What Am I Doing Wrong?

K

KC5689

Cathlete
Hi Cathe,
I have a question. I've been doing the Gym style series for 5 weeks now (going into the 6th) and while I have been able to increase my weight amount for Legs and BS&B, I have not been able to go up in weights on the C&T video. In fact, some times it's as hard as when I started. I have been using 12 lbs for the press and flys and 8 lbs for triceps have not been able to go up, they feel as heavy as they did the first time doing the video. What am I doing wrong? I know that lately I have been more sleepy so I tried to get an extra 30 min. this morning but that didn't seem to help. Could it be my sleep? I try to eat healthy(most days) but I definitely could tighten up in that area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
HOw often are you doing each workout?
You may need more recovery for your upper body.
I suggest the following rotation with GS:
Day 1: one of the upper body workouts
Day 3: Lower body
Day 5: other upper body workout

This gives you more recovery times between upper body (especially important for the shoulders, I find)so the muscles have more time to repair and get stronger.

Try it for 3 weeks and see if it works.

(The extra sleepiness could also be a sign that you need more recovery, and your body's trying to get it. When I did a tough weight rotation, I needed a nap several times a week!)
 
Hi,
I do BS&B on Mon. then on Wed. I'll do C&T. Oh, also on Sat. I do MM. Do you think that's enough recovery time? What's funny is that for BS&B and MM I have been able to increase my lbs. for back (20lb dumbells!), biceps, and I'm going to go up on shoulders but chest and triceps are not getting easier (especially the drop-set, bench press and lying extensions).

I didn't link the sleepiness to needing more recovery.
 
Hi KC! It's hard to say exactly, but yes, lack of recovery time for the upper body could definitely be a factor here.

Do you always do BS&B before C&T during the week? If so, try doing C&T first.

You could also space the workouts apart. IE: Mon: C&T and then don't do BS&B until Thursday (if too sore, push it off to Friday). You can do GS Legs in between there.

Also, alternate doing MM every other week instead of weekly.

Example:

Mon: BS&B
Tues: cardio
Wed: GS LEGS
Thurs: C&T
Fri: cardio
Sat: off
Sun: MM (every other week)

Also, if 7 day feels like too much then can spread your workouts out over a 10 day period instead of weekly. No rule says it has to be 7 days.


Other factors to consider is that the sequencing and techniques used in C&T could be more demanding and exhausting you much faster than the BS&B workout.

You may not be drinking enough water and the exhaustion is linked to mild dehydration to the muscles.

Just to name a few things. Keep us posted!
 
Thank you so much for that info. I never thought of those suggestions. I will try changing my sequence as well as spacing my workouts out and make sure I get more water. I'll keep you posted.
KC
 
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