I just recently recovered from a medical issue(that I will keep private to minimize my chances of being doxxed) in which my doctor said I could not lift and had to stick to a specific diet until I got the all-clear. Worst of all I was prescribed a medication that has an effect of suppressing/limiting testosterone production. I was devasted because I knew all of my effort in the gym was going to go down the tubes. But I knew it was the right thing for the sake of my long term health.
Over the next couple months I could feel my body wasting away. Not going to the gym and not lifting made me feel like shit. Like less of a man.
Yesterday I got the all-clear from my doctor. Medication worked, I am healthy and the issue is gone for now, and I was allowed to resume a normal diet and return to the gym albeit on a lighter schedule, he recommended only going twice a week for the next month or two just to be safe. I went this morning and was a bit afraid to see just how much weaker I had gotten. I have always been a 5/3/1 guy and done a lot of the variants, but I decided to just do some normal 5/3/1 and light accessory work for my first few weeks back. Knowing I was weaker, I knocked 30 pounds off of all my training maxes. Comparing my 5+ set of the lifts I did on my last day of lifting to today, I lost 21.7% of my strength on bench and 25% on my squat, for not lifting for 8 weeks. My lifting numbers are back to where they were about 2 years ago which is a huge bummer. 2 years of work in the gym down the drain. I am guessing the medication played a role in the strength loss, but not lifting was probably the key factor.
Not going to the gym for 2 months was hell and it helped me realize just how big and important lifting is. I have always been one around TRP to preach how important lifting is and how you should do it at all costs, but this is a revelation even for me.
If you have the means to go to the gym and are healthy, and you aren't doing it, you are a retard, plain and simple. There is no better tool, no better hobby, no better action to take than to go to the gym and get bigger, stronger, fitter, and healthier. Do not take it for granted. Be glad you have the ability to seize this massive opportunity afforded to you. And its not just lifting for the sake of lifting - don't go to the gym and half ass it just so you can say you lifted. Lift with a purpose. Stop making excuses. Be a man. My biggest TRP pet peeve is having to read a supposed TRPer excuses/hamstering/rationalization explaining why he doesn't lift even though he is able to. If you have never read Martin Berkhan's Fuckarounditis article you need to read it now.
You can fuck up in other areas of life and recover. For example you can fail with women and recover easily without much harm. But its a lot harder to overcome not lifting, or not lifting seriously. Fortunately I am only 29 so even though I lost a lot of progress I can rebuild the dike and gain it back. But it will take a lot of time, energy, and effort.
The gym is the most important asset you have afforded to you in the TRP arsenal. Utilize it as much as you can. Not being able to use it for 2 months was a killer and helped me realize just how big of a deal it really is.
RedPillJohnny 6y ago
I'm on month three of not working out due to sickness. Thank god I worked out before I got sick because I was in shape and could handle the surgery and drugs and recovery better and faster. Always maintain frame...always lift!
_TheRP 6y ago
The great thing about weight lifting is that once you climb to a certain spot on the mountain, it's easier to get back there if you fall down.
Getting back to your peak will take a fraction of the time it took you the first time.
I don't know what the biological mechanism for this is, but it's absolutely the truth.
Psychocist 6y ago
Can agree. I only started hitting gym about 4 months ago and have been going twice a week on the 5x5 program. Had some great noob gains and my mood has stabilised dramatically. Can't imagine where I'd be if I lifted through the depression back in the day.
Oh well. Hope others learn from our mistakes. At very least you should be frequently exercising to exhaustion.
nebder 6y ago
This is a little off-topic, yet I was in a similar spot.
I was given advice to go 3x5 instead of 5x5 as a noob. I’m doing SL3x5. I was complaining that I kept going 5/5/5/5/(not 5) on my OHP. Switched to 3x5 and continued to make consistent increases every session. OHP still continues to typically be something like hit 5/5/5 then a 5lb increase that leads to a 5/4/2-3 the first session then a 5/5/5 after that first failure.
3x5 is enough to trigger adaptation reactions for my body as a beginner. I’m 6 months in and still putting up new PRs. That’s on top of taking 3 weeks off and deloading quite a bit when I came back.
Try 3x5 and see where that gets you.
Edit: take this advice as anecdotal for what worked for myself. There’s many factors to consider when it comes to fitness and lifting.
Twentyfivedeep 6y ago
I personally think it's best to go 5x5 for as long as possible and then drop back to 3x5, even if only for the added benefit of the extra distance you have to push mentally. 3 sets never put the fear of god into me like 5x5 did. I think it's just a matter of building technique and giving yourself plenty of rest in between sets if you're consistently missing the last set early on.
Psychocist 6y ago
Interesting. Might give that a try. OHP is first one I struggled with. Saying that,
Almost injured myself by upping weight on DL too soon without optimal form. I'm increasing the weight at my own pace now. It allows me to focus on my form and forces me to listen to my body a little more.
adam_varg 6y ago
Its better to start with 5x5 then switch to 3x5 when you stop progressing easily every session.
Depends how mobile, agile and strong you are when starting. I was already deadlifting 300lb when i started lifting for gainz, 5x5 would burn me out in two weeks. On other hand newbie who starts with empty bar wont get enough volume from 3x5.
nebder 6y ago
I don’t disagree. I would have been better off keeping my mouth shut than posting that comment.
So much nuance and bro science pitfalls to watch for when it comes to fitness. I’m not qualified to offer lifting advice beyond sharing what worked for me which doesn’t necessarily mean that will work for you. I was getting higher in weight when I switched to 3x5 and I do 5+ on the final set to push myself.
adam_varg 6y ago
Nah, your comment was good.. just not for skelebros starting up.
IME unless you go full retard differences between training routines until you become advanced are miniscule. Gainz are mostly about nutrition, sleep and lifestyle.
amekooky 6y ago
no doubt,
I have gone a month or two without lifting at times, strangely enough also times when I have felt down. Strange how after only a week back in the gym ones spirits and moods can magically change for the greater good without medication.
ColonCancer666 6y ago
I used to be a gym nut. Incredible gains that I fortunately developed very quickly. Did personal training for a while and learned the body very well.
Bodybuilding, powerlifting, calisthenics. I went through all them and they all had incredible benefits.
I've traded all that for labor. I build rock walls improving the value of my property, down trees and split wood for campfires with good company, and hike short yet steep trails as often as possible. I feel like I get so much more out of it then the years in the gym. Almost like in cheating by double dipping; investing the same time and getting more out of it.
Its likely because I get bored of things easily and always have to crank it up a notch or change things up. It's what works for me and surely not for everyone. But for my situation, in my location, I don't think I could ever be in the gym more than twice a week ever again.
An alternative to those who find the gym mundane.
Raggos 6y ago
As a gym nut that does pretty much 7/7days training with either climbing or the king's lifts, it gets boring really fast. Problem is, the good vibes from being completely wrecked by the exercise, that muscle fatigue, the feeling you did something, besides looking like a greek god..
In today's society, if you don't have access to mountains nearby, it can get a bit rough in the city, making you get stuck and having to cycle routines just to keep it "fresh...ish".
What would some good alternatives be for you? (I find climbing to be a great one...but more needed)
nazis_are_socialists 6y ago
Your username is incredible
buncha_circles 6y ago
This is the corollary to TRP's gym mindset. Going to the gym is good but the gym is also for training -- training for powerlifting, for rowing, for football, for power or endurance. Going to the gym to get into shape is one thing but once most people get into shape (which is different than being fit) they falter at the gym. This is because they've achieved their goal.
This is why I think that joining a sport's team is better advice. It gives you a reason to be at the gym, it gives you a place to practice social skills, and it gives you a group of male buddies.
Far_From_The_Fame 6y ago
I feel like going to the gym all the time only gets you so far. Once you're a couple of years in you've probably got some pretty good aesthetics so it'd probably be better to put all that strength and physical fitness into an interesting hobby that adds to your personality.
I feel like lifting weights all the time makes you look more like a Chad try hard than a well rounded guy with legitimate interests, and this is coming from a guy who lifts like 6 days a week.
Hudini15 6y ago
For sure. I'm a HUGE fan of outdoor activities. I'm currently on a climbing craze but almost anything involving the great outdoors will be physically demanding and also entertaining for you, those you go with, and anyone you talk with. Things like mountain biking, backpacking, kayaking, sailing, and surfing are all fantastic hobbies.
Twentyfivedeep 6y ago
That's why i fell in love with calisthenics: It feels like you're simultaneously developing muscle, strength and a valuable athletic skill. Plus you get to be out in the sunshine when working out. Powerlifting was a great journey for the brief time I was dedicated to it but adding extra weight to the bar was never as satisfying as achieving a totally new movement like an L-sit or handstand.
ShadowOfAnIdea 6y ago
They're not mutually exclusive if you optimize your routine.
KirklandCamber 6y ago
You're undermining the benefits lifting has given you that you transfered to the physical labor area. I built up a lot of mental toughness with the barbell that easily helped me push through tough moments when doing physical work. The gym also taught me how to use my body and muscles properly and to minimize my chances at injury. A lot of blue collar workers do stupid things like lifting heavy objects with rounded backs, rather than with their hips/legs.
ColonCancer666 6y ago
I agree with what you say of "mental toughness" and the shitty form many workers have. But just as workers have shitty form, so do many people in the gym. I learned from from articles and youtube, blending it all with my own experience to form my own style, not from the gym. I'm sure you have done plenty research yourself to prevent injury and maximize gains.
Also recognize that few movements in the gym provide practical strength (Atlas stones, farmer carry, etc.)
I am immensely grateful for what I have learned about myself spending time in the gym. Never would I undermine its benefits to anyone. What I wrote was an alternative I highly endorse for others fortunate enough to incorporate more nature into their routine.
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SasquatchMcKraken 6y ago
I'd pit a construction worker against a male model every day of the week. If you're working out for strength as well as looks then what I'm saying has no meaning, but I've noticed that functional strength and "beach body" physique are not automatically one and the same. I've also noticed that a lot of guys haven't noticed this fact. The strongest motherfuckers I know lift, but they don't do it in a gym.
Atticus_Crowley 6y ago
Anecdotally can confirm. Strongest dudes I've ever met are the blue collar big hosses, who while may not have the most aesthically pleasing body, can put most lifters shooting for that magical 8% body fat to shame strength wise.
Kingslayer9669 6y ago
I feel you bro - after a year of constant surgeries I was a weak piece of shit. I cheated and ran a testosterone cycle an bamn within 4 months my entire life changed. I am fit, confident (even after stopping the roids) and my sex appeal is through the roof.
Im staying on my hgh regieme which is pricey but worth it in my case and I cant wait to cycle again because that increase in libido is out of this world. I was going out to clubs picking up insanely hot chicks and most are cool people too.
Lifting is fundamental for game as it provides higher sexual appeal, shows your ability to have self control- will power to eat right and exercise etc, and it fucking feels amazing when those endorphins are getting pumped in the brain.
boscoist 6y ago
I'm right there with you brother. I still haven't gotten the all clear for heavy duty though. It saps your sanity.
germanyguyzzz 6y ago
Agree. I didn't start lifting until about 3 years ago at 29. Was 6'3 and 180 - skinny. Have an attractive face, but had no muscle. Never had trouble with women in the past - just lower self confidence in myself.
Started lifting and now at 220, and muscle. It's remarkable how lifting can shift your mindset. Developing those habits, breeds additional habits (meal prep for healthy, consistent nutrition, daily 5 AM walks - consistent sleep pattern, resulting in more energy and awareness) which feed a positive feedback loop. All build confidence towards becoming a better person and continual progression towards self actualization.
Lifting changed my life in a myriad of ways, but if it isn't your cup of tea, at least develop some positive habit that can lead into a snowball effect of positivity.
pmmedenver 6y ago
Its the difference between chasing after highs (drugs, video games, shit food, porn) and consistent hard-earned peace.
jamesdeandomino 6y ago
Feeling comfortable in your own skin is the greatest gift you can ever give yourself. To be comfortable in wearing fitting t shirts, going shirtless at the beach, standing without the discomfort of sucking in your gut is a pleasure none can give but yourself. It's so liberating and every man owes themselves this pleasure.
vsvp815 6y ago
Snowball and positive feedback loop are great ways of putting it
SovereignSoul76 6y ago
Indeed. Funny how after you put in a 120 minute workout, suddenly eating that bag of Doritos for 2 minutes of pleasure seems kinda dumb.
AllahHatesFags 6y ago
After the gym, the thought of some junk food like doritos seems disgusting to me. I crave real food, preferably something with a lot of protein like a steak.
I_can_smell_boobs 6y ago
I'm 26 and same position as you. Attractive face, tall, successful carreer, but no muscle. I tried going to the gym a few times, however I didn't like it, I didn't feel any progression. Maybe I was doing it wrong. Having a SO doesn't help either, when you've landed a long term chick you hunt less outside.
CHAD_J_THUNDERCOCK 6y ago
Muscle seems to lag by a month for me. After a month of consistent lifting I notice growth. And after a month of not lifting I notice shrinkage.
pmmedenver 6y ago
It has taken me a long time to build the mind-muscle connection which is purely a nervous system development (which you can't see at all). Once you build that connection, you end up knowing how to SQUEEEZE the muscles properly which gives you a nice burn, a good sore feeling and tons of growth. Its like a tree growing roots underground. You can't see the roots growing and think the tree isn't growing at all. Then once the roots are set the tree shoots up like a weed "all at once".
The day-to-day doesn't matter at all. Lifting is a life long hobby and life is a marathon not a sprint.
I_can_smell_boobs 6y ago
Well, i'm really not good at endurance unfortunately.
Innug 6y ago
I'm 19 and have never been to the gym and never really been tempted to, but now I'm considering it haha.
301niko 6y ago
I started when I turned 18. It's worth it.
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AllahHatesFags 6y ago
Go to the gym TODAY, I wish I had when I was your age.
Innug 6y ago
Just went with a friend, really enjoyed it! Will be going back in a couple of days :)
heymikeyp 6y ago
Been lifting since I was 16. The biggest benefit I've noticed after 8 years is not the physical benefits, but the mental benefits. Go in pumped ready to go, come out full of focus yet a hint of relaxation on the mind. Its at this moment you're really alive and just pushed your body passed both physical and mental barriers. Combine this with mindfulness meditation and you are even closer to mastering your mind and having you be in control rather than your thoughts. Some sexy stuff right there.
beginner_ 6y ago
Agree with OP. From my personal experience I would suggest to also get yourself checked out early if your general posture / form (don't know how to say this) is in order.
In my case soon after starting to lift I go back pain. Turns out after a 1 year medical journey that I have Lateral pelvic tilt (one side higher than the other) from uneven legs. And as a result from that I already have Arthrosis in several lower vertebrae. So heavy lifting is out of the question.
LOST_TALE 6y ago
I can lift stuff
therefore: If you have the means to go to the gym and are healthy, and you aren't doing it, you are a retard, plain and simple. There is no better tool, no better hobby, no better action to take than to go to the gym and get bigger, stronger, fitter, and healthier.
shit thesis. Why is strength = health?
NewWave647 6y ago
I just made a post in someone's FR
Lifting is so so so so important.
The results are evident by how you loook, feel, and how women interact with u
dingman58 6y ago
Men treat you with more respect as well, which is significant for career success.
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AllahHatesFags 6y ago
If you don't lift, you are not Red Pill, you are a beta.
Monsterzz 6y ago
I disagree. Lifting is a big part to help trp but is not the main part. It would be a secondary way to swallow the pill.
BluepillProfessor 6y ago
Let me add: START LIFTING EARLY. I lifted in High School and college for 6 years and was pretty huge. Second in my class of 400 guys on Bench Press and dead lift got me a starting slot as a linemen my Senior year.
Then...school...wife...kids...life...death...and like the song says....20 more years slipped away.
Then I discovered TRP and after more than 20 years I went back to the Iron Temple.
After just 2 months of lifting (OK, I cheated a bit using Flexeril muscle relaxers to recover quicker) I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. The prior year was a disaster. Borderline Metabolic Disease with High LDL, Low HDL, and sky high triglycerides and a resting blood sugar of 120 (so also borderline diabetic).
Guess what 2 months of lifting HARD had done for me?
Normal! ALL of it was normal! Resting blood sugar was 99. Nothing high, nothing low. I had seen the results ahead of time and was insufferably pleased with myself. When I saw my doctor he triple checked the chart and looked at me suspiciously while I grinned at him. He kind of half smirked and nodded, and then grabbed my upper arm.
"Keep lifting. You are at least 10 years younger than you were last year."
nazis_are_socialists 6y ago
Yes I'm 30 now but I am in better physical shape by every measurable metric than I was 10 years ago, thanks to lifting a few days a week for the past few years
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BluepillProfessor 6y ago
Nothing changed except I started lifting again. No dietary changes. Just the iron.
[deleted] 6y ago
i seriously doubt this. Your diet is what causes all of those issues you mentioned above. Someone could have an incredible diet and do nothing besides walk and have none of those issues.
BluepillProfessor 6y ago
Hmmm, maybe I was more conscious and had more smoothies but I certainly didn't "diet" or make any effort to change my diet. I think my weight at the doctor's office was unchanged or perhaps even more than the year before. In fact I am sure it was more. That was the only problem at the visit- fucking lard ass.
Much later after that appointment still with a fat belly, I tried periods of fasting that Stoney recommended and have had very good success. You can't lift yourself thin, you gotta cut.
I also deleted two sentences in the original draft of my original comment because it seemed to cloud the issue but may be relevant.
The year before, leading up to the second (normal) blood test in addition to metabolic disease (almost) and diabetes (almost) I also had screwed up liver enzymes. So i quit drinking wine (almost) every day. I
am not surehave no idea how that impacts blood sugar, triglycerides etc.mustaine42 6y ago
Well I mean wine is some amount of sugar + some alcohol content. So depending on the type of wine you're drinking , let's say an average sweet wine, you're basically consuming 1/2 a bag of skittles with 1 1/2 shots of vodka in an average glass of wine (approx). So yeah that shit every day = bad for every metabolic disease.
noobonyoutube_ 6y ago
If you've taken medication that suppresses your Testosterone, you may have issues getting it back up. Be sure to NoFap and eat Cabbage! Cabbage promotes Testosterone growth and it's how sexy Russian babes become mustachioed Babushkas by the age of 40
SexdictatorLucifer 6y ago
I wouldn't worry too much, if you had a long and consistent lifting routine beforehand your muscles will regenerate surprisingly fast. What takes time is generating muscle you've never had before. I don't know the science behind it, but I've experienced it plenty of times. I'm sure someone knows the science details here.
DadOnDabs 6y ago
This. I took 3-4 months off due to injury and gained all my strength back in about a month and a half.
TryHardDaily 6y ago
It's because he has already built an incredibly strong neurological chain through his muscles, so they work more efficiently, that includes regenerating and growing more efficiently, until they have reached the maximum potential of their current neurological condition. There is a great video that i will try to find that someone experimented training his arms every single day for 30 days, before going back to his regular routine. Now, in the 30 days he was lifting, he saw relatively similar, if not decreased gains in his arms. However, in the next 6 months after, his arms gained an incredible amount of mass due to the fact that during those 30 days, his neurological chain grew much stronger. The following 6 months was essentially his arms catching up to their potential. Also, as other comments have said, after not using the maximum potential of your muscles, they don't go away, the cells shrink so you are no longer needing your muscles to produce more cells, the individual cells rather just need to grow bigger.
Jakomo 6y ago
[This article explains the science behind it.] (https://www.strongerbyscience.com/grow-like-a-new-lifter-again/)
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[deleted] 6y ago
Definitely some muscle memory, from personal experience it took me about 3 years in highschool to get in very good shape, another in college to ruin it, then 1 more to get back to where i was after 3 years of solid lifting almost.
OlanValesco 6y ago
Yeah. The highest I ever got on bench back in the day was 260x1, then I didn't lift for almost 6 years. Started lifting again 6 months ago. Last week I hit 245x6, meaning I could probably throw up 280-285x1.
tubarao312 6y ago
Real life aside, I wonder if there was a way to make the muscles think they've been bigger before so they can grow faster, if that's how your science works, would be very cool, and probably illegal
MushroomTaco 6y ago
Not really, you're training your CNS just as much as your muscles, and its just as important.
AllahHatesFags 6y ago
Myostatin blocker would be your best bet.
Dev0008 6y ago
Myostatin in your body is limits your muscle growth. Gorilla's have low myostatin hence they have huge muscles without working out the way we do.
You can buy myostatin inhibitor injectables online but they're crazy expensive (thousands for a few grams IIRC) and there is limited data that they really do much at the moment. However, its suspected that someone is going to figure out how to inhibit myostatin effectively in the future so that we can all be gorillas without working out.
Velebit 6y ago
There are various limits to cell growth that also prolong your life. The price of being big as gorilla is that you would be very cancer prone. As soon as the technology came out you would have a media campaign shaming people taking it like synthol freaks and detailing how to recognize them.
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brokened00 6y ago
Your muscle fiber count remains intact while their size withers away. When you go back to lifting, you increase the size of all those muscle fibers that you previously worked for years to gain. Takes much less time to get back to where you were.
EternalPropagation 6y ago
Wrong. The number of muscle cells is set in stone after your fetal stage. The reason it's so much easier to rebuild the size of the muscle cells after you've already been that big before is because a balloon is easier to inflate the second time. Add in chemicals into the mix where just because you lost muscle mass doesn't mean you lost the necessary chemicals in the muscle cells and you'll understand why a bulk after a good hard cut is the best thing ever.
plaudite_cives 6y ago
funny how you started with scientifical sounding observation
and then continued with totally bullshit
brokened00 6y ago
I never said cells. I said fibers.
lawlyer1216 6y ago
Curious to learn more about the science for this.
Worked out consistently for about a year at the end of undergrad. Got up to ~205 lbs at 6"0', 255 bench, ~400 squat. 9 months in I did a cycle of test-e and dbol (which was stupid, because body couldn't keep up and got injured soon after), so I wasn't natty. Around the 9 month mark I was at 180. Eventually got injured which ended my cycle. Meanwhile got back together with my oneitis. Stopped working out altogether. Went to law school, depression, alcohol problems. Left law school 3 years later at 145 lbs, thinner than I was in undergrad.
Started working out hardcore 4-5 days a week in June, jumped from 145 to current weight of 170. Lifts going up, still nowhere near my old self, but I feel like I'm progressing way faster naturally than I did the first time. Granted, part of it is actually knowing what I'm doing instead of wasting as much time as I did the first go around. Maybe I'm just taking better advantage of noob gains this time.
I retained some muscle for the first year, but I'm curious as to what the effect of my past fitness stint is having on my current, if any. Upon restarting I was definitely weaker than when I started working out the first time in undergrad.
WhorehouseVet 6y ago
Supraphysiological level of AAS increases your muscle nuclei. This makes it easier for you to regain your old strength, aka muscle memory.
awzor 6y ago
It's not all about muscles. Lifting also increases joint strength and bone thickness and those doesn't go away when you stop training.
GR8AGN 6y ago
Damn did test-e and Dbol and only got those lifting numbers. You should have waited to obtain those numbers naturally before running the cycle to have a basis of strength to prevent injuries. Hindsight is 20-20 I guess.
lawlyer1216 6y ago
Totally agree. All of my research told me not to cycle that early into lifting but I was stubborn and wanted instant gains. Valuable lesson learned. Staying natural for the foreseeable future. Who knows, maybe I'll try again in a couple years.
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dingman58 6y ago
I thought you didn't actually grow new muscle cells, just that the ones you do have get larger.
Askaij 6y ago
Indeed you do not grow new muscle cells, because myocytes are stuck in the G0 phase.
They cannot divide to produce new cells as an adult
EnduroRacer 6y ago
New neurons if I'm not mistaken
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WhorehouseVet 6y ago
I remember reading an article that when people run testosterone/AAS/steroids at a supraphysiological level, the number of muscle nuclei increases.
RXience 6y ago
Which is also true for natural levels of testosterone. Just to a lesser extent.
dingman58 6y ago
You may be right. From the [G0 article]( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/G0_phase) u/Askaij linked,
That seems to say that muscle cells do not divide because that would disrupt use of your muscles. Makes sense.
But it goes on to say that "Muscle growth can be stimulated by growth" which is confusing. It says that stem cells can be recruited to form new muscle cells either in parallel (side to side) with existing muscle cells or in series with them (end to end). So that's interesting. Not sure what initiates the stem cell growth.
WhorehouseVet 6y ago
Human growth hormone. Just look at some of the mass monsters in bodybuilding.
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Krebota 6y ago
I started going to the gym a month ago and I go 2 to 4 times a week. I also went 4 years ago, but I was young and nobody from my age was going. That's different now, which gives new motivation of course. I hope it'll help me, because right now I'm so skinny that even my arms and legs are thin.
Now I don't see much change yet because I'm not going very long. But really, it's not the most important thing about TRP. Why would it be? TRP is about using the genes of women to your advantage (this is how I see it, based on everything I read). Lifting helps you with both gaining self conscience and looks, but is it really a part of the TRP mindset? While helpful, it's definitely not the concluding part. At least not how I see it.
Rollo_Mayhem3 6y ago
After an injury that had me out for the count for about 5 months, I've been back in the gym since May. After 4 months of training at only 2 days a week (upper/lower) I got back to where I was. Everyone notices. Besides getting stronger and losing weight, the gym has become an "anchoring" event. It structures my day. (Work/gym/relax) Sunday through Thursday.
Additionally, you build a healthy diet around the gym, you also research health and fitness. And you'll see a lot of the core principles of fitness do relate to your behavior and thinking patterns. I've found the gym to be the "base" where I first get physically strong and then my mentality improves. Your confidence and drive start to grow exponentially and THEN you find yourself ready to make moves and strike out on your own. The pattern is cycle.
So the OP makes a great point.
Velebit 6y ago
The only thing that you said here is a bland statement. An opinion. No argument whatsoever. You didn't explain why losing 20% of muscle power is so decastating to you except that you are shallow and measure your worth by the properties of your meat. Kinda like gaming addicts measure their value by their rank in the gaming hierarchy. So laughable. Even more laughable is that you don't even attempt to talk about a healthy lifestyle. All you rant about is your stupid obsession with pimping up your own meat.
Swimming, running or any sort of natural functional movement pattern training is much wiser than meatbuilding, but alas, you are back in the gym and can watch yourself lift "weight" and are getting back your "manhood" back I guess. How pathetic to measure your own value as a man (go back to gym be a man lol) on being able to provide mechanical horsepower on useless metal rods.
Your whole brain wiring is 100% beta bluepill and your thought patterns are as blue as the crying ocean, if you weren't getting the self-aprooval by seeing and calculating your worth by amount of weight-lifting you did you would by some other stupid shit like spoiling women rotten. Indeed your health problems can only be related to prostate/testis/other glands which means you have a fucked up hormonal system and that influences thoughts. Your thought can't even be balanced.
Disclaimer I am not here talking shit about lifting. It has it's role and looking healthy has it's role, but this person is not giving any, in my opinion, valuable insight but exclusively ranting about how he feels diminished and addicted to lifting and various geeky aspects of it. Reading this is literally like reading gaming nerds brag about their KDA and ratings on various lanes of gaming and how they get nervous and psyched if they don't follow their precious routine. This is not red, this is as blue and as mellow, weak, argr or malakia (google those two last words) as it can possibly be. It's not manly, strong, independent to be obsessed, onedimensional and dependent so thoroughly and deeply to a few numbers you are the only one giving a shit about while looking in the mirror asking yourself "am I 2,65% more manly today than 16 weeks ago". That is pathetic.
saargrin 6y ago
From all I've read, you're supposed to bounce back rather fast after 2 month downtime
Pot93 6y ago
This post is 100 percent right. I broke my arm (humerus) 4 months ago and can't do anything but leg exercises yet. It's huge the effect it had in me. Bad mood, slight depression, lower confidence, less disciplined overall, started drinking again. Can't wait to be 100% fully recovered.
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pffffr 6y ago
Your previous training hast not gone down the drain. There is a memory effect in your muscles that allows you to regain your former strength in a short period of time. Read this article (scroll down to muscle memory of you're too lazy for the whole thing):
http://sci-fit.net/2017/detraining-retraining/
sparks_mandrill 6y ago
Word. Kinda related but not directly. I'm on a cut right now, only eating 45 grams of fat each day. Sucks ass. I have reduced sex drive and just feel mopey.
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bookloverphile 6y ago
Sucks i cant lift anymore ever since i started having joint problems. But more power to ya!
grunge022 6y ago
Don't worry, muscle memory is a real thing and usually it only takes the same amount of time you took off to get back to where you were before you had to stop.
CollinABullock 6y ago
Lifting is great, but unless you're eating right and doing cardio as well you're not gonna get great results,
It's almost like you guys are virgins who don't really know what you're talking about!
frankattack1 6y ago
You have Crohn's disease. Good luck.
[deleted] 6y ago
Pardon me, but I really don't understand the obsession with heavy muscles on this subreddit. Is it just for managing your self worth? As a general rule - People without dicks don't care how much you can lift.
cyborgsarenotrobots 6y ago
It is not the obsession with heavy muscles which fuels the inclination most (vocal)people have in this subreddit but the other benefits it brings .
I know people without dicks don't care about the stagnation of our overhead press stats but we are not doing this for them we are doing this for us.
comptejete 6y ago
Mostly true, but if your male peers respect you, that attracts female attention by proxy.
[deleted] 6y ago
Women dont care about the numbers on the weights, but they largely prefer a man who is strong.
Men don't care about the letters on the bra, but they largely prefer a woman who has nice titties.
ahoooley 6y ago
Doxxed by a medical diagnosis? Wtf are you afraid of in the first place? That's pathetic, grow a pair
Psynaut 6y ago
Nah man. It only takes two years to get there the first time. Of course you will lose strength not lifting for 8 weeks, but you will probably be right back where you were 8 weeks from now or thereabouts.
1v1crown 6y ago
Put one in your house you'll never regret it
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adddeed 6y ago
Disagree.
Rather play sports than move weights around.
But as long as you're being active, whatever floats your boat.
nomorelulu 6y ago
Lifting and playing sports are completely different activities that accomplish different things, and in fact they complement each other. If you do one without the other you're missing out.
[deleted] 6y ago
They do similar things, if they are HIIT sports, IMO.
But yes, you are missing out if you dont do both. I dont think the OP deserved the downvotes.
nomorelulu 6y ago
You can't build significant muscle playing a sport
[deleted] 6y ago
I think your weight depends on it. At 6'4'', 230, playing soccer, softball, and ski racing seemed to build a significant amount of muscle for me on my upper body and lower body.
Lifting, of course, would have done more. But I think repeated sprinting actually can build upper body muscle.
BIG_HUB 6y ago
Always one guy that gets offended.
TRPmc117 6y ago
Athletes in every sport deal with this all the time. 2 months feels like eternity but it's nothing. Football players come back after 6-12months off. It's easier to regain strength than it is to regain new strength.
sssimasnek 6y ago
Your body will readjust quickly. Give it a few weeks and you should be right back where you were.
I can relate though, I know that feeling, can be very demotivating
dingman58 6y ago
Muscle memory is real bro, you'll be back where you were in no time. Besides it isn't really even about the numbers, just that you are going consistently and maintaining fitness.
Also wondering how significant the reduced testosterone's effect was on you feeling shitty and like less of a man. I imagine that's gotta be a big part of it.
do_it_or_leave 6y ago
I really don't take it for granted.
I would be immensely worried with my mental health if I couldn't lift for any reason out of my control.
empatheticapathetic 6y ago
I don't have a lot of experience but you'll most likely get back to where you left off in a lot less than 2 years. As another commenter said, you can regenerate muscles you've had before quicker. Possibly broscience but worth looking into.
I want to like the post but you just say "it's important" but don't really get into the mental and physical reasons why you think it's so important. Some i can guess for sure but the post is supposed to be you telling us your experience and perspective.
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[deleted] 6y ago
I leave here a link to the article mentioned by OP http://www.leangains.com/2011/09/fuckarounditis.html
Ricardo2991 6y ago
First, it's not the most important part of the red pill, maybe it is if you're a fresh faced 18 year old with no life keeping you busy. Second, your FRAME, is the most important tool in your box.
mental_models 6y ago
Good post. It's a tough post to make in a thread that is a tsunami of lift-love. Lifting is certainly a valuable resource for most men, because it improves both confidence, and aesthetic attraction. Understanding the game, frame, ability to wield power, etc... are actually the most important tools. A lot of the audience isn't that 'deep'. Winners of the aesthetic game, who feel masculine and get pussy seem like Gods to that crowd. There are different 'types' of successful men, and the jacked alpha is certainly one of them.
ytfromsnwcrsh 6y ago
I hear you, op! I was out of the gym for two weeks for travel reasons and when I got back got a nasty flu and synus infection that almost pneumonied my ass. Another two weeks of slouch. It was a major setback in my gym performance. But there is no way around it, just start light again, your body knows the path now. Get well and strong soon, bro!
timowens862 6y ago
You'll be back where you were in a month or two
youkickmyd0g 6y ago
I hear that. Even reducing to 1-2x/wk and not eating properly knocked 20lbs off me after 4mo of poverty. Even when I couldn't afford food or rent, I still paid for my gym membership the whole time. Gym during that time probably saved my life. Why not do it at home? My life was so fucked that it was the last thread of routine. So F yea, with ya. Go to gym like life depends on it if possible! It becomes harder to break the routine than not, you really have more time in the week if you just go as usual, after wasted energy/self-loathing from not going is counted. Glad you're well, thanks for sharing.
[deleted] 6y ago
Feels any difference with girls interest in those times?
Aarxnw 6y ago
That's what I thought this post was gonna be about
[deleted] 6y ago
yep.. me too - I don't give a fuck about his muscles.. I'm curious how it directly affected bitches :)
bickisnotmyname 6y ago
Any link to that fuckarounditis post?
aigamithite 6y ago
This is 90% nervous system 10% muscle loss.
True broscience for real
thechaosz 6y ago
Tell me about it.. Surgery and all, 2 years, tendinitis.... Fucking sucks... Do what else I can
Glacierdust 6y ago
Absolutely. I gained an immense appreciation for the gym and physical effort in general in the past year and, in the same vein, an appreciation for those who try. There are people who go to the gym in fucking casts and neckbraces and this one guy who was in a car crash and had to walk very slowly with a cane. It's every day people like these fellows who are the most inspirational.
theciscokidisfastest 6y ago
Is wanting change only in areas of your life that lifting would scarcely effect an acceptable reason for not lifting?
I'm not depressed, I don't care about living as long and healthy a life as possible, I have no problem keeping to routine, and I honestly have more entertaining and productive things to do than lift heavy shit.
Curious how that makes me retarded.
inb4 wah wah blue pill beta etc...
mental_models 6y ago
Yes. In some cases. And, for some people, lifting is going to be an almost negligible factor in their SMV. Just make sure you are being honest with yourself. - The "I don't care about living long/healthy" seems much weaker and much less red pill than the idea of not lifting.
theciscokidisfastest 6y ago
I'm more concerned in filling a long life with interesting things and maintaining my health is obviously a factor there, but I'm not interested in maximizing longevity to the detriment of my experience
SpaceTimeinFlux 6y ago
Just got back into it after a year off. I lost pretty much everything and now I'm at a point where I can get back on the saddle. I'm basically starting over again, but damn if it don't feel good.
NibblyPig 6y ago
If you stop lifting for a while your next attempt will be atrocious, don't sweat it, it comes back fast.
BuddhistSC 6y ago
Sounds like you're saying going to the gym is the most important thing to build strength. Not seeing any arguments as to how it's the most important thing for TRP.
Not saying it isn't, but the post doesn't support it.
LightBearCares 6y ago
I had 4 month of hard work flushed down the drain as well, starting as a newbie doing 5x5. I got really tangled with debt and thought I should work more and ignore the gym for the time being. In retrospect, I didn't even make more money, got depressed, and lost my progress. It all tumbled into a negative feedback loop. Now I've started again, and getting back to where I need to be.
grondjuice0 6y ago
I've had serious problems in the gym recently. Any strenuous exercise, even sprinting causes me severe neck pain and headaches that last from hours to days. I've done some research but can't seem to crack anything . Don't really want to hit the GP if it's something I can change. Any advice?
meaningintragedy 6y ago
Stop being a retard and go see a doctor.
grondjuice0 6y ago
You misunderstand, in my country doctors charge us ridiculously, If its something I can live without. (I get no pain from normal life) then there must be an issue with my form or what not.
[deleted] 6y ago
Go see a doctor.
Try getting more hydration and a professional massage, but if those combined dont do it, a doctor is who you should see pronto
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