Bored of weightlifting now

Scamd83

Been doing this since 2012, utterly bored of it. Causing more pain and tiredness than strength or muscle. Admittedly I've been cutting for most of that time, but I haven't got anything out of lifting weights that has made it worthwhile. Every plan I try I get bored of very quickly. And now I'm not sure what to do anymore. I want to want to lift weights, but at about 17-20% bodyfat I still need to cut further and further, so cannot see at what point I'm going to be able to get anything useful out of weights. And yes, maintains lean mass, etc. But this doesn't stop me being completely bored and dejected about it. Getting weaker is not a great motivator.

StealthHealth

How long have you been at 17-20% BF?

StealthHealth

If you have been at that point for months, I would consider sticking with weights but eating at/around maintenance then ramping up slightly.

I know that conventional wisdom is that you cut to low BF prior to bulk but, if you have been stuck for a while, that doesn't seem to be a viable option for you (assuming accurate logging/dietary adherence).

jemhh

You are 5'4" and 146 pounds per your post yesterday. You've been advised to eat more and/or seek therapy. You are getting weaker because you aren't fueling yourself properly. @crazyravr , who in the past seemed to struggle with the idea of eating more even suggested that you eat more.

reisbaron

You cannot gain muscle while cutting. The most you can hope for is maintaining. If you've been cutting that long you are in desperate need of either a diet break at maintenance cals for a month or so or an all-out bulk for 2-3 months. Play the long game. Just because your goals involve lower fat percentage, if muscle gain will get you there quicker (which it will) you need to get out of a deficit for a while to let your body grow. Leaning out will come in time, but cutting and training in hopes of gaining muscle will only result in posts like this.

Lots of good information in this thread.

Change is good. Best of luck!

jacklifts

I was always bored until I found deadlifts.
If you're bored with lifting, just quit lifting, find something else you find interesting or fun.

jmule24

jacklifts wrote: »

I was always bored until I found deadlifts.
If you're bored with lifting, just quit lifting, find something else you find interesting or fun.

^^^ this ^^^

Scamd83

@StealthHealth Since about October/November 2013 when I did a brief bulk. Mind this isn't an accurate figure, it's guess work based on those photos someone sometimes post showing various people of differing percentages.

@jemhh I've just always based what I know on what gets repeated most often on the internet. Which may not always be wise, but I think in most cases I've managed to dispel silly myths such as 'starvation mode' because of this. But the one thing I've never been able to dispel is the need to be at a lower body fat percentage than I currently am before you can 'bulk' or you'll end up putting muscle on with too much fat on top of that and look worse than ever. I've read a lot of things about this where the author says they looked fat after putting muscle on because they never lost enough fat and now they have to cut again but it's going to take longer than ever.

@reisbaron Is this what you did?

@jacklifts I do deadlifts, it's one of the few things I've made some form of progress on in terms of form and weight lifted. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a mental barrier like this and if they've changed things up in anyway.

RoxieDawn

jemhh wrote: »

You are 5'4" and 146 pounds per your post yesterday. You've been advised to eat more and/or seek therapy. You are getting weaker because you aren't fueling yourself properly. @crazyravr , who in the past seemed to struggle with the idea of eating more even suggested that you eat more.

OP.... so today, you are now just bored of it all and completely dejected, three days later? Sigh.....

toughmudderMN

You have been lifting for roughly 4 years at a deficit and you haven't hit your goals of cutting down? Sounds like you need to get a plan ans stick with it. If you want to cut then cut. If you want to get stronger and build muscle then EAT and lift. You have been spinning your wheels for 4 years man.

jemhh

Scamd83 wrote: »

@StealthHealth Since about October/November 2013 when I did a brief bulk. Mind this isn't an accurate figure, it's guess work based on those photos someone sometimes post showing various people of differing percentages.

@jemhh I've just always based what I know on what gets repeated most often on the internet. Which may not always be wise, but I think in most cases I've managed to dispel silly myths such as 'starvation mode' because of this. But the one thing I've never been able to dispel is the need to be at a lower body fat percentage than I currently am before you can 'bulk' or you'll end up putting muscle on with too much fat on top of that and look worse than ever. I've read a lot of things about this where the author says they looked fat after putting muscle on because they never lost enough fat and now they have to cut again but it's going to take longer than ever.

@reisbaron Is this what you did?

@jacklifts I do deadlifts, it's one of the few things I've made some form of progress on in terms of form and weight lifted. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a mental barrier like this and if they've changed things up in anyway.

I'm not telling you to bulk. I'm telling you to eat at maintenance. You are an active guy in his early 30s. Your maintenance calories should be higher than 2150. I would suggest working up in calories bit by bit to find your actual maintenance level and then just keep lifting. You are in a good spot for recomping. I don't think your mind is in a good place for bulking. And who knows if your body is. Eat more and do a beginner's program. Yesterday you said you started your cut lifting 22kg dumbbells and are down to 18kg and then you said you're doing an intermediate lifting program. I am the furthest thing from a weight snob but I'm going to go ahead and say that you are not ready for intermediate programs. Build your strength. And eat properly. And the muscles will come.

reisbaron

Before I even knew what cutting and bulking were I started Crossfit and Paleo. Dumped 60# of fat and gained 25# of muscle. Dumping the second 60# is far more difficult, so I researched and found a lot of examples of success with bulking and cutting using IIFYM, so I'm doing that now, and I'm down 12# in this phase. I started at 335# bw, so basically anything works for fat loss at that point. The strength gains came quickly because I didn't have a lifting background. But my recent 4 years are far different than yours in the results category. I went from no lifting to squatting 1x405, 20x315, deadlifting 475, front squatting 375, strict pressing 205, etc. Find a program that yields results and stick to it. Best of luck!

Scamd83

@jemhh @reisbaron Fair bit to think about here, thanks for the advice. Do either of you think the beginner programme on this is worthwhile? http://anthonymychal.com/2012/02/solutions-for-the-skinny-fat-ectomorph-part-iii-programming-and-training/ The ectomorph term means nothing to me by the way, I paid no attention to that. I just wanted a programme that wasn't stronglifts or starting strength because I've given those a try and find being able to use the squat rack, deadlift rack and bench press at my gym in the same session is unlikely.

reisbaron

It's always tough when equipment limitations guide your training. But that said the family of exercises this program uses is great, and as long as you work out with proper form and significant intensity it *will* work as long as your diet is not limiting your success.

Best of luck!

jemhh

Scamd83 wrote: »

@jemhh @reisbaron Fair bit to think about here, thanks for the advice. Do either of you think the beginner programme on this is worthwhile? http://anthonymychal.com/2012/02/solutions-for-the-skinny-fat-ectomorph-part-iii-programming-and-training/ The ectomorph term means nothing to me by the way, I paid no attention to that. I just wanted a programme that wasn't stronglifts or starting strength because I've given those a try and find being able to use the squat rack, deadlift rack and bench press at my gym in the same session is unlikely.

IMO it's fine. You may also want to check out the dumbbell version of Fierce 5, so that you have alternative programming if/when you can't get to the right equipment. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=1266579671#post1266579671

jemhh

crazyravr wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

You are 5'4" and 146 pounds per your post yesterday. You've been advised to eat more and/or seek therapy. You are getting weaker because you aren't fueling yourself properly. @crazyravr , who in the past seemed to struggle with the idea of eating more even suggested that you eat more.

Yeap so true. Believe it or not I eat 1000cal more than I used and not only do I feel great but also gained musle, gained my strength back and have not gained a single inch around my waist line. Thanx to SL5x5 and most of all dialing in my diet to a point. I still struggle with carbs, need to eat more, but other then that all is well. I think this weekend I will update my original post with new pics, stats etc.

I'm really happy to see how you've been progressing, btw. Good work!

DopeItUp

toughmudderMN wrote: »

You have been lifting for roughly 4 years at a deficit and you haven't hit your goals of cutting down? Sounds like you need to get a plan ans stick with it. If you want to cut then cut. If you want to get stronger and build muscle then EAT and lift. You have been spinning your wheels for 4 years man.

http://www.leangains.com/2011/09/fuckarounditis.html

sijomial

"Bored of weightlifting now"

Keep at it - the first 40 years are the worst....

More seriously - If you are losing strength then you are either in desperate need of a deload or more likely you need a diet break by maintaining for a while.

Wheelhouse15

sijomial wrote: »

"Bored of weightlifting now"

Keep at it - the first 40 years are the worst....

More seriously - If you are losing strength then you are either in desperate need of a deload or more likely you need a diet break by maintaining for a while.

The loss of strength and boredom are a signal of overtraining or similar issue. Overtraining tends to show up first mentally then physcially.

OP, you need to look at a rest and refeed and I would imagine if you went to the doctor you would be showing physcial signs of stress and exhaution such as elevated cortisol levels. Time to take a breather and change things up. Find something a little less taxing and leave the weights alone for a few weeks and see how it goes.

shor0814

Scamd83 wrote: »

@jemhh @reisbaron Fair bit to think about here, thanks for the advice. Do either of you think the beginner programme on this is worthwhile? http://anthonymychal.com/2012/02/solutions-for-the-skinny-fat-ectomorph-part-iii-programming-and-training/ The ectomorph term means nothing to me by the way, I paid no attention to that. I just wanted a programme that wasn't stronglifts or starting strength because I've given those a try and find being able to use the squat rack, deadlift rack and bench press at my gym in the same session is unlikely.

What is your current workout?

During this 4 year cut how has your body changed, how much weight have you lost and what trends have you seen? Have you lost a lot of weight in that 4 years and now struggling for the last few or have you been on a 4 year cut to drop 10 lbs?

Scamd83

@reisbaron Thanks, think only thing I struggle on form with is standing OHP as my back is all over the place. Guess I need to sit down for that one until I'm stronger.

@jemhh Thanks, handy to have a backup plan.

@DopeItUp Actually had a read of that the other week as I've read a bit of Berkhan's stuff.

@Wheelhouse15 That seems about right, mind not been in it for a while and eventually followed by the rest of me.

@shor0814 It's the intermediate workout on that link. I went from being obese to skinny fat to putting on some muscle and largely just staying there. I lost five stone between March and November 2015 then a bit more to go below 10 stone. A little bit of weight crept back on and then added some muscle to get to about 10 and a half stone. Never been satisfied with how I look still but I guess I being hungrier than I had been before made it difficult to lose more weight. Trends I guess would be I could eat so little during 2012 and do so much cardio but now I cannot eat as little as I did back then and I'm only just getting back into cardio, and even then it's a forced thing rather than something I want to do. Not just for weight loss reasons but because I want to be stay fit and be able to run if required.

drachfit

if you want to get lean, get lean. if what you really want is to be lean, then being fat sucks even if you are getting stronger. it sucks watching your strength go down but it gives you time to work on other stuff in the gym. for example when losing weight I focus on really perfect technique and adding in more bodyweight exercises (pull-ups, dips) as supplements. you need the technique practice since you won't be able to "muscle" your way out of bad form any more. and lower bodyweight means your pullups/dips/core work etc will increase more easily which is encouraging.

lifting is boring? idk, there is always something to improve upon. whether its technique, conditioning, mental fortitude, proper planning, better nutrition. i've been doing basically the same 7 lifts (OHP, squat, dead, bench, pull-ups, dips, rows) for years and there are still many more years to explore the depth of these movements.

find some powerlifters to hang out with. heavy weight demands excellent technique. i've seen some apparently skinny guys put up some impressive numbers because their form is dialed in. something to focus on while cutting.

shor0814

Scamd83 wrote: »

@reisbaron Thanks, think only thing I struggle on form with is standing OHP as my back is all over the place. Guess I need to sit down for that one until I'm stronger.

@jemhh Thanks, handy to have a backup plan.

@DopeItUp Actually had a read of that the other week as I've read a bit of Berkhan's stuff.

@Wheelhouse15 That seems about right, mind not been in it for a while and eventually followed by the rest of me.

@shor0814 It's the intermediate workout on that link. I went from being obese to skinny fat to putting on some muscle and largely just staying there. I lost five stone between March and November 2015 then a bit more to go below 10 stone. A little bit of weight crept back on and then added some muscle to get to about 10 and a half stone. Never been satisfied with how I look still but I guess I being hungrier than I had been before made it difficult to lose more weight. Trends I guess would be I could eat so little during 2012 and do so much cardio but now I cannot eat as little as I did back then and I'm only just getting back into cardio, and even then it's a forced thing rather than something I want to do. Not just for weight loss reasons but because I want to be stay fit and be able to run if required.

Misunderstood and though that was the program you were looking at for the future.

My take on it? The author's goal is to get big, it is designed for muscle building with 8-12 reps of heavy weight. You are on a cut and won't gain muscle to a significant extent. Skip it if you aren't trying to gain muscle mass.

Your complaint is loss of strength so move to a strength workout at just below maintenance, measure your food and focus on strength. Take SS or SL and spread it over a longer period so you can get access to the equipment, or try a 5/3/1 style workout.

Regardless of what you pick you won't succeed on a deep deficit so fuel properly at just 5-10% below maintenance and lift. Weigh your food, weigh yourself and adjust after a couple weeks.