Working Out....

[Genevieve]

Even if it does end up feeling better, this is serious enogh where you want to contact your doctor ASAP. You don't fuck with your back.

I went to see the doctor only after some pain in my back when I jsut started bulking. I didn't know what was going on and I 'knew' it wasn't that bad, but it was directly on my spine and I wasn't gonna risk anything. Was just some muscle problems, probably from squatting again after not having done it for ages and having the bar too high on the rack when picking it up.

[Molzie]

I was given a book called "treat your own back" which seems to focus on the lower back but I'll read it anyway. I've promised the missus that I'll book a physio if there's no improvement tomorrow.

[Jurrecane]

Could also just pulled it, i pulled it a couple of weeks ago because of overtraining. Could barely move for 2 days and couldn´t sleep for those 2 nights due to not being able to turn in my sleep and lay on my side. (which I looooveee)
Definetely take some rest from all workout. I've been lucky my friend is a fysiotherapist. But you might want to check one yeah.
Don't worry too much you won't lose any gains/results in a week or so.
This happened after heavy pull ups by the way, so might be a same sort a case.

[Genevieve]

Do y'all warm up and stretch before and after your work out?

I do 5 minutes of cardio. At least 5, and if I don't sweat yet (lightly) I continue until I do. Then I do some intutive dynamic stretching (fast movements). Where I stretch the muscles I'll be working out that day. When I'm done exercising, I do a couple of minutes of static stretching (stretch out muscles for prolonged periods of time).

Haven't had many issues yet. Only stiff hamstrings, which I can't seem to get rid of no matter how much I stretch.

[ascent]

just do warm up sets now
used to always stretch for about 30 mins after cardio daily, i had tight hamstrings but that fixed it
then I stopped doing cardio/stretching and they're back to being pretty tight
need to get on that mobility work.
also anyone have experience foam rolling? is it as good as some people claim?

[Laszlo]

also anyone have experience foam rolling? is it as good as some people claim?

It is good but in my (limited) experience you can do it with other things that don't cost as much - some guttering/piping, a soft drink bottle with water in etc.

As for stretching, I always do before hand, yeah. For how long depends on the gym - some are super warm, some not so much.

[Dub_freak]

These really crack me up.

[Genevieve]

At least it's not just a pre/post-cut progress pic haha. So many of those pictures are clearly just that. 'OMG HE USED 2 B FAT AND NOW AFTER 1 DAY OF POPPING THAT MAGIC PILL HE'S FUCKIN' HUGE"

[OGLemon]

lol love how the tattoo switched sides

[Jurrecane]

The right picture is taken by himself in front of a mirror. The other is not.

[Molzie]

lol love how the tattoo switched sides

yeah ay, FAKE!

[Laszlo]

Does anyone else get very irritable/aggressive after a workout, like, an hour or so after when the endorphins have levelled off?

[wub]

Does anyone else get very irritable/aggressive after a workout, like, an hour or so after when the endorphins have levelled off?

Quite the opposite, I get really relaxed afterwards, though like today my pwo took a bit of time to exit my system

Additionally, I'm finding more and more that I hit a sort of wall roughly 3/4 of the way through my workout. Once I get through it everything seems to relax, and I start laughing to myself at this weird kind of transcendental state I go into for the last few sets.

[Laszlo]

Right. Just trying to work out if it's just a spike in Test or a tumour pressing against my hypothalamus. One of those 'either or' situations really..

[Molzie]

I'm generally feeling great after a workout.

are you taking any pre sups?

[Laszlo]

Nope.

How's your back?

[Molzie]

My back is feeling at least 70% better (a huge improvement from where I was on Sunday when I could barely stand on my own). It tends to be sore and stiff first thing in the morning and then once I move around it seems to loosen up a bit. I'll see how it is over the next few days before seeing anyone.

tbh I'm enjoying this forced deload period.

[Laszlo]

Ah good! I hope the recovery continues

[Genevieve]

My back is feeling at least 70% better (a huge improvement from where I was on Sunday when I could barely stand on my own). It tends to be sore and stiff first thing in the morning and then once I move around it seems to loosen up a bit. I'll see how it is over the next few days before seeing anyone.

tbh I'm enjoying this forced deload period.

Glad to hear dude.

Feeling less exhausted at night and less groggy in the morning?

After a couple of weeks you really get used to the way lifting stresses your body and it becomes so normal. Starting over with a new program will feel good after this deload.

[wub]

Still going hard on the bulking. My second meal of the day @ 10:30am was a large chicken breast w/ cooked pasta and veg. Got a monster shit brewing, I can feel it. Have added 10kg to my bench since starting though, not counting the extra 10kg I gained once I realised you counted the bar . Aiming to put on another 2.5kg a week moving forward to see how that works for me.

Been drinking green tea and water like a madman, next meal I've got is 300g of cooked sweet potato, half a head of brocolli, and another chicken breast. Legs day after work, then protein shake and dinner is fish w/ veg.

As I mentioned earlier, I've moved away from the 5 day bro split and have now adopted PPLRPPR format. I've been told I lot 'bigger' since but can't notice that much change myself yet. Haven't weighed myself this week, waiting til I get a new set of scales rather than relying on the ones at the gym that I'm sure aren't right.