I’d like to start a dicussion on the “newbie effect”. What the hell is it and why can’t I recreate it? When I first started lifting I had no idea what I was doing and grew like a weed. Had stretch marks on my arms and doubled my bench in just a couple of months. Now I eat better, train better, and sleep more and can’t gain for shit!
It’s the law of diminishing returns – the closer you get to your potential, the slower the gains will come. If you want to recreate the “newbie effect,” take 6 months off, then start lifting again. Actually, the real “newbie effect” that most people refer to is the neuro-muscular adaptation to the movements, being uncoordinated, but then getting the “groove”. Gains in apparent strength will occur.