Gaining when you aren't trying

[The Dude]

This has been something I've experienced my whole life and I think I'm getting closer to understanding it. When I'm all about growing and my diet is perfect, doses are higher, and sleep is better I seem to struggle. When I take a break and enjoy other things I seem to gain size and strength with each workout usually breaking long standing plateaus. I'm thinking It has more to do with my stress and anxiety levels than anything. I'm not "worried" about things and I train less frequently (currently 2 or 3 times a week). I'm sure this isn't the norm, but any of you guys experience this? Training frequency has always been a weak spot for me. I don't recover like most, but then again I can usually match others gains with half as many workouts
Kind of weird. Anyone else like this?

 

[Presser]

Only thing I gain without trying is belly fat lol

And yeah sounds like it might b stress related like u said

 

[WesleyInman]

Yes I do better when I am trying but my entire life is not engulfed into it...When I eat fast food, train less days per week and even have a few drinks on the weekends and am relaxed I find I get much bigger...I agree that trying to hard sometimes can backfire, and I don't treat it as life or death like I used to.

 

[Chris250]

honestly I grow best when im on a strict precontest diet...(beside this past year) training wise I do best on a 4 day routine, with lower volume, and high intensity training...If I do to much training days in a row (like 3) I feel overtrained, and my CNS feels fried. I start to look flat and depleted. This past offseason, I have been doing alot of 3 day split and only trianing 3 days a week (wends, fri, sun) and it seems to be working pretty well. I might do an extra workout day, but that will only be arms or some extra back work (but nothing to heavy). So yeah Dude, age, recovery ablity has alot to do with it. So maybe a 3 day a week program, with good food, might do the trick..

 

[bigghorn]

Dude there is something said about what you asked .. If I go by feel per each workout I seem to grow or lean out possibly from not overtraining.. This all has to do with my limited budget for food so some days I just don't got it goin on but I hit a sweet spot from say a certain food I ate the night before.sounds dumb I guess .But I love the gym atmosphere and go no matter what..

 

[Xtrememuscgrwth]

Just my two cents, but higher stress leads to higher cortisol levels and therefore higher fat content. Could be a relation........

 

[The Dude]

Dude there is something said about what you asked .. If I go by feel per each workout I seem to grow or lean out possibly from not overtraining.. This all has to do with my limited budget for food so some days I just don't got it goin on but I hit a sweet spot from say a certain food I ate the night before.sounds dumb I guess .But I love the gym atmosphere and go no matter what..

I love going too. That seems to be part of my problem. I freak out when I go more than a day without training even though years of experience seems to show that I do better with longer breaks. I almost feel bad. Lately I've been eating, but not really worrying about protein amounts, calories or fat. I just eat when I'm hungry. I've been having a blast with Silk and getting out. I get to the gym and feel guilty, but as soon as I pick up the bar I'm like DAMN! It's not like I'm stronger on a certain bodypart, my whole body feels bigger and is stronger! I guess I'll ride this one out as it really seems to be working! On a side note I haven't taken ANY anti anxiety meds in 8 days!! I believe this is the longest I've gone since 2007! I'm very proud of myself

 

[Rep]

I love going too. That seems to be part of my problem. I freak out when I go more than a day without training even though years of experience seems to show that I do better with longer breaks. I almost feel bad. Lately I've been eating, but not really worrying about protein amounts, calories or fat. I just eat when I'm hungry. I've been having a blast with Silk and getting out. I get to the gym and feel guilty, but as soon as I pick up the bar I'm like DAMN! It's not like I'm stronger on a certain bodypart, my whole body feels bigger and is stronger! I guess I'll ride this one out as it really seems to be working! On a side note I haven't taken ANY anti anxiety meds in 8 days!! I believe this is the longest I've gone since 2007! I'm very proud of myself

Awesome Dude!!! I know exactly how that feels. Not sure about cold turkey with benzo's but if its working, Im happy for you.
Also, my body has just stopped responding no matter how heavy, or how much I eat. Im thinking of taking next week off.
Congrats Bro

 

[The Dude]

Awesome Dude!!! I know exactly how that feels. Not sure about cold turkey with benzo's but if its working, Im happy for you.
Also, my body has just stopped responding no matter how heavy, or how much I eat. Im thinking of taking next week off.
Congrats Bro

Thanks Bro! I definately didnt go cold turkey! I tried that months ago and it was very bad. I stopped taking Valium maybe 3 months and got switched to Attivan. I've been slowly weening myself off. I have been realistic in not getting hard on myself if I had to take one, but I tried going longer and longer. I'm trying to teach myself how to cope with anxiety by thinking positively.

 

[Zeus]

And here I thought I was the only one. Not only do i get bigger and stronger, but I hardly put any fat on at all!!!!! It's weird, if I eat a whole frozen pizza before i got to bed ill wake up 2lbs lighter. And that is no joke!!!! Now I Dnt recomend anyone do that but it just goes to show how everyone's body is diff. I have to have the extra calories to grow and gain strength. I do believe stress has a lot to do with it also. I tend to not have a apetite when I'm on edge. Some stress eat, I can't eat when I'm stressed at all. Good post Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[big in vegas]

I actually make my best results when I'm the most stressed because it seems like I just go to the gym to relieve stress and anger. When I'm completely focused on training and eating I think I over think it and my head gets in the way.

 

[Rep]

Thanks Bro! I definately didnt go cold turkey! I tried that months ago and it was very bad. I stopped taking Valium maybe 3 months and got switched to Attivan. I've been slowly weening myself off. I have been realistic in not getting hard on myself if I had to take one, but I tried going longer and longer. I'm trying to teach myself how to cope with anxiety by thinking positively.

Bro, I had OCD pretty bad and it flares occasionally. I havent needed anything in a while but the way I got off was biofeedback which is nothing more than isolating yourself in a bathroom or wherever and just sit on the floor, breathe in deep, HOLD, breathe out all the while talk to yourself about the feelings. It worked wonderfully for me,,, so much so that I can do it in my head when it happens now.
Anytime you need to talk, feel free to PM me your number.
Rep