It’s legit hard. The last time I got actually lean, I was miserable at the end. And I was still at least 3-4 weeks from thinking I could get near a stage.
I am truly impressed with @T3hPwnisher’s current condition for as sustainable as it seems to be.
Sorry for the derail!
We’re on the same page then!
There was definitely a point in my thirties when embracing the suck beyond a certain threshold actually made everything worse. And as I’ve gotten closer to 40, that threshold has gotten a little lower and a little lower.
All the tricks that used to work start to do the opposite. I’ve heard some professionals refer to this phenomenon where the harder you work out, and the more psychological stress you experience, the worse your body looks and feels.
Examples:
High intensity exercise now makes you inflamed, injured, and chubby. Dieting a certain way or fasting too much messes with your hormones and makes you thicker around the midsection. Lifting with heavier weight just hurts your joints and forces you to take more time off.
So, for women especially, as we age we have to be very careful and strategic.
That makes so much sense, it’s crazy. How often have we gone on vacation or something and (at least for me) eaten garbage, barely waddled all the way to the pool for our exercise, and drank everything in sight, to somehow look better halfway through? At least I’m pretty sure I look better when I’m drinking everything in sight…
CT (I think) talked about using how watery/ bloated you look as something of a cortisol indicator, and I think what you’re saying falls right in.
Oh is that the one made with chickpeas? We have leftovers in the fridge right now! I’m a baked potato fan. That’s actually my leanness carb because it creates the greatest feeling of satiation.
But if I’m letting loose, there are these lime-and-salt flavored chips from Siete that are pure crack. Highly recommend… on rare occasions if you’re a chip-overeater like me.
It’s possible that you don’t want to because your body is in a great place. Do you need to get even leaner than you already are?
Nothing you’ve ever posted was a derail! Keep chatting!
I think stage leanness is super overrated. But it seems like @T3hPwnisher is onto something with his carnivore/V-diet strategies. Because going low calorie always feels so much easier when most of your cals are coming from protein and fat. The combo is more satiating for a lot of people.
YES. It’s amazing how that happens. I think about that a lot!
Thank you for posting that. I think so often we lose balance. I know I am guilty of that! I would love to have fewer places that jiggle and muscle that shows no matter what. I could get those, but I have never found the dedication to get truly lean and jacked.
I adore lifting, but I also love food and of all kinds, and sometimes too much of it. I have a list of coffee shops and restaurants I have visited around the world. I once drove four hours each way because mine and my Hubby’s favorite doughnut place was opening for the season (also happens to be located in a place very dear to our hearts).
Sometimes I feel like I should be doing more to be lean, then I feel guilty and like I screwed up eating treats because they are “bad”.
But right now, I feel super healthy. My body can physically do almost anything I demand of it. I feel like I am in a good balance. I am working on things in life for my future that requires giving up some gym time, and demands mental acuity. I keep thinking I need to add a few more days of being in the gym, but then I ask myself, “why?” I haven’t come up with an answer, so I figure this is a period of the gym not being my main thing. It has been hard to accept that.
Seconded! Always appreciate the opportunity to look in the mirror and ramble.
Thanks for reading it! And we absolutely do.
I wonder if all those videos floating around of rude people in gyms is just another demonstration (though different from ours) of people losing balance. They’ve forgotten that relationships and people matter more than looking cool in their gym selfie videos. Weirdos. Kidding kidding! (but kinda not.)
It sounds like you have your fitness in perfect order. I don’t think placing it as the number one priority would increase your success or life satisfaction one iota, and in fact, it may do the opposite. You’re in balance!
Aw shucks. Ya’ll made my day.
I’m not 100% sure. I know there’s one specifically made from chickpeas, and this is not that. The box is yellow and just says “protein” on it.
I’m down with baked potatoes, but they speak to my irish ancestors and i go on a binge of them so i can’t be trusted.
It’s absolutely possible. I’ve never looked like this before and frankly the level of attention I’ve been getting from it is offputting. There was a girl making repeated eye contact with me at the gym yesterday… this wasn’t really unusual. But when her boyfriend came over and kissed her, she was staring me in my eyeballs. LA girls are different (read: not to be trusted).
Do i want to get leaner? Yeah, a bit. I want brachialis separation and abs at every angle. Idk if i can maintain this as a former fat boy, but i have a theory that the longer fat is on your body - the harder it is to lose… well this fat is pretty well aged and id like to see it gone. I’m fully aware this is me just projecting my fear of being fat/Body Dysmorphia, but I’m not looking for stage lean - just that one picture i can get poster sized and framed lol.
Funny you say this, i had a coworker tell me i looked “refreshed” the other day after a week and a half of actually getting 6-7 hours sleep, compared to my usual 4-5 hours. I feel a lot healthier too, to be totally honest.
Maybe the harder fat is to lose, the longer we keep it on our bodies? 
I’ll be on the lookout for it now.
WHOA. You’re the first person I’ve met who could binge baked potatoes. There’s some research showing that they’re the best “starch” for fat loss: Eat More Potatoes, Get Ripped
But knowing yourself is key. So if they’re not the best for you, then you’re ahead of the game with that awareness.
Ha! This made me chuckle.
It also makes me wonder if you might do well to stay at this level of leanness for a while before inching any deeper into a deficit. This is a great place to be and if you can make it a set point, you win long-term.
It wouldn’t hurt to say something. “Do I have a booger hanging out?” is a good starting point in my opinion.
This may not be true for you, but when pushing my body toward an extreme, things get risky. I get sick or injured, then end up worse off when I have to take time off from working out. If you’re at a point that’s sustainable, and you’re getting good sleep, you’re good!
It’s gotta be both, right? Like a catch-22.
LOL mostly only judgmental about myself but also good at holding people to a standard I know they can, and want to achieve.
Throwing these two pics up here. I probably looked better in my late 20’s but dont have any old prints sitting around to look at.
These 2 photo’s are from this year, and right now I am really happy with how I look and how strong I am. 49 next week and feeling pretty darn good.
Training is simple block periodisation with conditioning and strongman stuff thrown in on the other days for fun. I go to the gym 3 days a week, good old squat day, deadlift day and bench day. On the other days I do a mixture of body weight stuff like burpees, vest walks, kettlebell complexes, etc and strongman stuff like farmers walks, sandbags, log press, carrying and loading.
I always loved strongman growing up but got enticed into bodybuilding training with the dreams of big arms, LOL. But now I am finally doing the training I love and what makes me feel good.
Dude, you’re huge. I’ve never seen pictures of you flexing.
Thanks so much for giving this thought!
I think this is a good course of action. Silence is usually golden 
That sounds…… uhhhhh……
Regarding effusive praise, I don’t remember the exact paper, but there’s some evidence that giving, whether praise, gifts or charity, gives utility to the giver for intrinsic (warm glow, self signalling) and extrinsic (relationship building, public reputation). Some ppl feel that more than others
Awe shucks, thankyou. I don’t flex often but sometimes the light and the pump is just right. LOL
You look amazing!
Hyooge! Why on earth don’t you have your real photo as your avatar?
You should be. Congrats on the hard work!
The bodybuilding paid off, but glad to hear you’re able to go back to doing what you enjoy the most. Strongman seems like the most fun out of all the weight training styles. The loaded carries, the atlas stones, etc. Have you ever competed in SM? The whole community seems really down to earth and fun.
You’re wise beyond your years. This whole convo kinda reminds me of a quote:
I’m an absolute fool in the mornings. Everything is exciting! Can’t stop talking!
(Pray for my poor husband.)
This has to be true. And I’m glad it is because if people are biologically rewarded (via dopamine, oxytocin, or serotonin) to be generous of spirit we’ll live in a much better world.
Thanks so much for the sweet compliment!
