need help...suffering in the gym

**musclestack** · 06-20-2011, 11:57 AM

I'm not quite sure where to put this, so I opted for the lounge. My strength has really been suffering in the gym the past week and a half. I've been in a huge calorie surplus for about 4 months now and, up until recently, have been making awesome gains (naturally). The absolute ONLY thing that has changed about my diet is that I cut out almost all salt. I used to have it with 5 of my 7 meals (I know, bad), and now I'm down to using it with 2 meals; I replaced it in the other meals with spices. I've also noticed that I've lost about 3 pounds since then also (water weight). Could it be possible that the loss of water weight is making me weaker in the gym??? I lost one rep on my bench last week and a few reps on my bent over rows today. Could it be possible? Like, for example, when you kickstart a cycle with dbol or drol (which is mostly water weight also) and get a huge strength increase along with the water weight???

Help me out here, guys........I'm losing motivation in the gym. It's one thing to plateau, but I'm actually going backwards!! I'm 5'9", 185 lbs, around 15%bf (started at 165lbs 4 months ago). Up until last week, I was putting on at least 1 rep on all my main lifts per week. Health wise, I feel about the same as always (not any more tired than usual; not sick). I also had a light week a few weeks ago to 'deload'.

NOTE: I didn't check the scale until AFTER I noticed that I was weaker for all those who feel this may be psychological.

**musclestack** · 06-20-2011, 11:59 AM

After reading through this post again, I realize that this probably should've gone in the diet section. If there are no responses, I will repost there.

**Standby** · 06-20-2011, 12:07 PM

maybe your just having a bad week. how much water are you drinking?

**Twist** · 06-20-2011, 12:13 PM

Add back in the salt and see what happens. Muscle is mostly water so I guess its possible. Never heard that before. But if you look better without the bloat then who gives a shit about 1 rep. Not to mention this just kinda happens naturally sometimes. Don't sweat it bro.

**auslifta** · 06-20-2011, 12:14 PM

Motivation needs to come from yourself. Thats the best motivation. Have you been sleeping ok? Any stress that may be having an effect on your state of mind? Sometimes the best of us have an off week, just keep going and you should come through unscathed. Write your plan out and just follow it, motivation will come back once you start PB'ing again.

**stpete** · 06-20-2011, 12:22 PM

1 rep here and there is nothing to get worried about. I know you said that you feel fine, but when was the last time you took a good break from the gym? Like 7-10 days? Proper rest is underrated.

**musclestack** · 06-20-2011, 01:34 PM

Yea, maybe I'm worrying too much about it. It's just that I had such great momentum behind me, and I want to keep going. I have a goal set by the end of the year as far as my strength and size go, and little set backs like this are very troublesome.

Twist, you think it's actually possible? Anyone else have any info on a correlation between strength and water weight???

Let me ask a different, but related, question: Have any of you noticed a slight loss of strength immediately after discontinuing the use of creatine? Possibly from the loss of water weight??

**gixxerboy1** · 06-20-2011, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by stpete

1 rep here and there is nothing to get worried about. I know you said that you feel fine, but when was the last time you took a good break from the gym? Like 7-10 days? Proper rest is underrated.

best advice here

**lifter65** · 06-20-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by stpete

1 rep here and there is nothing to get worried about. I know you said that you feel fine, but when was the last time you took a good break from the gym? Like 7-10 days? Proper rest is underrated.

agree 100%, bad weeks happen to all of us

**Panzerfaust** · 06-20-2011, 07:52 PM

So do you really expect to go up in weight every single week? If that was the case you'd be lifting 1,000lbs before long. It just doesn't work that way, do what you can and don't sweat it. There is always days where you simply won't "perform" or get that extra rep. Like I said, don't worry about it.

**lovbyts** · 06-21-2011, 02:42 AM

agreed, every now and again you need to take a good week off, NO lifting but still proper diet. You need to give your total body time to recover once in a while. Even if you are doing Push Pull or one body part your other body parts are still involved to a point especially your core. Most people find that after a week or 10 days off they come back stronger and more energized.

BTW it's never a good idea to cut something out 100% when your body is use to having it frequently or as you are finding out even if it's bad for you your body may respond negatively because it use to it. Add some salt back in and taper off. What I did is I dont add salt to anything I eat. There is enough salt already in most spices and any pre made foods..

**musclestack** · 06-21-2011, 11:34 AM

Okay, now I'm upset. I had to bump this back to the top for some more input from you guys.

Had chest day again today, and I lost ANOTHER rep!! Ever since last Tuesday (chest day), I've been taking it easy in the gym. Actually, Wednesday-Sunday I didn't even go to the gym and yesterday was a light back workout, so I know I'm rested. I don't feel sick or any more tired than usual. The one thing I will say is that my joints really hurt, even when I'm not training, and ALL of this happened after I cut my salt intake to less than 1/3 of what is was a couple weeks ago. That is the absolutely only thing that I've changed.

I found this article online and would like you guys to just read through it and tell me what you think; it's a short read. I'm personally leaning towards taking Twist's advice and adding back in the salt just to see what happens. I would appreciate you guys' thoughts on this:

http://chemo.net/sodium-.htm

**Standby** · 06-21-2011, 12:42 PM

add your salt back in and see what happens. i think your just mind fvcking yourself.

**Panzerfaust** · 06-21-2011, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Standby

add your salt back in and see what happens. i think your just mind fvcking yourself.

Bingo!

BG · 06-21-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by stpete

when was the last time you took a good break from the gym? Like 7-10 days? Proper rest is underrated.

I couldnt agree more !!! Sometimes for a month, each week I will just skip one body part to give it a rest. This enables you to still stay on track (sometimes if i miss a week it turns into 2 then 3 REAL easy !!) but get a well over due break. Say you do Mon Chest/tri's, Tues Back Bi's then friday shoulders/legs, first week i would skip Mondays work out , then the next week tuesday, ect, ect.

No as far as the OG question, I would cut back the carbs a little, clean up the diet, if I eat in a surplus for two long I get lethargic.

**Noles12** · 06-21-2011, 03:28 PM

As said rest is underrated. When i hit plateaus i will take a week off. I come back rested and feel much better.

If that doesnt help i really think its due to something such as the change in your diet or maybe another factor. Has your sleeping changed lately?