Posted: 9/13/2015 4:17:15 PM EDT
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I'm still using the same weights for each exercise in my workouts as I did a month ago, and I've had no discernible increase in muscle mass for well over twice as long.
It's as if my body reached its limit in muscle size and strength, and is simply unable to progress further. Now, this situation may just be an unavoidable consequence of certain medical issues, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has ever run into such a "brick wall," and if you did, how did you break through? |
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I'm still using the same weights for each exercise in my workouts as I did a month ago, and I've had no discernible increase in muscle mass for well over twice as long. It's as if my body reached its limit in muscle size and strength, and is simply unable to progress further. Now, this situation may just be an unavoidable consequence of certain medical issues, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has ever run into such a "brick wall," and if you did, how did you break through? Theres the first issue. Diet/nutrition? Training intensity? Training method and split? Consistency? |
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I'm still using the same weights for each exercise in my workouts as I did a month ago, and I've had no discernible increase in muscle mass for well over twice as long. It's as if my body reached its limit in muscle size and strength, and is simply unable to progress further. Now, this situation may just be an unavoidable consequence of certain medical issues, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has ever run into such a "brick wall," and if you did, how did you break through? I don't know if it's your medical issue holding you back. But have you tried eating more? |
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Theres the first issue. Quoted:
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I'm still using the same weights for each exercise in my workouts as I did a month ago, and I've had no discernible increase in muscle mass for well over twice as long. It's as if my body reached its limit in muscle size and strength, and is simply unable to progress further. Now, this situation may just be an unavoidable consequence of certain medical issues, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has ever run into such a "brick wall," and if you did, how did you break through? Theres the first issue. Ah, I see I didn't word that clearly. I didn't mean that I'm intentionally still using the same resistance as a month ago. I meant that I haven't become strong enough to be able to increase the weight. Diet/nutrition?
Training intensity? Training method and split? Consistency? I have little control over my diet. I reside in sort of a nursing home where the meals are prepared by the staff. I can decline to eat portions if I wish, and I can usually get larger amounts if I want, but (with rare exception) cannot have something other than what's served. Not sure what you mean by training intensity. I do upper body Mon, Wed, Fri, and legs Tue, Thu, Sat. (Sunday is rest day.) Bent Over, One Arm Rows --- 4 sets x 12 reps @ 30 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 20 lbs Hammer Curls ------------------ 4 sets x 8 reps @ 20 lbs Seated Press ------------------- 4 sets x 9 reps @ 30 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 20 lbs Incline Press ------------------- 4 sets x 12 reps @ 45 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 35 lbs Dips ----------------------------- 3 sets x 20 reps @ BW Rear Lateral Raises ----------- 4 sets x 20 reps @ 7.5 lbs Side Lateral Raises ------------ 4 sets x 20 reps @ 7.5 lbs Deadlifts ----------------------- 3 sets x 18 reps @ 8 lbs Calf Raises --------------------- 3 sets x 20 reps 1/2 Squats (Self-Assisted) --- 3 sets x 6 reps @ BW Hamstring Curls --------------- 3 sets x 8 reps I've been pretty consistent. Circumstances caused me to skip my Fri and Sat workouts the week before last, but otherwise I have done them six days per week since starting in early May. |
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I don't know if it's your medical issue holding you back. But have you tried eating more? Quoted:
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I'm still using the same weights for each exercise in my workouts as I did a month ago, and I've had no discernible increase in muscle mass for well over twice as long. It's as if my body reached its limit in muscle size and strength, and is simply unable to progress further. Now, this situation may just be an unavoidable consequence of certain medical issues, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has ever run into such a "brick wall," and if you did, how did you break through? I don't know if it's your medical issue holding you back. But have you tried eating more? No. I've been eating four meals a day from early April to early September, with bodyweight increasing about 30 lbs in that period. A couple days ago I started trying to eat a bit less at each meal because recently it became obvious that I was getting rather fat around the middle. 
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I thought they are illegal. Are they available via prescription? Quoted:
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Well, that's no good. Maybe ask your Dr. for some roids? I thought they are illegal. Are they available via prescription? Yes, if you have low T levels. Seems like something they would give someone with muscle problems but I am no doc. |
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Don't waste your time. Do a search of the archives and you'll see that this isn't the first thread he's posted about this. I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... 
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I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Quoted:
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Don't waste your time. Do a search of the archives and you'll see that this isn't the first thread he's posted about this. I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... What most others do: Eat more, sleep more, make changes to a program that was already better than yours. Sorry if that doesn't sound smart enough for you. |
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I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Quoted:
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Don't waste your time. Do a search of the archives and you'll see that this isn't the first thread he's posted about this. I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Your threads always devolve in your backhanded insults because you don't get the answers you want to hear. As has been answered before, diet cannot be separated from the program if you want to maintain progress. Hormone levels cannot be ignored. You have very specific circumstances that you cannot, or are unwilling, to change. You have to accept the consequences due to that. Sucks, but that's life. To directly answer your question: I eat more/evaluate my macros to ensure I'm getting enough calories and protein. I also evaluate my accessory work and adjust to hit weak points. Diet and program. I'm not sure how else to answer. It's not magic. That's why you get the same responses every time you make a thread. |
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I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Quoted:
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Don't waste your time. Do a search of the archives and you'll see that this isn't the first thread he's posted about this. I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Like Frayedknot says, the problem is that you ask for help but expect it to come in a very specific way. When someone points out that you may have other reasons why you're not making progress you begin with the insults, implying those of us who have tried to help you are stupid. You can't really expect to ask "what have you done to overcome lack of progress" and think people are not going to not ask what you're doing, because very simply the answer to your question is yes, we've all had progress stop for some reason. It's almost ALWAYS overcome by FIXING DIET OR PROGRAMMING. THAT is why you get questions about diet and programming. Because people are trying to help your ungrateful ass, despite your insults. It's an inevitable pattern with you. It always happens now. As far as IQ...I think you'd be surprised by most of the regulars in here...and I think you may be a little too sure of your own mental prowess. |
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I have little control over my diet. I reside in sort of a nursing home where the meals are prepared by the staff. I can decline to eat portions if I wish, and I can usually get larger amounts if I want, but (with rare exception) cannot have something other than what's served. Not sure what you mean by training intensity. I do upper body Mon, Wed, Fri, and legs Tue, Thu, Sat. (Sunday is rest day.) Bent Over, One Arm Rows --- 4 sets x 12 reps @ 30 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 20 lbs Hammer Curls ------------------ 4 sets x 8 reps @ 20 lbs Seated Press ------------------- 4 sets x 9 reps @ 30 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 20 lbs Incline Press ------------------- 4 sets x 12 reps @ 45 lbs + 1 set x 20 reps @ 35 lbs Dips ----------------------------- 3 sets x 20 reps @ BW Rear Lateral Raises ----------- 4 sets x 20 reps @ 7.5 lbs Side Lateral Raises ------------ 4 sets x 20 reps @ 7.5 lbs Deadlifts ----------------------- 3 sets x 18 reps @ 8 lbs Calf Raises --------------------- 3 sets x 20 reps 1/2 Squats (Self-Assisted) --- 3 sets x 6 reps @ BW Hamstring Curls --------------- 3 sets x 8 reps I've been pretty consistent. Circumstances caused me to skip my Fri and Sat workouts the week before last, but otherwise I have done them six days per week since starting in early May. I'm not the expert on strength training, but the folks here who know more about strength training that I do have consistently said that to get stronger/bigger one should: -Eat more. Copy you don't necessarily have control over your diet. Can you get protein powder? If not, can you eat a double protein portion at meals? -Focus on heavy, compound exercises with a barbell. To build strength these should be in a much lower range of repetitions that what you are doing - more like 3-5 reps for the barbell work and maybe lighter for accessory/supplementary work --Squat/Bench/Deadlift/Overhead Press: 3-5 sets of 5 as heavy as you can do them with lots of rest between sets You haven't mentioned your age or what other specific health concerns you have, Strikethrough after doing a search of the archives. The advice from the Strength guys here has consistently been "Do heavy, compound barbell movements with plenty of rest between sets. Eat more". Strength is the maximal force that a muscle can produce. So, while doing a bunch of 1RM work probably won't produce sufficient overload to drive gains, the principle of specificity means that you want to work closer to that maximal force level and not further away. In other words, sets of 3-5 or 6 will do more to develop strength than sets of 15-20, which are more about anaerobic work capacity than strength. |
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Like Frayedknot says, the problem is that you ask for help but expect it to come in a very specific way. When someone points out that you may have other reasons why you're not making progress you begin with the insults, implying those of us who have tried to help you are stupid. You can't really expect to ask "what have you done to overcome lack of progress" and think people are not going to not ask what you're doing, because very simply the answer to your question is yes, we've all had progress stop for some reason. It's almost ALWAYS overcome by FIXING DIET OR PROGRAMMING. THAT is why you get questions about diet and programming. Because people are trying to help your ungrateful ass, despite your insults. It's an inevitable pattern with you. It always happens now. As far as IQ...I think you'd be surprised by most of the regulars in here...and I think you may be a little too sure of your own mental prowess. Quoted:
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Don't waste your time. Do a search of the archives and you'll see that this isn't the first thread he's posted about this. I reckon you're right about it being a waste of time. As with my previous threads, the responders completely ignored my question in the original post, instead wasting my time and theirs with numerous, irrelevant queries. I did not ask for a critique of my diet and workout program. I asked what other people had done to overcome a period of no progress. I don't know if some individuals here just have poor reading comprehension, or if there is an inverse causal relationship between lifting heavy and I.Q. If it's the latter, maybe it's a good thing that I'm stuck at light weights... Like Frayedknot says, the problem is that you ask for help but expect it to come in a very specific way. When someone points out that you may have other reasons why you're not making progress you begin with the insults, implying those of us who have tried to help you are stupid. You can't really expect to ask "what have you done to overcome lack of progress" and think people are not going to not ask what you're doing, because very simply the answer to your question is yes, we've all had progress stop for some reason. It's almost ALWAYS overcome by FIXING DIET OR PROGRAMMING. THAT is why you get questions about diet and programming. Because people are trying to help your ungrateful ass, despite your insults. It's an inevitable pattern with you. It always happens now. As far as IQ...I think you'd be surprised by most of the regulars in here...and I think you may be a little too sure of your own mental prowess. You said it a lot better and nicer than I could sir. Diet and nutrition are KEY to training and working out. Your body is a high performance machine and you need to treat it as such. You need to feed it the proper fuel to grow and overcome plateaus and to grow |