Originally Posted by Mike Tuvre, USA

The bottom line is, I can count on one hand the guys in my gym (who are tall/lean and cut like me), that bench 100lb+ dbs, or overhead 80lb dbs, or do pull ups wiith stupid amounts of weight. I can't squat anymore due to an injury, but I leg press silly amount of plates. I am just your average 10 year lifter who looks good/not killer. The weight I do lift is dangerously heavy for my frame/I could easily injure myself. Also, all of my lifts were up when i was 20-30lbs fatter. I'm just not seeing myself upping the weight anymore. Doesn't anyone know what it feels like to feel it in your body everywhere but the muscles? Not cool. And when i drop back in lifts/weight, I do not get any bigger (I'm better off taking time off than going lighter/ upping the reps). Thanks for the responses.

Originally Posted by P-funk

okay, let me lay out the facts:

1) you start a thread saying you think you have reached the limit of your genetic potential. (how old are you anyway).

2) people post questions saying things like "what is your current training program?", "do you periodize?", etc..

3) you continually have avoided the questions.

That brings me to one conclusion:

You don't know how to set up a proper training program, you don't know how to manipulate the variables to get what you want or continue making improvements and you don't want to let us know that you don't know.

Help us help you.

Originally Posted by houtexflex80

Well if you have seriously tried everything maby you should work a little counterintuitively. Like lowering your caloric intake or limiting the amount of sleep you get (just a few nights) in an attempt to force your body to make better use of food and sleep. Or possibly your body may just need a break, from 3 to 6 weeks without lifting, when you DO pick the weights back up there will be a sense of newness that may shock your body into new growth.
Good Luck

Originally Posted by houtexflex80

Counterintuitive-adj. 1.Contrary to what intuition or common sense would indicate. Im not suggesting that he go without sleep for days, but it is fairly common knowlege that sleeping less than 8 hours slows one's metabolism. I used this technique (quite accidentally) to break a plateau and move up from 215 to 220. A 3-6 week rest may seem like a long time mentally (when lifting has become a habit but physically it is nessisary for everyone. 1 step back in order to take 2 steps forward. I'm not recommending he do anything like deadlift with straps... now that's silly.

Originally Posted by houtexflex80

The primise of this discussion is what to do when you've tried everything and cannot break a plateau. Of coarse proper nutrition and a solid 8 hours of sleep nightly should be the norm. But what do you do when your body has become accustomed to this ? Throw it a curve ball. Increasing caloric intake will speed up metabolism (if spread evenly thoughout the day), but reduced intake will send the body into "scavenger mode", forcing it to make use of every little morsel. Times of reduced intake and sleep will not be times of growth, but you can take advantage of "scavenger mode" by reverting to proper intake or sleep once your body has become more efficient. I wouldn't try doing both simultaniously as that would be too stressful.

Our bodies have a funny way of inverting our actions. EX1 : caffeine wakes you up initially, but in the long run it causes an increase in gaba production, resulting in energy inhibition. EX2: Testosterone injections resulting in decreased testicular test. production. EX3: Inadequate hydration resulting in water retention.

We all know that muscles adapt and become more efficient when stressed, this is also true for other bodily subsystems and the basis for my suggestions.

I usually take a month off every 6 months or so to allow my muscles, bones, and ligaments to recover and return to square one.This is based on the fact that a couch potato has more growth potential than a disiplined lifter who has gone many months without a break. The first week back results in nearly week long soreness for every muscle group. Though there is no question as to who is stronger, or more muscular (couch spud or lifter), but a break can help a lifter recoup and optimize growth potential. PWGriffin, your response indicates that you are waiting for serious injury, which is precisely what an extended break aims to prevent. But if a 2 week break works for you then I wish you the best of luck. Extended breaks do suck, sometimes it feels as if I'm shrinking but the scale and tape tell me otherwise.

Originally Posted by houtexflex80

Ohh well then pardon my input I didn't realize that we were running in circles
about whether or not mike is telling the truth. If a dude says he has lifted for 10 years then I'm pretty sure he knows the basics, I just wanted to throw some abstract ideas out there. BTW, caloric restriction OR less sleep,
(the OR implies one of the two). Square one- meaning a new starting point . Resting will not take you in the wrong direction, quitting will, but I'm just talking about a rest. Heavy resistence training initiates the process of strengthening the body, but that process is facilitated during rest, as I'm sure you know.

To the original poster:
Mike sorry for offering you advise, I was unaware that I was supposed to question your credibility. LIFT HEAVY EAT BIG SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP. Been there done that? LIFT HEAVY EAT BIG SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP, dizzy yet? Big up's for deciding not to juice.

"Also, he IS able to bulk, but he doesn't WANT to because he doesn't want the added FAT that comes with it." Exactly why I proposed a temporary caloric deficit, followed by proper intake. His options are: increase kcals, maintain kcals, or reduce kcals. Mike has rulled out option #1 so I offer a combination of the last 2.

1 week off per month or(<--check it out there's that word again) 3-6 weeks off per 6 months, "Same shit different toiliet."-HOVA

As far as this thread goes I'm out.

"When you argue with the village idiot the village only sees two idiots arguing"
-LAU TZU

Originally Posted by Ahsan

Stop complaining about your body structure.
I was 6'2" 110 lbs (I wasn't lean when I started) when I started & now I am 6'3" 170 lbs ( due to hard work). I have a lil' fat also cuz its natural due to such a huge bulk.