive seen much more progress. My joints hurt a heck of a lot leas too.
PcushionI am just strong by nature and always have been. My passion is bodybuilding though and not powerlifting. Yet without even realizing it I was chasing numbers for years. Finally decided to make a conscious effort to forget the numbers. I stared focusing on muscle isolation and flexing through the reps using hella lighter weight. It made all the difference in the world for me. Shit started to grow big time. I only push my body to 65% of the weight I am capable but my joints don’t hurt and I don’t suffer injuries. Doing it this way I also am able to hit the gym 6 times a week.
After knocking on heaven's door a few years ago I had to give the heavy lifting and gear away, so apart from 80mg Test E PW for TRT, I don't use anything, and haven't done so for about 3 years now (only started TRT last year). I still wanted to keep training so I just changed my attitude. Like you, I decided to forget the big numbers and completely changed my workouts.
I have a 3 week alternating program. It's a killer, at least for me. I go light - about 40-50% of what I used to do. One week I do 20 reps by 3 sets of around 40% max rep weight, and 4-5 exercises for each body part. For example: chest - Flat bench, incline, decline, close grip and dips (and sometimes cable flyes - depending on how I feel).
The next week I do 30 reps x 2 sets and 4-5 exercises per body part. The 3rd week I bump up the weights to 60% and do 2 sets of 15 reps and the 4 exercises per body part. My philosophy is that this cycle stops my muscles from going into autopilot, because they are being hit differently each week.
Throw in the 1 hour of treadmill and exercise bike every day and I'm not as big as I used to be but I'm pretty cut and have railroad veins. Doing this program I go to the gym 5-6 times a week. All the guys at the gym tell me I look the best I ever have - and they knew me when I was running Test and Deca and looked pretty big.
So I guess that my point is that you can change your exercise regimen and still retain size and definition - it's not always about damaging your body by pumping mega weights.
PcushionYour spot on brother! Your experience is good stuff!!!
Thanks mate...maybe try my program for a couple of months and see how it goes for you personally. I didn't read it anywhere, I just decided to stress my body in a way that might be less taxing on my heart but good for maintaining muscle and definition. Seems to be working - last 2D Echo showed my heart performing naturally and within all healthy parameters - even though I have an enlarged left ventricle. When I was running gear and was a solid 210lb, walking up a flight of stairs was like - WTF?? I was breathless. Now, it's like: what flight of steps?and get that lard arse off my treadmill, I've got 30 minutes to kill before another 30 minutes on the exercise bike :-).
This isn't a dig at all bud, just curious as to how you find it. Do you not find doing more volume and sets much more tiring and demanding than doing much less sets and reps/Volume? I know personally when the EBC was on and I decided to add in a few extra sets to try create a bit of size with 8 reps it made me feel absolutely wrecked afterwards and for the next day! So I stopped....Lol
PcushionYes I absolutely find more volume and sets much more tiring. I do sets of 10-12 these days each exercise for me consist of 4 sets of 12. I hit minimal 4 different exercises per body part so each workout consist of 192 reps but.... I am only pushing 65% max so I can withstand the reps. Before I started doing this mentally I couldn’t stand not seeing weight on the bar. I felt like people were watching me and thinking I was weak or some shit like that so I would always end up doing sets of 4-5 reps as heavy as I could go or I would swap it up and follow 8-5-3 routine.
We have all had different experiences in this game. Genetics do play a huge role. Genetics aside for me early on it was waiting till my later years to use gear as I was in good shape without it.
I was able to make huge gains fast on reasonable doses of Test and Dbol(simple cycles) I kept most of them through good PCT.
As I got older I got more into blast and cruise and Tren for the hard look. overall it's what you make it. you know your goals; go for them and have a good time doing it!
I think you get to a point in life where you know your body better than anybody else including medical professionals in most instances. You have learned to listen/feel what it is telling you and your biology is to complex with to may possible variables to mathematically quantify. You should listen to it. Right now my body is telling me I’m overtraining. I would probably be ok but I struggle with sleeping so I need a few days break from training. Surgeries have certainly forced me to go through transitions. And just a word to the wise every time I’ve torn a tendon or ligament it has been when I’ve been in a catabolic state, from rapid weight loss due to extreme work conditions/ sleep deprivation, where I simply could keep weight on even at over 6000 cal a day. So if you know your you’re breaking your body down be careful and don’t lift to heavy so you don’t live life wishing I wouldn’t have done this or that, then I could still lift this or that. Good luck to you
I have. I’m 45, had a disc in my neck replaced. Like you I realized my best gains weren’t from more steroids but listening to my body also. A lot of people are surprised I make gains in working out only 3 times a week. In the past I worked out 4/5 times a week. But I know how to maximize my time in the gym. I still count macros. I make sure I get the right amount of sleep. I try and reduce stress.