I'm Really Struggling

[bblazer]

I guess this may be more of a vent than anything else, but if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to post up.

I'm getting really discouraged. I don't know what is going on. I am really having a hard time with all of my workouts - across the board.

For example, last week on DL day, I couldn't even get 540 to break off the floor, and I still hadn't even gotten to my working sets yet. I just now got back from squatting, and the same thing happened - I gut crushed under 565 and could even come off the box and had to dump the bar on the pins; again still in my warmup and not into my working sets yet.

At event training on Saturday, I couldn't load the 325 stone to even 52", nor could I even stand up an 800 lb tire (I couldn't even get a knee under it, and I can normally one motion this tire). Both of these things I can generally do for easy reps.

I am starting to get pissed and feeling like a pussy at the same time. Maybe father time is finally starting to knock at my door. I haven't changed my eating, there are no outside stressors that I am aware of (other than the High School PL team I coach is just getting their season started).

For christ sakes, I am beginning to think about doing curls just so that I have something I can make some progress at. If you know me at all, this means that things are getting really desperate.

It is really starting to have a mind fuck on me too, and I am questioning my ability to coach. I mean if I can't do these things, let alone figure out what I am doing wrong, what business do I have coaching lifters? I might as well get a job at 24 Hour Fitness as a trainer in the "no judgement zone!"

B-

 

[NBAfan#21]

I guess this may be more of a vent than anything else, but if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to post up.

I'm getting really discouraged. I don't know what is going on. I am really having a hard time with all of my workouts - across the board.

For example, last week on DL day, I couldn't even get 540 to break off the floor, and I still hadn't even gotten to my working sets yet. I just now got back from squatting, and the same thing happened - I gut crushed under 565 and could even come off the box and had to dump the bar on the pins; again still in my warmup and not into my working sets yet.

At event training on Saturday, I couldn't load the 325 stone to even 52", nor could I even stand up an 800 lb tire (I couldn't even get a knee under it, and I can normally one motion this tire). Both of these things I can generally do for easy reps.

I am starting to get pissed and feeling like a pussy at the same time. Maybe father time is finally starting to knock at my door. I haven't changed my eating, there are no outside stressors that I am aware of (other than the High School PL team I coach is just getting their season started).

For christ sakes, I am beginning to think about doing curls just so that I have something I can make some progress at. If you know me at all, this means that things are getting really desperate.

It is really starting to have a mind fuck on me too, and I am questioning my ability to coach. I mean if I can't do these things, let alone figure out what I am doing wrong, what business do I have coaching lifters? I might as well get a job at 24 Hour Fitness as a trainer in the "no judgement zone!"

B-

how long has it occured? just last week or has it been like this for a while? maybe your body just needs a break. now i know you probably thought of this but maybe you should deload for a week and come back fresh the next one.

Also when you do the curls make sure you isolate your muscle and hit it from all the different angles to give it a good hard shape.

 

[stevesmi]

I would get a full panel done. maybe there is something goofy going on that you are not aware of in the body.

my other suggestion is if you are on TRT, I would confirm things are going good with a testosterone blood test.

 

[bblazer]

I'm just off a 3 week deload, and 3 weeks into my new wave. Yes, I am on TRT (legit - I make no FSH or LH because of a fucked pituitary gland) and my last blood work from a month ago had my total T @ 860.

B-

 

[SouthernLord]

Are you eating? How's your sleep?

Sounds like a classic case of sandy vagina to me.

 

[bblazer]

Are you eating? How's your sleep?

Sounds like a classic case of sandy vagina to me.

I eat everything that isn't nailed down. Sleep is where it is for us old ones - in bed before 9 and up before 5.

I have been finger banging the hell out of my vag, and no sand has come out of it. Must be packed very deep in there.

B-

 

[stevesmi]

your body might be fighting an illness and your body is weak. the body has many many small colds throughout the year, you might not even feel any symptoms but they will cause your immune system to work harder.

I would change things up and see what happens.

 

[miked8c]

I would put money on this being mental, the strength is there. Your mentality is what is holding you back.

Blazer, I have read your posts since I came on this board close to a year ago, you have offered some of the best and most valuable adivce I have seen on an online board. Your are more than qualified to coach a powerlifting team, you seem to know more about lifting than any trainer I have had or any football coach I played for. Don't get down on yourself but instead comeback with a vengance, dont blame this crap on time because men don't start losing muscle untila much later age.I is harder to gain muscle and easier to lose it at your age, and you may not be in your prime. Regardless these are not reasons for you to start regressing, its not close to over.

Start with weights you are confident with, blast through them and work back up.

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

You came off a 3 week deload and are now 3 weeks into a new wave.

What was the deload like incomparison to a fresh wave?

Maybe the deload wasn't easy enough and now you're getting fatigue built up too fast in this new wave because the deload wasn't easy enough?

I dunno. Maybe you've got a bug in your system.

One thing I do know. If I was you I wouldn't be questioning my ability to coach because of some bad lift days.

Try to be logical about it. What would you say to one of your guys you coach if they told you this was happening?

 

[Tblock1]

I agree with mike.....its all mental. You are one of the best people on here.....stay strong and stay a badass! Sounds like the T levels are fine...what is normal for you?

 

[jaybois]

Might be time to focus on coaching and just step out for a bit, always works for me and I always come back stronger.

 

[bblazer]

I appreciate all the support. Often times I end up being my own worst critic and hold myself to a different/higher standard than I do anyone else. On top of that, I have an ego that would take Brian Shaw and Big Z to press into check.

I also think that I have to rework my training a bit. I am older, and I think that when I go through my deloads, that they will need to start being longer and even lighter. I guess I may just have to live with the fact that I may not be the next Odd Haugen.

Last night I had our 4th practice. I guess something happened or was said about last year, because I have 3 or 4 kids that have never touched a weight that signed up based solely on what we did last year and they want to be a part of it. I had a couple like that last year, and they ended up being very competitieve. Last night there was a girl that got a 90 lb 3RM military press and was so excited. Here I am bitching about not pulling 7 bills on a regular basis. Sort of puts things in perspective.

B-

 

[C0LUMB0]

It doesnt matter who you are...EVERYBODY hits a bad patch at some stage and starts letting doubts and niggles get in.
The more you try to figure it out the more things get fucked up !!!

Lower your working sets and work your way back up...and you will probably surpass your PB's on the way !

Good luck to ya Blazer.

 

[b fold the truth]

What exercises have changed over the last 6 weeks?

I have an on-line client that started doing deadlifts only a couple months ago but has always done heavy rows. A couple weeks ago he pulled an easy 705 but then it went down hill greatly while getting ready for his upcoming meet. I'd told him that from looking at his rows and his deadlifts...his rows were his BUILDER exercise for his deadlifts, maybe more than any other exercise for him. He does rows first before deads and had greatly cut them out for about a month so he would be fresher to pull bigger weights. He did pull bigger weights for a few weeks, then his pull got harder and went down. Something to think about...

And if you want to do curls...do curls. It's really important to make progress in the gym and be excited. This is why I always add in and out bands, chains, etc... Stuff is always changing all the time keeping me excited to do different stuff. Add in the briefs, suits, shirts, etc...and I have that many more options.

 

[bblazer]

The only thing that has changed is I do 8x10x135 overhead squats at the end of my DL workout on Brad Gillingham's suggestion.

Maybe that is what has screwed everything up now that I think about it.

I think I will work on BB Blasters for a while. Those are way better than curls.

B-

 

[b fold the truth]

But you got my point...right?

Go back to when you were setting records left and right. Now go back 4-6 weeks before that. What were you doing THEN?

 

[zedhed]

No suggestions from as the guyz above pretty hit it in my mind. Anyway GOOD LUCK BB and let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[bblazer]

But you got my point...right?

Go back to when you were setting records left and right. Now go back 4-6 weeks before that. What were you doing THEN?

I get it. I'm slow but I get there.

I'm going to have to go back through my logs...

You make a really good point.

B-

 

[[CinnamonBuns]]

times like these suck goodbro. i recently came off a bad acromio-clavicular seperation that kept me from doing any of the big 5 for a fair while...and i didnt really bother doing anything else.
its been a rocky road back from poor habbits and lost motivation.
i just cut my losses, swallowed my pride and started my progression from almost scratch.
everythings on the right track now, and im glad i took two steps backwards, to continue going forwards.
not sure if its applicable in your situation or not, and i wish i did, but i do wish you the best of luck my man, and i hope you get back to your former glory asap.
let me know how you do.