Please Help - Frustrated - Lack of Gains

[NateDogg]

The 5x5 program isnt inherently bad needsize but its obviously not working for natedogg because he has been training for 2 years and has little to show for it. It could be because nate needs to train with 1 rep max weights and take up powerlifting ideas. I dont know about the rest of you, but if I was doing 5x5 for 2 years and I didnt have anything to show for it, I would ditch it for a new system. Also there is a good quote on www.elitefts.com about sorness...something like, I could hit you with a baseball bat a bunch of times and you would be sore the next day, but you wouldnt grow.

I just started 5X5 a couple weeks ago, and I am having a good experience with it so far. LMAO at the baseball bat quote. That is a major point of my questions though, that I am getting too sore. Speaking of which...

needsize, I took 1000mg of C and 400iu of E last night before my workout, I am MUCH less sore today than I believe I would have been had I not done so. I worked my ass off last night, chest and shoulders and I am not all that sore today. I know it's not that my muscles have gotten used to the workout, it just would not have happened like that IMO. For weeks I can barely move the day after my chest/shoulder workout, the next week I don't feel anywhere near as sore.

enrage, my hams get extremely sore after deadlifts, eventhough I do the conventional variety. I am not always able to hit them again the following Sunday with leg curls because they are still sore (not very, but still sore).

Thanks again for all the replies. I will be sure to keep everyone posted. I also am thinking of starting a log over at wannabebig, not sure yet though. I'm pretty good with excel so I might go that route too. Just have to sit down and create something user friendly.

jbw55, I have recently lowered my weights to get back to proper form, it has helped. It's funny that I start a frustrated with lack of gains thread just when I am possibly starting to get it together. With all of the help of people here. We'll see I guess.

ND

 

[Complete Muscle]

serious karma 4 U needsize!

...One thing you could try is to take 1000mg of vitamin c right after your workout or just prior. I read that it helps flush the crap out of your muscles that builds up during the workout, ie lactic acid, I have been taking it right after my workout for a while and have noticed a difference

I have tried this and it works big time! Why have I never heard this before??? Anyone who has extreme DOMS has gotta give this a try. Very noticeable difference the first time. Thanx bro!

 

[NateDogg]

Re: serious karma 4 U needsize!

I have tried this and it works big time! Why have I never heard this before??? Anyone who has extreme DOMS has gotta give this a try. Very noticeable difference the first time. Thanx bro!

I definitely agree, it has made a very remarkable difference in my soreness after a workout, and the time it has taken to get rid of it.

*UPDATE* 5X5 is definitely for me so far. I have had increases in almost every lift almost every week. Most notably, I got up to 85 lb DB's for 5 sets of 5-6, so now I am at 90's for a couple at 4 and a few at three. My squat has gone up 20 lbs in the last two weeks, and my deadlift has been improving as well *although I have taken a break from "heavy" squats and deadlifts due to some not good back paid lately. I have to go back to the drawing board on deadlift form. I did some very light sets yesterday and it is getting better though. I also warmed up with some hyper-extenstions, which I would recommend doing before deadlifting.

ND

 

[SSAlexSS]

Hello All,

Little background. I am 5'10" ~175-180 lbs bf pretty low, but little high for me because I am trying to bulk. I guess around 10-12%. Now, I have been lifting on a serious level for more than 2 years, with minimal gains. My major question is this: I get sore, VERY SORE or not so sore every time I lift, any body part. If I go balls out I get sore and sometimes stay that way for 4-5 days. If I take it easier (not often) I still get a little sore, maybe lasts for a day or two. Why do I get so sore and have it stay with me for so long eventhough I have been lifting with high intensity for quite a while? Here is my current split:

SUN - squat 5X5
Leg X - 3X10-12
Hack squat calves - 2X15-20
Leg Curls (if hams are not sore) - 3X10-12

MON - rest

TUES - Flat bench DB press - 5X5
Hammer Strength lying bench press - 5X5
Flat DB flye - 3X10-12
DB overhead press - 5X5
cable lat raise - 3X10-12

WED - rest

THURS - Conventional Deadlifts - 5X5
Hammer Stregth iso-row - 5X5
Close Grip pull-down - 5X5
reverse flye on pec-dec - 2X15-20

FRI - rest

SAT - close grip press 5X5
DB French press - 2X10-12
standing BB curl - 5X5
incline curl - 2X10-12

Please, everyone, throw out an opinion here. I have battled with gaining for a while now. Also, I do not have a planned out diet per say. However, I kept a diet journal for a week or so. That told me that I was eating about 3,500 calories, 200 grams of protein. I can not seem to remember what the carbs and fat was, but I am, IMO eating PLENTY! I eat a meal that is high in protein and either good fat, or carbs every two to three hours.

ND

try to do a 6day per week split. Hit each bodypart 3 times per week. Dont listen to HIT Jedi's, that is the most important advice that I can give you!

 

[juggernaut7]

!

If your not gaining the muscular bodyweight that u r lookin for,and you have a decent training program(i will give u a url for that in a second)your not eating enuff...ITS THAT FUCKIN SIMPLE....im REALLY NOT trying to be rude here...im tryin to get your results goin like u wanna see em goin buddy...i ate like a friggin bird the first couple of years that i lifted...and what did i get?stronger..yes...more muscular...definately....any appreciable size?...FUCK NO!reason being again?not enuff calories/protein.....first off...read over this info at the address at the bottom of this post,read thru the whole thing...lots of info on anabolics to start...but just wait...excellent training info when u get into it...try to apply the principles...even though they are ass backwards of alot of training programs....they work..i gaurantee it!then...EAT MORE....6-7 times daily...whatever it takes to get in the necassary calories...id say try 4000 cals and if that doesnt do it...UP IT AGAIN!

http://www.animalkits.be/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=253&forum=1&191

now...u can either shrug off the advice of myslef and the others of this board...and keep getting the same results...or lack thereof...or u can apply what youve just learned(hopefully) here and start growin like a motherfucker!

 

[Grantsdu]

Although I'm no expert on the subject but I do know that lactic acid build up in the muscles is what makes you sore. I don't think that just because you get sore after lifting that your working your muscles hard enough. I'm not saying your not working out hard by anymeans I'm just saying that you can't go by how sore you are.(from what I have been told) I work out hard and very very rarely get sore. Only time I get sore is when i have takes my regular week off and come back the next week and hit it hard. I have always have good luck with bananas, they help get rid of the extra acid build up in your muscles. Like I said before I'm no expert though!!!!!

 

[NateDogg]

Although I'm no expert on the subject but I do know that lactic acid build up in the muscles is what makes you sore. I don't think that just because you get sore after lifting that your working your muscles hard enough. I'm not saying your not working out hard by anymeans I'm just saying that you can't go by how sore you are.(from what I have been told) I work out hard and very very rarely get sore. Only time I get sore is when i have takes my regular week off and come back the next week and hit it hard. I have always have good luck with bananas, they help get rid of the extra acid build up in your muscles. Like I said before I'm no expert though!!!!!

Actually, lactic acid has NOTHING to do with muscle soreness. Muscle soreness is the tiny muscle tears (or larger ones if you overtrain) that occur when lifting. Also, soreness has nothing to do with intensity. If you do something your muscles are not used to, no matter how intense (to a point of course) you WILL get sore.

ND

 

[needsize]

NateDogg, glad to hear the program is working for you, it is by far my favourite program. My problem is that I don't like to stop doing it and I know you can't keep growing unless you change up your training.

 

[Complete Muscle]

NateDogg - I too am glad to hear you're progressing! Is your bodyweight increasing also? (I guess it must be.) And thanx again for the vit C tip needsize! Bananas??? I'll have to try that too! Gosh I could write a musclletech type ad for vit C and bananas and charge $99.95 for my new wonder-supplement!!!

 

[NateDogg]

Thanx again for the replies everyone. Yeah, my body weight has increased a little. I got back to deads a couple days ago, felt awesome. I went really light to see how my back felt, but it felt pretty good so next time I'll get back up to some heavier weights.

ND