Losing the pump.

[rick_hfh]

I have been on a diet of 2500 cal diet for 6 weeks. Thanks to alot of you guys here I have learned a boat load of helpful stuff. Especially, my homegirl, Bunny. She reccomended 40/30/30 p c f but more accurately eating 40/40/20.
So you have some background info on my intake here is my problem. I have started to lose a lot of my pump when I lift. I ussually have sleeve ripping pumps but now almost nothing. Rest between sets is close to 2 min and still lifting heavy and intensely. My strength has not really dropped at all which is the most important to me. So am I not eating enough carbs or is it a sign I am losing muscle? Any help is appreciated.

 

[poysyn]

Well, calories = energy and you are on a calorie deficit. The EC stack and a banana normally gets me through my workouts while on a cut relatively easy, but otherwise I do seem rather out of it.

I think at 40/40/20 you are already at a pretty high carb content, however, if your body is not sensitivie to carbs you could slightly increase them or perhaps focus them a bit more appropriately around your workout..

 

[alex2678]

The pump is one of the most overratted things in bodybuilding I think. (This is another topic up for debate.) Some people swear they only grow if they get a good pump and others say it doesn't matter. I'm a firm believer that a pump is not necessary for muscle growth. Curl a 5 lb. dumbell 1000 times and you'll have a massive pump. Will it stimulate growth? No. A pump does induce capillarization, which is just the increased production of red blood cell carrying capillaries. While this may in the long run help support muscle growth you should look more at maintaining your current strength levels and use the mirror as a guide to judge whether or not the diet is working as planned. As long as your seeing noticable fat loss on a weekly basis and lifting heavy enough to keep your strength, I think you're right on track. Best of luck.

 

[poysyn]

I think the biggest problem is that not having a good pump can be discouraging, and that discouragement can lead to lack of motivation.

 

[alex2678]

Very true. With the pump being a temporary increase in muscle size due to increased blood flow, more people should be motivated to see long term increases in muscle size that actually stay. Motivation should come more from beating personal records and altering body composition as opposed to just getting a good pump.

 

[rick_hfh]

Poysyn, you hit it on the head with motivation. As soon as you see a little definition start to peek out of the fat. Then you lift hard and pump that bitch fool of blood. It makes me feel huge and defined. That is definitely a big thing for me. Thanks for ali your help guys.

 

[*Bunny*]

The pump is one of the most overratted things in bodybuilding I think. (This is another topic up for debate.) Some people swear they only grow if they get a good pump and others say it doesn't matter. I'm a firm believer that a pump is not necessary for muscle growth. ... I think you're right on track. Best of luck.

^^^

I think the biggest problem is that not having a good pump can be discouraging, and that discouragement can lead to lack of motivation.

^^^

Especially, my homegirl, Bunny. She reccomended 40/30/30 p c f but more accurately eating 40/40/20.

You're welcome ... remember, you need a "base" to judge all other progress from .. use that as such, even the 40/40/20 ...

But the guys are RIGHT on here ...

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb." ~ Sir Winston Churchill

 

[lacoste]

Arnold in Pumping Iron:
The greatest feeling you can get in a gym, or the most satisfying feeling you can get in the gym is... The Pump. Let's say you train your biceps. Blood is rushing into your muscles and that's what we call The Pump. You muscles get a really tight feeling, like your skin is going to explode any minute, and it's really tight - it's like somebody blowing air into it, into your muscle. It just blows up, and it feels really different. It feels fantastic.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[continuing about The Pump]
Arnold Schwarzenegger: It's as satisfying to me as, uh, coming is, you know? As, ah, having sex with a woman and coming. And so can you believe how much I am in heaven? I am like, uh, getting the feeling of coming in a gym, I'm getting the feeling of coming at home, I'm getting the feeling of coming backstage when I pump up, when I pose in front of 5,000 people, I get the same feeling, so I am coming day and night. I mean, it's terrific. Right? So you know, I am in heaven.
And to think he is now the Govenor of Cali. God Bless America.
But try some NO-Explode. That stuff gave me outstanding pumps but personally it bothered my stomach. But other than that is was a great product. I hear the super pump 250 is good as well.

 

[alex2678]

Arnold in Pumping Iron:
The greatest feeling you can get in a gym, or the most satisfying feeling you can get in the gym is... The Pump. Let's say you train your biceps. Blood is rushing into your muscles and that's what we call The Pump. You muscles get a really tight feeling, like your skin is going to explode any minute, and it's really tight - it's like somebody blowing air into it, into your muscle. It just blows up, and it feels really different. It feels fantastic.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[continuing about The Pump]
Arnold Schwarzenegger: It's as satisfying to me as, uh, coming is, you know? As, ah, having sex with a woman and coming. And so can you believe how much I am in heaven? I am like, uh, getting the feeling of coming in a gym, I'm getting the feeling of coming at home, I'm getting the feeling of coming backstage when I pump up, when I pose in front of 5,000 people, I get the same feeling, so I am coming day and night. I mean, it's terrific. Right? So you know, I am in heaven.

LOL. I was kind of disappointed when I saw the Pumping Iron Anniversary Edition where he said it was all an act. I thought he had legitimately lost his mind.

 

[*Bunny*]

LOL. I was kind of disappointed when I saw the Pumping Iron Anniversary Edition where he said it was all an act. I thought he had legitimately lost his mind.

I'm convinced that was just a cover for his behavior .... I love that friggin documentary ... sitting in my DVD right now

Louie was at my gym last night ... everyoen in there gruntin' out sets ... I felt like I was in a jungle
lol