hit a wall...

[ashley2212]

I have been training hard and heavy for about 2.5 years now. I eat extremely well and train efficiently. I change up my routines... I have done leaning and bulking cycles... and have seen great results from all that I have done.

I have been certified as a fitness trainer for about a year and I do endless research on fitness and nutrition because I love it. What I don't have are any females (or males for that matter) in my life that are into bodybuilding like I am. This is a great forum for someone in a position like myself.

I have reached a point where I feel like I can pull myself past a plateau, but the gains are not quite what I'd want them to be. I want to take another step up. I want to reach beyond that point of being "toned" (I hate that word) to being muscular.

I don't have the means or the money for AAS, so I'm thinking the answer to my problem would be "just suck it up and work hard, it will come slowly" but I figured I'd ask for some advice anyway. Maybe I just need to hear it from someone else so I can keep pushing onward. Thanks for all your help

 

[Diddlysquat]

Hi Ashley, just read your post and thought, Oh Boy, this is so familiar. I have been lifting hard and heavy for about the same time, two and a half years,actually nearly three now and like yourself want to become more muscular. Diet too is now clean and copious! I have a trainer for leg day whose experience, knowledge and professionalism hold me in awe. Anyway, I asked her after we had been training for a year how long it takes to look muscular.... I had been thinking, ok, so when could I think about a competition ? etc etc.(lol at my naivity) Anyway, she just said that whilst everyone is different, in her opinion an average natty female, eating right, not afraid of carrying a bit of fat, lifting hard and heavy, sleeping well, not getting injured etc could maybe look like the beginnings of a bodybuilder after FIVE YEARS of all the above. But you know, I don't think this is so bad. I am now 35 and even after a measly two and a half years feel that I look better than the majority of other people my age, and if the next 5 pass with anything like the same benefits physically and mentally then I cannot wait til I hit forty. Often I do feel that my progress is slow, painfully so when I am injured, but looking back at photos from the beginning, looking back at old training logs and seeing where I began, having someone occasionally say something nice, even being able to take negative comments positively, all of these help me keep loving lifting. Slow and steady.... Don't know if this will help but best wishes and enjoy your training.

 

[dirty~d~]

You'll be fine. It's no uncommon for this to happen. Sometimes all you need is a short break to snap out of it, but if you feel you can push past it then go for it.

 

[ashley2212]

Hi Ashley, just read your post and thought, Oh Boy, this is so familiar. I have been lifting hard and heavy for about the same time, two and a half years,actually nearly three now and like yourself want to become more muscular. Diet too is now clean and copious! I have a trainer for leg day whose experience, knowledge and professionalism hold me in awe. Anyway, I asked her after we had been training for a year how long it takes to look muscular.... I had been thinking, ok, so when could I think about a competition ? etc etc.(lol at my naivity) Anyway, she just said that whilst everyone is different, in her opinion an average natty female, eating right, not afraid of carrying a bit of fat, lifting hard and heavy, sleeping well, not getting injured etc could maybe look like the beginnings of a bodybuilder after FIVE YEARS of all the above. But you know, I don't think this is so bad. I am now 35 and even after a measly two and a half years feel that I look better than the majority of other people my age, and if the next 5 pass with anything like the same benefits physically and mentally then I cannot wait til I hit forty. Often I do feel that my progress is slow, painfully so when I am injured, but looking back at photos from the beginning, looking back at old training logs and seeing where I began, having someone occasionally say something nice, even being able to take negative comments positively, all of these help me keep loving lifting. Slow and steady.... Don't know if this will help but best wishes and enjoy your training.

Thank you for that. It's good to know there's someone who feels the same way. Sometimes it's hard to be patient and rejoyce over the small gains when you can see the bigger picture. Five years seems so long but it flies by before you know it. Good luck to you as well.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Possibly you need a diet change?

WHat about setting SPECIFIC smaller goals..... simply "being more muscular" isn't gonna cut it. How do you define that? Set goals, piece by piece and concentrate on that specifically. Eventually, the pieces will all fit together.

For example....they could be specific mass goals - build more mass in quads (biceps, etc). They could be overall strength goals (which will help with overall mass) - and focus on BIG activities - squats, deadlifts, etc. It could be a speed goal - work on increasing speed through HIIT (faster sprints, higher levels). Or you could focus on learning a new sport - be it karate, rockclimbing, running a race, powerlifting comp, etc.....

 

[FitFossil]

Great post Diddlysquat! Great attitude and very inspiring. I've been training hard almost 5 years now, and what you say is so true. The improvements I've made in the last few years aren't as fast or obvious as what I made in the first 2 years, but inside I know I'm still improving and refining. Pictures and my training log prove it.

I think the most important thing is to Enjoy the process. I sometimes ask myself 'what if this is it? - would I still train?' and the answer is Yes, because I really do enjoy the process of training and how it makes me feel. I enjoy living in a strong healthy body, and I'm thankful I have a body that I can train.