Does your boyfriend bleed out of his penis? No? Then he can’t tell you whether or not you should deload. Deloading around your period seems like a good idea if you need it.
And this past week, I’ve felt the effects of being physically drained AND having my period, and it was not fun. I wouldn’t advise training through that.
You’ve been sounding kinda bummed in your workouts lately so I think you should take one.
It’s hard to know when to push and when to rest. But there is no risk to resting–a little extra deload isn’t going to hurt you. Overtraining will set you back more. No reason to risk that. Time is on your side.
That “no deloading” thing can work for young-ish males (especially on the right diet) and depends on the program as well… But I’ve never met a female trainee who could go heavy all out all the time, even on a low-volume routine, and make consistent progress.
I agree with all that’s been said here, and I also can’t deny the signals of my body. He can be really persuasive though. About the no deloading, he claims that since I’m smaller than him, I can handle more volume and should do more volume and recover even more quickly. I understand why this would apply to two male trainees, one much smaller and moving less weight than the other. I am not sure that the same model applies when comparing a male and a female trainee, considering the huge difference in hormonal profile. I do think it can get to be a little psychologically damaging to me when I don’t deload because I end up setting myself up for failure and then disappointing myself. I just still cannot get him to admit that I ever need to deload, and then I end up with hurt feelings because if I do deload he tends to imply I’m not working as hard as I can/should. I don’t want to injure myself and I don’t want to end up getting burnt out and making no progress, but I’m prideful and I don’t like being accused of slacking. I know I should just ignore him and do my thing, but I really wish there were some way to convince him my body needs to deload even if he feels his doesn’t.
I know you probably love and respect your boyfriend and all that but obviously he doesn’t have a clue. There is no research that says that you should be doing more volume and not need breaks, especially on your period. Actually, the research is the opposite.
A) You are female, you are producing 1/10 the amount of test that he is naturally, anyone who trains female athletes knows the general rule is LESS volume and MORE frequency
B) By strength standards http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.htm you ARE advanced and as an advanced lifter will need more rest
C) Countless studies have shown the effects that exercise has on the reproductive cycle and the inverse - effects the reproductive cycle has on exercise. It’s pretty easy to find this research if you’d like to know more. From a real world standpoint, female athletes in the weight room are generally given some slack on their periods if they need it. It happens in every collegiate S&C program in the country.
So basically I’m saying I train athletes for a living and that shit he’s telling you is absolutely wrong. If you need to back off do it. A college strength coach wouldn’t make you feel bad about it and neither should your boyfriend.
Thanks for the reality check Bobbi. I don’t think his intentions are malicious, but he can be really, ah intense. He wants to help cultivate my success by pushing me as hard as possible, and he thinks that sometimes he needs to go the tough love route and push me hardest on the days I seem unmotivated. He’s learning though, that sometimes what appears to be a lack of motivation is really just a legitimate need to take it a little easier.
Anyway, today I went in and stated matter-of-fact that I was going to do dumbbell bench and he didn’t give me any lip at all. Later on he poked some fun but it didn’t really bug me and he backed off when I didn’t react. For the most part my boyfriend is a really understanding guy, I just think he thinks men and women should train exactly the same and he’s beginning to learn that there are some differences.
Dumbbell bench
40x8x5
Chest iso thing
12x6
Incline flies
15x12x3
Skull crushers
30x12x3
Barbell curls
50x8x3
hammer curls
15x15x3
Then I used the cambered bar to really streeeetch my chest for 10x3. Feels great. I deem today a success.
Ugh I am so ready for the semester to be over. I keep almost losing and forgetting my shit.
Squats
barx10
115x8
135x6
185x3x2
205x3
210x2x5
210x4
135x20 or 21. Lost count red face veins popping out lol last rep I paused at the bottom for a second because I was so tired.
Good mornings
barx10
65x10
85x5
95x5
100x5
105x5
hip thrusts:
165x10
Glute bridges
205x8x5-used the short bar, I think this helped maybe. Someone got really excited about these today. Told me he’s been body building for years and never seen someone load glute bridges like that and he can’t wait to try em. I still feel like such an ass when I do these because they are so loud and I am aggressively humping the air.
[quote]Nikki9591 wrote:
Aww I understand him just wanting to push you. It’s nice to have that support.
I’d rather a guy think that men and women can train the same than the opposite. Ugh, I hate the “women can’t train like men” mentality
HIGH REP SQUATS FTW![/quote]
Lol, yeah, him thinking we should train the same, hey that’s great, I can work with that, and in a different situation, it may be more accurate. We’re both pretty young, so I’m sure he will figure out the subtle differences as we go. I just hate to be all like “HEY IM ON MY PERIOD BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME SQUAT 12 LBS” month after month. Really I don’t have anything to complain about because he’s great, he just requires me to be very explicit at times.
[quote]Nikki9591 wrote:
Aww I understand him just wanting to push you. It’s nice to have that support.
I’d rather a guy think that men and women can train the same than the opposite. Ugh, I hate the “women can’t train like men” mentality
HIGH REP SQUATS FTW![/quote]
Lol, yeah, him thinking we should train the same, hey that’s great, I can work with that, and in a different situation, it may be more accurate. We’re both pretty young, so I’m sure he will figure out the subtle differences as we go. I just hate to be all like “HEY IM ON MY PERIOD BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME SQUAT 12 LBS” month after month. Really I don’t have anything to complain about because he’s great, he just requires me to be very explicit at times.[/quote]
If that’s as far as disagreements go, then that’s a pretty good relationship.
SOmetimes people who love you the most are the most annoying. I berate my husband about icing this or that, foam rolling, stretching, resting. He teases me about not working out hard enough
and listening to bad music when I do.
Love, honor and nag. I think that was our vows. Okay maybe not. But I know there was no promise to obey. Keep that sucker out!
Well you could have someone who does not workout at all or think that lifting is something that he needs to do. That is my guy, he just doesn’t do anything with iron, bw or otherwise. So there is that.
Sounds like you will get it wrung out though, just keep your head above water do what you know YOU need to do and just be happy with that. You do great work!!!
[quote]owlie wrote:
Thanks for the reality check Bobbi. I don’t think his intentions are malicious, but he can be really, ah intense. He wants to help cultivate my success by pushing me as hard as possible, and he thinks that sometimes he needs to go the tough love route and push me hardest on the days I seem unmotivated. He’s learning though, that sometimes what appears to be a lack of motivation is really just a legitimate need to take it a little easier.
Anyway, today I went in and stated matter-of-fact that I was going to do dumbbell bench and he didn’t give me any lip at all. Later on he poked some fun but it didn’t really bug me and he backed off when I didn’t react. For the most part my boyfriend is a really understanding guy, I just think he thinks men and women should train exactly the same and he’s beginning to learn that there are some differences.
Dumbbell bench
40x8x5
Chest iso thing
12x6
Incline flies
15x12x3
Skull crushers
30x12x3
Barbell curls
50x8x3
hammer curls
15x15x3
Then I used the cambered bar to really streeeetch my chest for 10x3. Feels great. I deem today a success.[/quote]
I’m a bit late to this particular party. If you are tired, rest and deload. I can’t comment on anything from a male/female perspective but I do know that your body tells you what it needs. For instance, last night I was heavy benching and wasn’t feeling it at all and missed a few. I packed it in and did some light stuff. I later fell asleep on the sofa at 9:30 which is unusual. Had I persisted pushing heavy, I would have risked an injury.
From what I’ve read of your training log, you don’t seem to dog it or go easy on yourself. Therefore, if you think you need a deload, you need a deload.
seated dumbbell press
40x7-was going for ten but I moved my feet after 7 and the chair I was sitting on moved back abruptly and I freaked out
40x10-got it
35x12x2
30x16
Lateral raises
15x12x3
Front raises
15x12x5
rear delt fly machine thinger
12x3
Happy Thanksgiving! Two years ago I was on a vegan diet for Thanksgiving so I didn’t eat, like, any of the offerings. Last year I had been dieting strictly with very little delicious food leading up to Thanksgiving so I went berserk and stuffed myself. This year I got it just right with my portions and stuff. Satisfied but not stuffed.
