[n88tr]

I was just wondering if I could get some emotional support or help with this:

Since yesterday when I did chest and bis at the shitty YMCA [they moved machines and free weights around, less benches, only 1 set of the 'heavy' weights like 30, 35, 40 lbers etc available.], the Preacher Curl bench was an adjustable seat, but since I'm 6'4" I couldn't find a comfortable positions, I had to kinda stand a bit to reach the EZ bar...anyways I wasn't able to crank out my max of 55 lbs, it was 40, I was really messed up in the head. I guess I wasn't fully relaxed or mentally pumped, but I was expecting my 55 to be light... it wasn't.

EACH time I work out, I expect to add at least 5 lbs to the smaller exercises, ie Preacher Curl, Leg curl, DB Bench Press, calf raises, etc but ofcourse using proper form. On my larger exercises like Squat, Leg extensions, I want to add usually 40-60 lbs to shock the legs, keep em' guessing. I usually exhaust myself after 6-8 reps in 4-5 sets.

I just wanted some help because I can't ever really be satisfied. I mean, I've dropped 100 lbs but still want to lose more, but I need to bulk and get size too, I'm currently in a 'cutting' phase. Even if one day I'm able to add 50 lbs to my squat, I'm never happy, only unimpressed that through proper form I wasn't able to do more. Say I add 90 lbs to my leg press [I got it up to 630 at my peak, 5 months ago before knee injury] on one day, unless I was physically unable to get out 2-3 reps, then I'd be happy because I couldn't blame myself. I don't know if it makes sense but I'd be pissed if I couldn't do more than 8 reps [just TO DO IT, to show myself I could DO IT], but I wouldn't be be pissed if I couldn't do 2-3 reps because the weight was simply too much, like when I tried to do 700 straight up, using all the 45 lbs in the vicinity of the leg press, I couldn't even move it 1 inch, that was fine with me.

Am I the only one that never feels its ever good enough unless I'm totally at failure 100%? That's when I feel I had a really good workout, after getting in my normal weight sets and I try to go beyond my normal weights, like I probably know I'll fail on the 450 squat [410 is my limit so far] or the 700 leg press, but I just want to see if I can get 1 rep out. Does anyone else dig what I'm talking about?

[ognickyk]

sounds like your overtraining....maybe ur muscles are fatigued, thats prolly why u cant get up as much weight

[niallofthenine]

if you can add that much weight to your exercises each time, then you are not going heavy enough! 5ibs may not seem like a whole lot, but as a percentage ratio, it is a lot!

[chrispghmuscle]

n88tr, do you have any pics of yourself ?

[therock030488]

I agree with Ognickyk, you're probably overtraining. It's not possible to go 100% all the time, it simply isn't, going all out all the time will burn you out and exhaust you. I remember reading a column by Lee Haney not too long ago in Flex magazine, and he said that not even the pros can go at a high intensity level all the time, and they have more things to help them out than us natural guys do. Just back off a little bit and take it easy, Rome wasn't built in a day, and Ronnie didn't get to be a 300 lbs bodybuilder in a month. Growth takes time.

[ibanezman88]

ok, you should think about adding only 5lbs to your heavier compound movements a week. and the smaller exersises like curls varry more.

dude, you're cutting. so you're not going to be gaining that much stregth. in fact, don't be suprised if you loose some. it's normal. once you start bulking up and eating like an animal, you'll notice the numbers go up.

[Frag Hag]

You could be setting yourself up for an injury by pushing the weight numbers too much, especially if you've had a previous injury. I know how you feel, i always scrutinize each exercise when i workout, trying to see where i could add more weight or squeeze out more reps. But at the end of the day, health takes precedence over pride. Light workouts have their time and place too, namely between the 100% all the way to failure workouts. Maybe it's because i already have joint problems, but i try not to focus on the numbers i'm pushing, but rather how i feel. A pump is a pump. So even if i can't go all out today, i just look forward to a better workout tomorrow.

Remember your goals: maintaining muscle while cutting fat. You'll have plenty of time to build more muscle later. Building the ideal body is a lifetime journey, and we have to take it one step at a time.

[n88tr]

Originally Posted by chrispghmuscle

n88tr, do you have any pics of yourself ?

I posted that calf pic but wasn't much of any use I don't suppose. What kind of pics do you want, side, back, ?? My mom is here, I could get her to take some of me.

Originally Posted by ibanezman88

ok, you should think about adding only 5lbs to your heavier compound movements a week. and the smaller exersises like curls varry more.

Why not less to the little movements and more to the complex ones, why do you think it should be other way around?

Originally Posted by ibanezman88

dude, you're cutting. so you're not going to be gaining that much stregth. in fact, don't be suprised if you loose some. it's normal. once you start bulking up and eating like an animal, you'll notice the numbers go up.

Yeah, I remember those days. But eating period scares me, I have to work on that. It's a struggle for me to get in 2100 proper calories on my cut, let alone 3000 on a bulk, not that I've been on a bulk, but that's what I figure I'll need when I go on one.

Originally Posted by Frag Hag

Remember your goals: maintaining muscle while cutting fat. You'll have plenty of time to build more muscle later. Building the ideal body is a lifetime journey, and we have to take it one step at a time.

Yeah, I know, that scares me too: losing fat but also muscle if not done EXACTLY right. I'm so used to just running like a motherfucker to lose weight fast and now I can't do that w/o losing a lot of muscle along with the fat, it's hard to not take cardio to the max each time to lose because that's what worked so well for me in the past.

Is LIIT even worth it, or am I totally ignorant about it's values?

[Blitzkrieg]

You got used to doing cardio to the max in the past because that's what you needed to do at the time, but you have to visualize it in your head that as your body changes your approach and way of doing things will also change, constantly. I can tell you're very dedicated but you need to be patient bro, without patience you won't make it happen. It's a tough sport/way of life.. if it wasn't, everybody would be a bodybuilder.

[n88tr]

Patience, it's hard for me, I'm sure you can fucking hear it in my voice. lol.

Anyways, a bit off-topic, but wtf is your avatar there? I cannot see for the life of me what it is.

[Blitzkrieg]

Originally Posted by n88tr

Patience, it's hard for me, I'm sure you can fucking hear it in my voice. lol.

Anyways, a bit off-topic, but wtf is your avatar there? I cannot see for the life of me what it is.

A video game character