Recovery

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

About 6 weeks ago I went under the knife to fix a knee problem. I was not able to train for about 2 weeks. My eating habits although healthy during those two weeks I was not able to eat the same about of frequency that I normally do. I usually eat 7 times a day and while recovering I had about 4. Through the two weeks I lost about 7 pounds. From my pinching I calculated it as 3 pounds of water weight, 2 fat, 2 muscle. Anyway its been 3 weeks since ive started training again, and like predicted my strength is way down. At around almost 30 pounds lower on certain lifts. Anyway I thought no big deal it would come back quick. Well while ive gained back the bodyweight my strength is still way down. I know this is highly individual but how long will it be before my strength levels return?

Only a totally different issue has anybody tried sugar free Red Bull as a pre workout drink. ECA drives me nuts. If so has it been effective?

2

Matt, I have no idea, but have you considered radically changing your workout, just to shake things up a bit? If you want strength, I’d go with a good 5x5 strength program like Joel Marion’s Ripped, Rugged & Dense for a month or so.

3

Thanks for responding Terry. You may be on to something because since coming back to training after the two weeks off ive been doing considerable higher volume than I usually do (around 12 rep range), while I usually work in the 4-8 rep range. I have done the 5x5 program in the past so ill have to give to another go.

Thanks again

Matt