Do You Feel Like You Look Your Best 3-5 Days after a good workout?

[Al Doggity]

Or do you look the best the first two or three days after a good workout?

[bhank]

Or do you look the best the first two or three days after a good workout?

This makes no sense as you should have a good workout every other day at least

[Al Doggity]

This makes no sense as you should have a good workout every other day at least

Based on your other posts, I feel you might not be a good gauge of whether or not this makes sense. If anyone else chimes in with a similar sentiment, I'll edit the opening post.

[Grape Ape]

Or do you look the best the first two or three days after a good workout?

I think it has to do more with hydration and food at the time than the workout.

In other words, the incremental effects of working out well are noticeable over time, not on a per workout basis.

[Al Doggity]

I think it has to do more with hydration and food at the time than the workout.

In other words, the incremental effects of working out well are noticeable over time, not on a per workout basis.

I was  going to include "do you think it's due to residual pump, etc if you believe it's the latter?" , but wanted to keep it short so others could expand.

So, if I'm reading you correctly, you do generally feel like-whatever the reason-  when you hit a bodypart really good, you see some sort of "progress" pretty fast that lasts a few day and by the end of a week of not hitting that bodypart, the "progress" has faded somewhat? 

[Grape Ape]

I was  going to include "do you think it's due to residual pump, etc if you believe it's the latter?" , but wanted to keep it short so others could expand.

So, if I'm reading you correctly, you do generally feel like-whatever the reason-  when you hit a bodypart really good, you see some sort of "progress" pretty fast that lasts a few day and by the end of a week of not hitting that bodypart, the "progress" has faded somewhat?

Not really.

I'm saying hitting a bodypart really well in a workout has such a small effect, that you wouldn't notice anything directly related to that particular workout.

Your body will look better or worse based on other factors - sleep, food, water, etc.

[CalvinH]

No, the day after a good workout followed by a good night drinking.

[oldtimer1]

I look my best immediately after a work out when the pump is still there.

[Al Doggity]

Not really.

I'm saying hitting a bodypart really well in a workout has such a small effect, that you wouldn't notice anything directly related to that particular workout.

Your body will look better or worse based on other factors - sleep, food, water, etc.

Ok, gotcha. My experience is different. Are you saying you don't notice weekly changes that you attribute to working out?

I look my best immediately after a work out when the pump is still there.

I think a lot of people do, but I was talking about when you notice the more sustainable changes.

[bhank]

Based on your other posts, I feel you might not be a good gauge of whether or not this makes sense. If anyone else chimes in with a similar sentiment, I'll edit the opening post.

Based on your pic I would say you don't even lift

[Grape Ape]

Ok, gotcha. My experience is different. Are you saying you don't notice weekly changes that you attribute to working out?
I think a lot of people do, but I was talking about when you notice the more sustainable changes.

Maybe.

I was taking the side of one single workout, at any one point in time.

If I workout, say 4-5 times a week, I do notice changes.

But I still believe all those other factors have significant roles.

[Al Doggity]

But I still believe all those other factors have significant roles.

But this would be true of longer term changes as well, but I guess what you could be saying is that if you notice a change on a daily basis, then you're more likely to attribute it to diet, rest, etc than noticeable gains over the course of one workout.

I'm not of the same mindset. I think noticeable changes can happen rapidly.  The point of the question was in reference to the theory of "microtearing". I've started a couple of threads on here before about how I don't believe it actually exists. I was at the gym a few days ago and in the locker room some guys were discussing a certain arm routine and one of the guys said he can always tell by the day after whether or not a routine is worth sticking with- in terms of appearance. For me that's usually been the case, too. Not necessarily monstrous gains in a day, but I can see some change pretty quickly and I think it's a pretty common experience. If microtearing really existed, I think  it would be more common to notice changes several days after you've trained a bodypart. It's possible that there are people who do experience this, but as I thought about it, I don't think I've ever heard or read anyone say that.

[Howard]

Or do you look the best the first two or three days after a good workout?

I used to think that, but, pics or videos told a different story.

You look your best , during and right after a good workout IF you got a great pump .

[Thin Lizzy]

I’ll say yes. You’re putting the body in a stressful situation. The body responds by overcompensating so the next time it happens it’s not quite as stressful. With a hard workout this process typically takes three or four days.