Don’t call it a comeback

[Perrin Aybara]

It's the smart decision. Just suck it up on the strength loss and get where you want to be on the weight loss. It'll come back when you're done.

 

[NovaFlex]

It's the smart decision. Just suck it up on the strength loss and get where you want to be on the weight loss. It'll come back when you're done.

That’s what I’m thinking...I’ve spent the last week (literally) lying awake at night trying to decide if I really wanna cut, or go all out PL.. But in the end, I got into the gym not only for strength, but to be healthy and to look good—and I’ve come to the conclusion that “not wanting to lose my strength” is only half true—the other half is that cutting is fucking hard, and I can’t be a fat ass, eating whatever I want.


I’ll be happy at around 225-240, depending on my BF% and LBM. I’m pretty sure that I have a solid base right now, that I can be a “lean” 225...And like you said, the strength will come back. And putting up numbers at a lower BW is always awesome.

@Silentlemon1011 appreciate it brother!

 

[Silentlemon1011]

That’s what I’m thinking...I’ve spent the last week (literally) lying awake at night trying to decide if I really wanna cut, or go all out PL.. But in the end, I got into the gym not only for strength, but to be healthy and to look good—and I’ve come to the conclusion that “not wanting to lose my strength” is only half true—the other half is that cutting is fucking hard, and I can’t be a fat ass, eating whatever I want.


I’ll be happy at around 225-240, depending on my BF% and LBM. I’m pretty sure that I have a solid base right now, that I can be a “lean” 225...And like you said, the strength will come back. And putting up numbers at a lower BW is always awesome.

@Silentlemon1011 appreciate it brother!

I find the strength comes back so fast brother.

Look at me,
I had noodle arms and titties this time last year.

I could barely lift 135 for DL (Bad back, had gotten weak asf)

9 months later I hit 450 DL before I broke my knee.
I had a solid base, YEARS ago, the muscles always remember.

Focus on your health, the strength with come.
Especially with the Tren/EQ stack

 

[NovaFlex]

I find the strength comes back so fast brother.

Look at me,
I had noodle arms and titties this time last year.

I could barely lift 135 for DL (Bad back, had gotten weak asf)

9 months later I hit 450 DL before I broke my knee.
I had a solid base, YEARS ago, the muscles always remember.

Focus on your health, the strength with come.
Especially with the Tren/EQ stack

Everyone has said that it comes back fast... I know it to be true, after being out for 2 years and coming back to hit PR’s in just a few months. I think I was making excuses for not wanting to be a disciplined as I need to be—but that’s over.

And yeah, haha... I’m itching to start that cycle. I’m gonna time it so that it runs until we leave.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Yeah, I just started working out in 2011 just wanting to get in shape and have abs. Wasn't till 2014 I started powerlifting.

My strength is coming back quick. I'm only about a month back from cutting and I'm feeling like my lifts are getting somewhat back to normal already.

 

[KL8209]

Glad to hear your daughter is good! Is she in her teens or younger? Only asking because I know a lot of kids end up with asthma but typically grow out of it even well into their 20s

 

[NovaFlex]

Glad to hear your daughter is good! Is she in her teens or younger? Only asking because I know a lot of kids end up with asthma but typically grow out of it even well into their 20s

Thanks man. She’s only 5. It just came on this year—she just got diagnosed this last time, actually.

 

[NovaFlex]

Yeah, I just started working out in 2011 just wanting to get in shape and have abs. Wasn't till 2014 I started powerlifting.

My strength is coming back quick. I'm only about a month back from cutting and I'm feeling like my lifts are getting somewhat back to normal already.

This all makes it not sound so bad. Plus I’ll be on Tren / EQ cycle soon, so I’m sure I’ll keep everything for the most part

 

[NovaFlex]

Not much special today. Medium volume, medium weight.


upper


BB row

135 x10

225 3x8


Spoto Press

135 x8

235 4x6


Med inc DB press

90 3x8


V bar PD

130 6x10

 

[NovaFlex]

-Supposed to be lower today, but ended up being mostly back and DL’s


DL / shrugs

225 x1 / 18

315 x1 / 16

405 x1 / 10

495 x1 / 5

545 x1 / 2


495 x3

405 4x5 / 4x8


-Pyramid up with singles, then back down with reps. Everything felt super heavy. Actually surprised I got 545 up.


Snatch Grip High Pull

135 4x8


Leg Curl

110 3x8, 2x5


Close Grip Lat PD

115 x15, 12, 12

125 2x10


-It feels weird to go from feeling like Superman, to feeling so damn weak and that I can’t do any volume at all.

 

[NovaFlex]

After reading through @Ohiopower’s cut, it really motivated me to just get this extra weight off. I made a plan similar to his.

-Zero carbs (or as little as possible)
-Friday, Saturday, Sunday water fasting
-1500-1800 kcal on feed days

I’m debating on a Monday cheat meal—But probably not, since this is only for 60 days and I want it to be as fast as possible.

-BB style workouts, still utilizing upper / lower split.

-I’m looking to get to around 230 by the end of April, then lean bulk up to 240ish and stay there for vacation in the summer.

hopefully looking to compete at 242 this next fall / winter in some local comps.

 

[NovaFlex]

Cutting the weight and volume down quite a bit. I’ll probably end up picking up the volume when I find a comfortable spot with the weights while cutting.

Upper


Bench Press

135 x8

185 x10

230 8x2, 1x10 AMRAP

-Surprised I actually put 230 up for 10 smooth reps. They were TNG, but still, I’m not feeling any strength at all haha.


Incl DB Press

65 x8

70 4x8

60 x8


Chest supported DB row

65 4x8

-I’ve actually never done these. I need to keep these in, I love the contraction from them.


DB overhead Ext

50 2x10, 20 AMRAP


Inc DB Fly

45 3x8


Quick session, just feeling out the volume / weight that I’ll be working with. Starting tomorrow (Friday) I’ll be going into my weekend fast, and Monday I’ll start Josh Bryant’s 8x8 program. I’ll most likely modify the weight a little and keep the volume high.

 

[NovaFlex]

-Side note... WTF is going on with my bench? I have all of the indicators of having a 300+ bench, but I can’t put it up.

 

[Silentlemon1011]

-Side note... WTF is going on with my bench? I have all of the indicators of having a 300+ bench, but I can’t put it up.

View attachment 125703

I find there are so many factors for me personally.

Mostly mental for me.
If the weight is feeling light and I'm feeling good, I can hit the numbers.

If I'm not on point, then I'll even miss lifts that I can usually make

 

[Btcowboy]

Mostly mental for me.

^^^This^^^^

Its mental for me too brother.

 

[NovaFlex]

^^^This^^^^

Its mental for me too brother.

I’m thinking that’s what it is...I’ve gotten in my head so much and hyped up 3 plates that I just can’t get through the barrier.

 

[Btcowboy]

I’m thinking that’s what it is...I’ve gotten in my head so much and hyped up 3 plates that I just can’t get through the barrier.

That was me a couple weeks back trying to break 500 on my DL. I think had i just threw on 2 more quarters i wouldnt have psyched myself out... but no i had to put on 5 plates and 2 nickles

 

[NovaFlex]

That was me a couple weeks back trying to break 500 on my DL. I think had i just threw on 2 more quarters i wouldnt have psyched myself out... but no i had to put on 5 plates and 2 nickles

Same thing happened to me @600. I missed the lift on a day I was feeling really good—and I put 600 exactly.

the next time I tried (2 weeks later) I did 585x2 BEFORE even attempting the 600, but this time I put 605 and nailed it.

our brains are so fucking weird man.

 

[Silentlemon1011]

Same thing happened to me @600. I missed the lift on a day I was feeling really good—and I put 600 exactly.

the next time I tried (2 weeks later) I did 585x2 BEFORE even attempting the 600, but this time I put 605 and nailed it.

our brains are so fucking weird man.

lol exactly this.

I fucked myself up on squats the other week.
I was literally coming back from a job site.. still had my winter coveralls on and starting squatting at s friends home gym.

Hit 275 EASY

Then I threw a dime on each side and thought
"Fuck man, that's a lot of weight"

Even though the first lift was easy enough to hit a double, I couldnt finish out 20lbs heavier.

I feel your pain brother

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I got stuck at mid 400's a few months and then later stuck at mid 500's for months. Strangely 500lbs and 600lbs came pretty easily once blasting past mid 400's and mid 500's. Then I was stuck at low 600's for years and when I finally got it moving I hit 650lbs within a couple months and then 675lbs a couple months after that. Then got stuck again for another year before hitting 700lbs.