How does this happen?

[JKurz1]

Qucik scenerio, I went from a complete bodybuilding physique, to a overtrained, malnutrieshed state over the course of 4 years...starting doing triatholon after traiatholn and found myself from 220, to 160 and weaker than shit.....my diet sucked, as it was 100% clean, but lacking in cals cause I was so overtrained and never hungry....used to bench 225 for easy 15, now it's a struggle with 135........how does this happen? my test levels are below the floor and I would diet to get back to where I was....doesnt help training 7 days a week, I know, but would love some help!

 

[silver_shadow]

what do you want help for... you have your answer - doing triathlons. now start eating everything in sight and get a proper workout instead of figuring out how to divide body parts in the week. take flax seed/fish oil. if things are still not happening, get your test levels checked.

 

[The Shadow]

Jk - you and I have talked about this b4.

If you continue to do the marathon cardio sessions you need to PILE on the carbs and EFA's.

you are cronically overtrained

 

[BiggT]

JK, you've been asking this same question for over a year......sometimes planning and thinking have to take a back seat to simply doing. After all your time on discussion boards, I'd bet money you have a pretty good idea of what you need to do, it is just a matter of doing it. If you can't bring yourself to do it and you're unhappy with your physique, then maybe you should seek some form of professional counseling. Seriously, I am not trying to be an ass to you.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with being a 160lb triathlete by the way, they are some of the most amzing athletes in the world.....however, if it's not what you want, then you know what to do. It all boils down to making yourself, and in turn, your family, happy.

 

[silver_shadow]

JK, i've been seeing your posts just as everyone else has been and i think biggt is right about the counselling. its probably alot deeper than just gym stuff. this is apparent over the internet, and i'm sure an expert sitting face to face with you would be a good judge. seriously, man maybe you need to consider it.

 

[Dieselicious]

Are you using anything - are you tested for Triathalon? Need to get out of that catabolic state - asure an anabolic diet...

 

[JKurz1]

I know I can beat this f-ing thing with your help, but this will be my last attempt before I seek counciling.......I promise. Physc. just dont know what's it's like to a bopdybuilder and eat like one......Help me out with this one last time and I swear to you, if it doesnt work, I'm done........How do you get over the mental aspect of getting fat? Every am, I check out my abs and if they look faded, I get depressed...then I see some dude who has a show coming up in 10 days who says he is 6% and I swear I have sharper abs, so I guess my outlook on physiques is flawed as no one really has diced abs, unoess they are on stage....the problem I have is I feel bloated all the time which makes me feel fat....even if I only consume 2,000 - I dont know what it is, maybe is the gum I chew, maybe the oats, maybe it's my back problems, that just makes me feel fat and now I feel like I'm getting skinny fat which is worse...sure I have abs, but are they really abs? I mean at 160, wouldnt anyone have abs? Wont they be even better when I'm 200lbs with muscle again?

Here is my dilemma, help me understand this.....if I go all out and just eat my ass off...95% CLEAN, JUST eating when I'm hungry, minimum every 3 hours, will I get stronger and build more muscle? Or will it all be stored as fat since my joints are weak and I cant go as heavy as I want.....will the weights increase as the scale moves? Much thanks fellas!

 

[silver_shadow]

do you have some joint problems that can't be solved by lifting heavy (and strengthening the joints) on a high cal diet? another thing - i seem to recall that you're also on an AAS cycle right now?

 

[BiggT]

JK,

If you're progressively adding weight to the bar on a squat, a pull, and a press and eating more calories than you burn, you'll get stronger and grow muscle. You will put a little fat on more likely than not, but you don't have to get 'fat' per se. No healthy, 30 year old guy can't build muscle with proper training and eating enough calories.

I'm not a certified therapist or a psychologist, but it really does seem like there are deepr things going on here that are underlying that go further than ''I want to build some muscle, but struggle with fat gain".

Everybody has abs, all humans have them. The contest-shape bodybuilders you mention don't hold that condition year-round.

What I would suggest is a focus on performance and strength/speed, rather than bodybuilding. Turn the focus on what you can do, rather than how you look. You're gonna look fine anyway.

As much as you may not want to believe this, calories are calories are calories.....you cannot circumvent calories in vs calories out.....if you eat 2000 cals a day of chicken breasts or 2000 cals a day of mcdonalds french fries, it is still 2000 cals. The cleaner stuff is lifestyle choice and you'll be healthier for it, but thats all there is to it. To simplify it, it is easier to eat clean and stay lean because of total calories.

For a guy like you, I say stop measuring, weighing, and counting. For breakfast eat eggs and oatmeal, the rest of your meals eat meat, a green veggie or salad, and a starch, don't eat white flour in EXCESS, don't eat fast food in EXCESS, and don't drink alcohol in EXCESS, stop looking in the mirror and stop weighing yourself and train compound lifts progressively. Don't make a pre-planned diet, don't post about them and worry about them and don't obsess whether it is better to eat 6 cashews with your whey shake pre-bed or 8 cashews....none of it matters, stop worrying about the 1% you obsess over getting right, and start worrying about the simple 99% that you're getting all wrong.

Life is filled with real problems, bodyfat percentage isn't one of them as long as you're not obese. Good luck and I wish you the best. Feel free to start a journal too.

 

[fortunatesun]

It's amazing how many people ignore important concepts because it goes against their ingrained training ideas. The battle in the gym is as much mental as it is physical. Being able to overcome mental obsticals can at least as tough as overcoming physical ones. JKurz, since you agree that what you're doing obviously isn't working for you, you need to make that leap of faith and try something different.

To all this good advice I'd like to add another single word: vacation. At this stage 2-4 weeks can only help. Get your head out of the gym and rediscover the rest of this life. Play some golf, go boating, whatever. Easy physical activity that allows you to recover and reconnect with your family and the rest of the world. Now's the time to put your massive amounts of training to good use.