Struggling to understand why

I feel you. I've never been really strong though. On good days, I can bench the bar

In high school, you weren't just lifting them, they were actively helping you.

Yes, you need to give your muscles a rest day. Strength happens when they recover. It's not that you wear them out, it's that they need time to heal and store up energy so that you can continue making strength gains.

I feel you. I've never been really strong though. On good days, I can bench the bar

In high school, you weren't just lifting them, they were actively helping you.

Yes, you need to give your muscles a rest day. Strength happens when they recover. It's not that you wear them out, it's that they need time to heal and store up energy so that you can continue making strength gains.

What she said. And what he said. I was complaining about my crappy 20 lb curls, while my lower body was progressing for close to a year. Someone suggested that I go heavier for my first set, then if I can't get all the reps in the second set, lower the weight. That week I got all 3x8. It might have just been a mind thing, because now I'm progressing. Are you doing full body 2x a week? It could be you're not getting enough calories. Don't take my word for that last one, just a thought.

Are you following a plan that has you lifting progressively? Are you pushing yourself?

I don't ask that with any kind of attitude, I ask because I was struggling with the same issue of not seeming to progress and my problem was, I was slacking. I got a couple of training sessions because I wanted to make sure my form was good and the trainer had to adjust very little because apparently I was doing it right. Since I didn't need much work she decided we should find my one rep max for the exercises I'd asked for help with. I found that I could do SO much more than I thought I could!

For my squats I was only doing 5 reps of 115 but we found my 1RM was 175!
Deadlifts I was doing 105 but my 1RM was 200!
Bench Press I was doing 65 and my 1RM was 135!
OH Press I was at 65 and my 1RM was 100!

All of these I only do 5 sets of 5 reps so my sets were definitely not where they could have been. After my PT sessions I added weight and push myself harder and have seen so much more progress since doing so.

I don't compare to other people in the gym, mostly because they're all young guys and there really isn't a way to compare. I could be mom to most of them, lol. But I compare myself to me with every workout. I keep a journal with what I've lifted and make notes about weight, form or whatever catches my attention that time so next time I know what I might need to adjust.

Do not compare yourself to anyone or anything. You are where you are, and that's all there is to it. It's not good or bad, it doesn't matter. It just is what it is. Just start now and move forward.

this.

I struggle with it sometimes too- there is a girl who claims to have been only lifting for maybe 9-12 months- but she's out squatting me by almost 75 pounds and she's easily 15 pounds lighter than me- but not much shorter.

it's infuriating. But I have goals- and me competing with her won't get me there- it'll only get me hurt.

So I stay the course on the program I have selected... and push through. just worrying more about doing every lift efficiently with form and reasonable speed.

It happens to EVERYONE and it's a coping mechanism to not feel so bad or project- it's normal- but move past it- you already know you NEED to show up and lift for you- so just do that- it'll take some time- but there will ALWAYS be stronger people than you- and weaker people. You'll settle into YOU soon enough. relax- no reason to rush the journey.

YOU!?! You feel this way?

Are you following a plan that has you lifting progressively? Are you pushing yourself?

I don't ask that with any kind of attitude, I ask because I was struggling with the same issue of not seeming to progress and my problem was, I was slacking. I got a couple of training sessions because I wanted to make sure my form was good and the trainer had to adjust very little because apparently I was doing it right. Since I didn't need much work she decided we should find my one rep max for the exercises I'd asked for help with. I found that I could do SO much more than I thought I could!

For my squats I was only doing 5 reps of 115 but we found my 1RM was 175!
Deadlifts I was doing 105 but my 1RM was 200!
Bench Press I was doing 65 and my 1RM was 135!
OH Press I was at 65 and my 1RM was 100!

All of these I only do 5 sets of 5 reps so my sets were definitely not where they could have been. After my PT sessions I added weight and push myself harder and have seen so much more progress since doing so.

I don't compare to other people in the gym, mostly because they're all young guys and there really isn't a way to compare. I could be mom to most of them, lol. But I compare myself to me with every workout. I keep a journal with what I've lifted and make notes about weight, form or whatever catches my attention that time so next time I know what I might need to adjust.

This pretty much echoes how it's worked for me, except I didn't use a trainer, my husband pushed me (damn him, he was right, I could lift more! lol).

I struggle with not comparing myself to others, but it's gotta be you against you, even if you have to repeat it to yourself until you believe it. But doing the 1RM really showed me that I'm way stronger than I thought and I am progressing nicely now.

I have a motto: I'm not trying to be better than you. I'm trying to be better than I used to be.

There will always be someone faster or stronger. Use that person as inspiration! You don't know how they've trained up until that point. So they haven't been in a gym. Maybe they have a physically demanding job or something. But who cares? Just do what you've got to do.

Do not compare yourself to anyone or anything. You are where you are, and that's all there is to it. It's not good or bad, it doesn't matter. It just is what it is. Just start now and move forward.

this.

I struggle with it sometimes too- there is a girl who claims to have been only lifting for maybe 9-12 months- but she's out squatting me by almost 75 pounds and she's easily 15 pounds lighter than me- but not much shorter.

it's infuriating. But I have goals- and me competing with her won't get me there- it'll only get me hurt.

So I stay the course on the program I have selected... and push through. just worrying more about doing every lift efficiently with form and reasonable speed.

It happens to EVERYONE and it's a coping mechanism to not feel so bad or project- it's normal- but move past it- you already know you NEED to show up and lift for you- so just do that- it'll take some time- but there will ALWAYS be stronger people than you- and weaker people. You'll settle into YOU soon enough. relax- no reason to rush the journey.

YOU!?! You feel this way?

sometimes!! I know!!!

But there is ALWAYS someone younger- stronger and faster- someone who is gaining speed/traction more than you quicker than you or are just plain better than you.

There will ALWAYS be someone like that in your life. Sometimes you're the top dog- but that doesn't mean there are not others out there who aren't stronger faster or whatever.

So yes- I even feel that way. It happens to EVERYONE.

it's part of the process- learning how to control that feeling and be satisfied with the rate of progress- not content/stuck kind of thing but satisfied. It's hard to learn- but it's important. We all struggle- never think someone else isn't dealing with something. .. it may be completely different- it may be something you are completely comfortable with and they aren't- you just never know!!! Which is why you need to worry about doing the best YOU can at all times!

I mean, I *know* this. But it's REALLY nice to hear it repeated by your personal heroines.

It is hard to compare yourself to what you used to be able to do. I get it.