Anybody believe that we ever "maintain?"

[dyslexic]

I don't really...


I think we either grow a little or atrophy a little-- so in essence, it balances out and makes us believe we are "maintaining"


I guess I am saying that we never just maintain strength either. We either get stronger or weaker.


Am I full of shit here? Thoughts?

[Royalty]

I think we maintain strength or have increased strength within like 5-7 days of our last workout......after that we are losing strength

[dyslexic]

What about muscle?

[jpm101]

I would think maintaining is just another word for no increased progress, staying on the same level with regards to size, strength or condition. That's what a lot of guy's want anyway, maintaining their status quo. Do not crave or need exceptional development or strength.  Life style, family, job can influence all this.

Some sports medicine people give between 10 to 14 days before the body reverts back to it's condition before training. It's normal state really. Good Luck.

[YoungBlood]

I think if you're a "normal" person that is not training with weights or on a treadmill for life, then there is a maintenance phase. But in the gym with weights and being dedicated to the BBing lifestyle, you're usually trying to put on weight, lean up or maybe both. So you're always trying to eat more or exercise more to burn those extra calories, and that makes the maintenance phase non-existent. Being a BBer means giving it constant stimulus to change (weight lifting). Living a more "normal" lifestyle, we don't have anything to adapt to, and that's where homeostasis kicks in and with the body having nothing to adapt to, it seems as if the body is just maintaining its current state.

[local hero]

your all kidding your self if you dont think your doing more then treading water after a good number of years training..... unless your realy pushing the envolope with drugs and excess food, you are maintaining after you hit your own personal wall...

my example of this would be with arm size..... i have an 18" arm off gear, 19" on... now that hasnt changed in the last 8 yr, maybe if i abused steroids more id squeeze a little more size out of it..

now everyone i know, who trained 10 plus years will agree that once they got there initial size it doesnt realy change much, maybe you will get leaner and more cut, or you may get fatter and it may increase in size due to fat ( the majority will think this is legit gain! )

i know all the hardcore getbiggers use more weight each workout, and gain 5lb of lean muscle everymonth, but seriously.........

[dyslexic]

Thought-provoking answers...


Food for thought. Thanks!

[Royalty]

your all kidding your self if you dont think your doing more then treading water after a good number of years training..... unless your realy pushing the envolope with drugs and excess food, you are maintaining after you hit your own personal wall...

The body has limits of course...if it didnt bodybuilders would weigh 800,900,1000lbs ect....


Even on drugs, most pros weigh 265-310 off season depending on height

you dont usually hear of pros getting much heavier than 310

[dyslexic]

It seems that during intense, mass building phases, large amounts of weight are initially gained at a fairly rapid pace... and then comes this period of apparent stagnation.

Maybe in this period of time (where the gains seemingly come to a halt) is actually a 'solidification' period. In other words, a period of time where the new gains become permanent.


I have actually had this happen; although not as many times as I would like, there were some periods that really stand out in my mind as a time where I made great, fast gains-- and KEPT THEM!! (still have them)

I suppose it will always be hypothesis and theory...

[garebear]

The body has limits of course...if it didnt bodybuilders would weigh 800,900,1000lbs ect....


Even on drugs, most pros weigh 265-310 off season depending on height

you dont usually hear of pros getting much heavier than 310

Are you sure about that number?

[YoungBlood]

It seems that during intense, mass building phases, large amounts of weight are initially gained at a fairly rapid pace... and then comes this period of apparent stagnation.

Maybe in this period of time (where the gains seemingly come to a halt) is actually a 'solidification' period. In other words, a period of time where the new gains become permanent.


I have actually had this happen; although not as many times as I would like, there were some periods that really stand out in my mind as a time where I made great, fast gains-- and KEPT THEM!! (still have them)

I suppose it will always be hypothesis and theory...

Usually this occurs because the stimulus given to the muscle is different, therefore the muscle must adapt, and as I've said before adaptation=growth.

The reason we stagnate, is usually because we don't continually change the stimulus. We get stuck in a rut thinking to ourselves 'if I put on 5lbs of muscle during the first month of bulking up, why wouldn't I put on another 5lbs during the next month-or even two months?!' Unfortunately the body does not work like that.

So we have to continually change the the stimulus in order to continually adapt/grow. How to do this is the trick. And as well, how long to do each training stimulus. Some people like to change workouts every time they set foot in the gym. Others like to do the program for 5-6 months. And again, another way to vary your program is after a certain set of workouts, and have a plan. Periodization is founded upon this sort of thing.