Quote from: Jack_M on May 13, 2013, 09:23:47 PM
If you're not putting on the muscle you're looking for you have to up the weights. It's a constant progression. And when you do strength training it's best not to think of it in sets. Sets are for cardio over strength. When you're going for muscle building you need to put it so high that you really struggle to do 2, maybe 3 and then you push yourself through to get one more beyond where you think you're actually capable and practically collapse with it (this is why it's good to do strength training with a spotter). If you can do 4 of something and some, it's not a high enough weight for fast muscle gain (will eventually grow over time but that's obviously not what you want). You also need to make sure your diet it right. You want to be sure you've got enough protein in your diet and for muscle building it's best to use recovery protein shakes afterwards so you can recover faster for their next abuse. When you're building muscle you are literally tearing muscle and it stitches back together and that's how it bulks up, you have to keep tearing it and building it up again so you have to make sure there's enough recovery in between too so that you're not pushing it too hard.
You have to remember that without male T levels it's extremely difficult without a multitude of supplements and years of work to build up serious muscle. I have been working out and doing strength training since I was 14 years old (I'm 28), and I'm maybe only slightly bulkier than a man who never works out. The problem in a female body without higher levels of T is the muscle tends to be more compacted and the muscle fibres builds in on itself rather than grow outwards, so the gain is far less. So strictly speaking that means you can look like you have less muscle but actually be stronger than a guy with a fair amount of muscle (like you noticed). If you've been lifting heavy and then go on T, you're going to start FLYING with results and bulk up fast because you're already lifting heavy, and now you'll be able to lift even heavier and faster! This is one of the features I can't wait for when I start T. I'm finally going to look like I have the strength I do and that excites me no end!
I've become a total research junkie the past year or so, and can say I definitely hit it hard with my workouts, between my weights and my protein intake. I became really strict on protein. I was going up 5-20lbs on each machine every time week, if not every gym session. Unfortunately, because of my hypo, not only did I not put on much visible muscle, but I also lost it all when my hypo got me constantly sick this winter, and I basically wasn't able to get out of bed most days. Like I said, in just the past 2-3 weeks, I barely worked out, didn't consume ANY excess protein (barely ate, actually), lost weight AND put on 1/2" of thigh (that's a pretty good amount, and actually IS visible). So I have faith that I'm doing everything right and now that my body's in working order (so to say), results will come along pretty easily. I might try your 2-3 reps thing, rather than my current 3-4 sets of 5 (I must admit I need pretty long breaks in between my sets to continue), and see how that works out for me.
Because of my naturally elevated T, I've basically always had no problem building muscle, and it takes forever for the muscles to atrophy. I've also always had pretty strong arm muscles for a girl who doesn't ever lift anything, so I'm hoping that means I'll be able to build them with relative ease, in a relatively short amount of time. My only problem lies in the fact that most of my body fat seems to store in my arms, so it's impossible to see muscle definition, and even when I'm doing pull-ups or something, the only thing to show is my biceps (which look VERY manly in my workouts!) I'll be the first to admit, I bitch out when it comes to arm workouts. Maybe it's because of my hypo, but arm workouts overwork/overheat and overexhaust me (it's like how I can't squat because even without weights, the motion itself makes me feel on the verge of passing out). I'm hoping this summer I can correct that problem, or push through it in some way, because I need my arm workouts!
I did get a legit arm day in today, though. I did 4-8 reps, depending on the machine, and went as hard as I could (while still being able to keep proper form). My muscular construction worker boyfriend wasn't using much more weight than I was. Even though I knew he was half-assing it, it made me feel good that I could at least get close to his level, when I haven't used my arms for anything strenuous in months. I used a lot of machines I've never touched at the gym before, and I think once I get used to them, I'll be able to increase the weights a lot faster. I'm also showing slight results with my Sweet Sweat as far as burning my arm fat away so I can show off my muscles, so I think a month from now there will be a huge difference in my upper body.
I also have to admit, embarrassingly enough, I bought OxyElitePro today. Normally, I'm beyond against quick-fix fat burning pills, because I know anything can be achieved with exercise. But summer is approaching fast, and now I'm stuck with these 32DD+ boobs and a 40" bum. :/ So I guess I'm just trying to undo everything I did this past year as quickly as possible, now that I know what it is I'm after. I haven't been on breast enhancing pills too entirely long, so I'm hoping it's still early enough that a quick fat burning session will be able to shrink my breasts back down again. I'm worried because it's dangerous to workout on Oxy (my friend did it last year and had to stop halfway through even our wimpy workouts because she kept overheating and feeling like she was dying), buuuuuuttttt, I'm stubborn. I'll just do what I can.
The good news is I can't drink while on it, so y'all won't be getting anymore of my drunken late-night ramblings.
I really hope I can lost enough thigh fat on this to see my muscle tone. I'm starting to really hate my fat, feminine legs, and my fat, feminine ass that sits atop them. I'm also looking to lose a little more stomach fat, just to tone me up a little better and make me look more defined. That being said, maybe I should also start doing my ab workouts again. I did get pretty quick results with them before, and my ab muscles showed through some even though I was a good bit thicker than I am now.
