Why is it easier to lose strength than to gain it?

the_general64 · 06-07-2007, 02:02 PM

i stopped working out for about a month because of finals................when i started back up again all my lifts were down about 40lbs. i've been at it for about a two months and i am still not back to where i left off......

Samo · 06-08-2007, 01:59 AM

if you don't use it you lose it, unfortunatly........as for it not coming back as fast, it is an un-natural thing for your body to put on extra muscle it doesn't need so when it has no purpose it will shed it pretty quickly.....again, unfortunatly...

**IainDaniel** · 06-08-2007, 06:11 AM

Why is it easier to go downhill then uphill?

fufu · 06-08-2007, 07:29 AM

Because to lose strength you just do jack shit, and that is easy.

Triple Threat · 06-08-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Why is it easier to go downhill then uphill?

Gravity?

KelJu · 06-08-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Why is it easier to go downhill then uphill?

Lawl, I was thinking something similar. Why does work suck while sitting on the couch eating chips and watching the real world is easy? Its a dumb question that doesn't deserve an answer.

**CowPimp** · 06-08-2007, 09:12 AM

One requires you to push the limits of what your body is capable of handling. The other requires that you be a lazy bitch. Which one is easier for you to do?

Plateau_Max · 06-08-2007, 10:14 AM

I had 3 months of no lifting after I was in my car accident. Before the accident my usual bench averaged around 235 (for a set). It's been about 2 months now and I'm up to 195 as my heaviest set.

Honestly putting strength back is going to vary depending on how hard you're trying, how efficient you are at getting strength gains in the first place, your body type, etc. I mean for all you know it could be your diet not having the right kinds of food at the right times to give your body what it needs for better muscle repair and recovery... there could be a great deal of things.

Oh and fellas his question was why strength goes away so much quicker than it comes back, not why it's actually EASIER

He just used the wrong wording.

Mags · 06-11-2007, 07:05 AM

Is there any truth in your natural hormone levels becoming elevated when your lifestyle involves constantly lifting heavy weights, with them decreasing slightly when no longer training for longer periods of time?

It took me three months to get back to the lifts I was doing after a 5 month lay-off, but getting the size back took abit longer. Muscle memory is a good thing though.

**CowPimp** · 06-11-2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mags

Is there any truth in your natural hormone levels becoming elevated when your lifestyle involves constantly lifting heavy weights, with them decreasing slightly when no longer training for longer periods of time?

It took me three months to get back to the lifts I was doing after a 5 month lay-off, but getting the size back took abit longer. Muscle memory is a good thing though.

I wish I bookmarked it, and I could remember where I read it, but recently I came across something that stated those who lift weights regularly actually have lower resting testosterone levels. I also forget if it was total test or free test.

Samo · 06-12-2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

I wish I bookmarked it, and I could remember where I read it, but recently I came across something that stated those who lift weights regularly actually have lower resting testosterone levels. I also forget if it was total test or free test.

I am unclear if this is good or bad

Mags · 06-12-2007, 04:19 AM

I assumed our bodies were like a locomotive steam engine in the sense that it takes a while and alt of effort to get going, but when it's up to speed it runs as normal.

I thought this kind've applied to our own hormone production. I thought when returning to lifting after a few weeks, it's abit of struggle because our muscles have got used to resting (and maybe even lost a tiny amount of it) and our natural hormones were on the usual 'tick-over' etc, with levels rising slightly to accomodate the lifting and the stimulus the lifting creates etc.

I thought it was a mixture of muscle memory, actual growth, diet and hormone production that we have to wait to kick in that actually gets us back to the size and strength we were.

I hope this actually makes some sort of sense.

Is resting test bad then, I'm not too clear on what that means. I thought it was only bad if it lowered free test. As you can see, I'm not overly clear on that too.

06-07-2007, 02:02 PM	#1
the_general64 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 172	Why is it easier to lose strength than to gain it? BODYBUILDING SUPPLEMENTS High Quality Supplements For Bodybuilders and Athletes. www.ironmaglabs.com i stopped working out for about a month because of finals................when i started back up again all my lifts were down about 40lbs. i've been at it for about a two months and i am still not back to where i left off......

06-08-2007, 06:11 AM	#3
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,096	Why is it easier to go downhill then uphill?
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

06-08-2007, 07:29 AM	#4
fufu fiendish thingy Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 15,703 Photos: 4	Because to lose strength you just do jack shit, and that is easy.
	fufu's 1337 Journal Your diet will set you free.

06-08-2007, 09:12 AM	#7
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,400	One requires you to push the limits of what your body is capable of handling. The other requires that you be a lazy bitch. Which one is easier for you to do?
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

06-08-2007, 10:14 AM	#8
Plateau_Max I enjoy SkyDiving Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 865	I had 3 months of no lifting after I was in my car accident. Before the accident my usual bench averaged around 235 (for a set). It's been about 2 months now and I'm up to 195 as my heaviest set. Honestly putting strength back is going to vary depending on how hard you're trying, how efficient you are at getting strength gains in the first place, your body type, etc. I mean for all you know it could be your diet not having the right kinds of food at the right times to give your body what it needs for better muscle repair and recovery... there could be a great deal of things. Oh and fellas his question was why strength goes away so much quicker than it comes back, not why it's actually EASIER He just used the wrong wording.
	"Years of hard work for only a single moment of perfection is a worthy trade." - Myself

06-08-2007, 01:59 AM	#2
Samo lift,eat,rest,lift!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 117	if you don't use it you lose it, unfortunatly........as for it not coming back as fast, it is an un-natural thing for your body to put on extra muscle it doesn't need so when it has no purpose it will shed it pretty quickly.....again, unfortunatly...

06-11-2007, 07:05 AM	#9
Mags We ate the toys eddie! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: East London, UK Posts: 879 Photos: 8	Is there any truth in your natural hormone levels becoming elevated when your lifestyle involves constantly lifting heavy weights, with them decreasing slightly when no longer training for longer periods of time? It took me three months to get back to the lifts I was doing after a 5 month lay-off, but getting the size back took abit longer. Muscle memory is a good thing though.
	BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME. THE ONLY TIME SUCCESS COMES BEFORE WORK IS IN THE DICTIONARY. DO OR DO NOT - THERE IS NO TRY.

06-12-2007, 04:19 AM	#12
Mags We ate the toys eddie! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: East London, UK Posts: 879 Photos: 8	I assumed our bodies were like a locomotive steam engine in the sense that it takes a while and alt of effort to get going, but when it's up to speed it runs as normal. I thought this kind've applied to our own hormone production. I thought when returning to lifting after a few weeks, it's abit of struggle because our muscles have got used to resting (and maybe even lost a tiny amount of it) and our natural hormones were on the usual 'tick-over' etc, with levels rising slightly to accomodate the lifting and the stimulus the lifting creates etc. I thought it was a mixture of muscle memory, actual growth, diet and hormone production that we have to wait to kick in that actually gets us back to the size and strength we were. I hope this actually makes some sort of sense. Is resting test bad then, I'm not too clear on what that means. I thought it was only bad if it lowered free test. As you can see, I'm not overly clear on that too.
	BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME. THE ONLY TIME SUCCESS COMES BEFORE WORK IS IN THE DICTIONARY. DO OR DO NOT - THERE IS NO TRY.

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