Coop, could u explain the cycling guidelines of alcar and why it should be cycled, also of5htp, please.
Hey thanks so much for posting. My training has remained intense honesty for the past 5 years now. It is only as of 2012 that I hVe taken scheduled week offs and had worked out through flu, fevers, ligament/joint issues, etc.. I was 100x more OCD then than I am now.I'll post my thoughts based on my own recent experiences and research. I trained intensively on a five day on routine with HIT and followed a low carb and calories diet based upon' IF principles. After a month to six weeks I begin suffering from....
Tremors
Insomnia
Mood swings
Elevated resting heart rate (by 30%)
Fat gain despite massive calorie deficit
No interest in the gym
Eventually I had to take time off work and the gym. I rested for three weeks whilst increasing calories and vitamin B, C and magnesium consumption. After all my research, I was certain that I had adrenal insufficiency. I looked and felt better after a three week break from the gym. I restarted the gym at the beginning of the 4th week and didn't push myself at all, training at only 50% of my normal schedule, both in volume and weight. I increased the intensity in the 6th week and towards the end of the week started struggling again, so I took another week off. Returned again was ok for a few weeks until I thought I had normalised and increased intensity...mistake again...I started looking softer, the muscles felt spongy etc. So now...rather than stop start, I've decided to take a good two month break from the gym. The temptation is just too strong for me to push myself when I'm in the gym....the adrenaline and endorphin release prevent me from gauging the stress I'm putting on my body and I only realise in the evening when I can't sleep due to the increase in stress hormones. My adrenal system needs time to recover and it needs more than a few weeks.
You may be suffering from the same condition, albeit yours will not be as severe. I think you could do with a couple of weeks off and when you return not to go heavy or anywhere near failure and see how you feel at the end of the week.
Your symptoms seem classic low testosterone to cortisol ratio and it will take your body time to normalise and build up the resilience to cope with the stresses of an intense routine.
Yea I know.. I'm working through it, it's tough bc it's summer and I thought I had a great cutting/peaking plan, it never happened so I'm pretty discouraged.. I never really down shifted during the winter months for some reason and now I have reached the intensity ceiling.. So its been harder to cut now.. Yaknow. That's why I'm really frustrated.Damn bro you should seriously look into getting help. When working out starts to effect your life like it is, thats not good. That type of sh*t will kill you man.
LOL jesus...this is some of the worst crap I've ever read. Invest your time in someone who isn't braindead.Ya. Did about 4 hours of reading on Vince gironda and all his methods.. IMO the guy is a genius. He hit all my issues on the head.. Running kills muscle and too much ab work actually causes water retention and swelling around the abs.. And messes with endocrine secretion. He preaches deciding if you are a weightlifter or BB, but cannot be both.. I want to be lean and aesthetically pleasing and confident.. Not a big for nothing mass who boasts meaningless numbers.. Vince didnt even allow his trainees to squat.. I have detested squatting for the very same reason as je did- makes your ass too big! And takes away from symmetry. I'm a rambling insomniatic mess right now.. But the change are imminent. And I'm sooo ready. Shorter workouts of 8x8, 10,8,6,15.. Others I need to research. 3 weeks on, one off protocol. 3 days no carbs with a cArb up every 4th. I'm gonna pick up a bunch of his booklets and apply his principles To a T.
Clear PMs coop.LOL jesus...this is some of the worst crap I've ever read. Invest your time in someone who isn't braindead.
lets pick this apart... squatting makes your ass bigger? hahaha nope.Ya. Did about 4 hours of reading on Vince gironda and all his methods.. IMO the guy is a genius. He hit all my issues on the head.. Running kills muscle and too much ab work actually causes water retention and swelling around the abs.. And messes with endocrine secretion. He preaches deciding if you are a weightlifter or BB, but cannot be both.. I want to be lean and aesthetically pleasing and confident.. Not a big for nothing mass who boasts meaningless numbers.. Vince didnt even allow his trainees to squat.. I have detested squatting for the very same reason as je did- makes your ass too big! And takes away from symmetry. I'm a rambling insomniatic mess right now.. But the change are imminent. And I'm sooo ready. Shorter workouts of 8x8, 10,8,6,15.. Others I need to research. 3 weeks on, one off protocol. 3 days no carbs with a cArb up every 4th. I'm gonna pick up a bunch of his booklets and apply his principles To a T.
This may be true, but the number one error I see on these boards are that people equate correlation to causation. This is another case in point. You need to be willing to question "how?" and "why?," not just "what?" Only then will you be able to fulfill the AM motto of "learn, teach, lead." Nom saiyanA lot of ppl thought this until he trained them and hot them in the best shape of their lives...
What he taught, in my case, is dead on though. Classic over training and not emphasizing my strong points and hiding my weak points. I want the classic v taper. I don't want to and necerhace wanted to look like the mutated freaks of today's bb world. I want that classic elongated widened upper body with a small waist. I have used the 8x8 method by VG and it was some of the best aesthetic progress I'd ever made. I did it for 3 weeks, took a week off, and instead of resuming, I let my curiosity get the best of me and moved onto something else. Diet is still 85-90%. If you are lean, you can then shape and sculpt your body into whatever u want..This may be true, but the number one error I see on these boards are that people equate correlation to causation. This is another case in point. You need to be willing to question "how?" and "why?," not just "what?" Only then will you be able to fulfill the AM motto of "learn, teach, lead." Nom saiyan
Can't agree morewait wait wait... anyone who advises NOT to squat is a complete MORON not a genius. If you dont Squat, you might as well jazzercise.
Oh I know. I love traditional BBing. Believe me there is no greater satisfaction or sense of accomplishment to me than completing a grueling workout. I'm just frustrated bc for whatever reason (the point of this thread again) my current methods are not working.. Be it over training, poor diet, lack of sleep.. most likely a combination of everything.. I figured I'd try anything.. And again, had success, albeit short teerm, with the 8x8 system. I think at thus point I will ficus on dialing in the diet.. No carbs 3 days, then carbs, repeat. I will and have begin curtailing excessive cardio, and I will experiment with less ab work to see if swelling and protruding subsides.. I am set to start a program I've used with success for peaking on Monday.. Designed to emphasize Lats and delts width. I'd post it up but idk if I could take the potential beating I might get lol. Jk.Not tough, just objective . The intention is to simply educate you on the truth. Don't sweat the small stuff!
Since football At age 14- suffered anorexia age 16-18 (still trained but excessive and lost 100 pounds). then Since 18 for bulks n recomps to fix the damage. I'll be 24 in sept so 10 years.. But I guess i would say almost 6 if u cut out everything prior to losing 10" pounds of body mass. Talking muscle, fat, bone density, organ weight..Ched how long have you been training for?
Yea I just got soo busy that I figured id dedicate 3-4 days of intense training and that recovery would improve with more off time.. But obviously went overboard w gym timeFirst and foremost, break up your training into more days with less gym time or just cut back overall. Serum testosterone levels will begin to fall around the 60-90 minute mark. If your issue is indeed test: cortisol issues you need to minimize the damage done in that regard. You don't need to be in the gym nearly that long to get things accomplished anyway.
For sure. I believe the less is better and have for some time, which is a start .. Applying it is the tough part.. But when you physically can't as is happening now.. Your body forces you too.. As I've said.. Ready for making changes for the better! Really appreciate this forum and all the great guys and gals helping out.I understand and It's hard for some to resist the urge to keep pounding away but the weight room is a great example of more not always being better. Aside from seeking out help from medical professionals and or time off, I would start by backing training down to a max of 2 hours and, ideally, 60-90 minutes. That's a rough starting point as you may need less with your potential issues, but baby steps are a good start.
I've been deadlifting once a week heavy with occasional/necessary deloads for literally 5 years straight.. Never stopped for more than an off week. I'm going to try n shake things up and cut deads out for a few weeks, see if i can't really shrink my waist and lower back.. It's all about creatine the illusion- wide upper body, tiny waist. Will continue dedicTed leg work.. But let's be honest- I workout to look good- if picking up a bar with 260 pounds on it isn't applicable to that goal... Why the hell would I continue to do it? Lol. Instead I'm doing hypers twice a week and reverse hypers twice a week. All body weight for these. If all goes well, I will stRt deading again at the end of aug. And also resume heavier ab workouts.suprisingly, you do need a strong core to deadlift and squat correctly.
I dont do any direct abs anymore. Just squat and deadlift like a mo'fo and my waist has thickened and i have become so much stronger.
Glad your feeling better Cam, we all wanna help you. Keep it up and dont forget about time off and recovery!!!body grows and recouperates during recovery
peace
I have to post on this, this is EXTREMELY misguided. No vegetables? Vegetables contains lots of vitamins and minerals that play a huge part in important metabolic reactions (i.e. releasing energy from food), not to mention the other important stuff in there. Also, veges contain very small amounts of useable carbs (most of the carbs being from fiber which doesnt really supply much calories).Little update- started on a new workout and changed my diet up.. First n foremost- diet is now 4-6 days of keto followed by a carb inclusion day. I am eating only meats, fish, and animal fat, eggs, the like.. No veggies or salad or any carbs what so ever, aside from the 2g in my protein mix. Energy is great, as Is mood.. Leaning up literally ecerywhere except lower belly. Im not 18 anymore.. Im almost 24, I guess I should stop expecting 3 day results..
I believe u and LOVE Those foods! Always have.. I'm just trying this for now bc for whatever reason, my usual cutting methods have not worked this year.Spinach, asparagus or broccoli added to a few meals every day will do your physique wonders. No matter WHAT your goal (cutting, bulking, etc.). Trust us dude!
while lifting 3-5 days a week (depending on time of year) and doing combo of hiit and low intensity cardio.. Idk either.. Feel like we r beating a dead horse now lol. I mean yea my avi is lean as fugg but I am not that right now at all. Don't matter too much anymore lol. "it is what it is"I agree with a lot of the above postings... (read: eat, drink, work out, be merry).
Either way, I'm not one to talk about a 100% diet but some people believe in low carbs & all
I believe in everything in moderation. Like the 40/30/30 diet & man u are leaner than A LOT of people. Also honestly I don't see how a person can stay fat or become fat if all they ate were slow carbs, chicken breast, veggies, fruits, nuts & drank water.... Unless cals were crazy high...
Enjoy yourself overall Cheeda and you'll find what works.
Have you considered that maybe your body is retaining the calories for a reason? For example, eating well below a healthy deficit will promote weight loss, but also will force your body to store more calories during refeeds and things, this is a survival response. The best way is to reduce calories to something like <500kcals of maintainence and KEEP this throughout a cut (keeping in mind that as you drop mass, you will also have to adjust macro intake in proportion to mass lost so that you maintain a 500kcal deficit).while lifting 3-5 days a week (depending on time of year) and doing combo of hiit and low intensity cardio.. Idk either.. Feel like we r beating a dead horse now lol. I mean yea my avi is lean as fugg but I am not that right now at all. Don't matter too much anymore lol. "it is what it is"
Very true.. Upon reflecting, during my most successful cuts, I was eating much more balanced. Also important to note is during off peak season (winter months) I gained about 15 pounds and reduced my cardio and workout intensity.. This year, I only gained about 5 pounds and kept my intensity very high thru the winter.. Hence why my 'cutting techniques' aren't working- more simply- there is no roomto increase intensity or decrease cals! It's all big mindfcuk. If it wasn't summer I'd say f it and be eating much more soundly and reduce my intensity to give my body the needed equilibrium. But at this point I'm in too deep. And will make the best of the summer.. Yes, Its 95% mental and I probably think I'm worse off Than I am, aesthetically.. Idk where I'm going with this lolHave you considered that maybe your body is retaining the calories for a reason? For example, eating well below a healthy deficit will promote weight loss, but also will force your body to store more calories during refeeds and things, this is a survival response. The best way is to reduce calories to something like <500kcals of maintainence and KEEP this throughout a cut (keeping in mind that as you drop mass, you will also have to adjust macro intake in proportion to mass lost so that you maintain a 500kcal deficit).