Work Out Dose it get easier?

Ok Dave, Blob, Christopher, Buckeye??? I'm call to the meat heads of the gym, and anyone else who is there..... Y'all know that I have quit loosing, and I'm trying to put on mass...and I'm doing the workout to failure. When I get through with my work out, I'm in a generalized pain...specific muscles are tired But htis is a tooth grinding tension that is whole body...is this what I want... I can really see the results, muscles buldging, veins popping, I know it's no pain no gain,  I think if I work my chest, I should hurt in my chest, not grinding my teeth. How strange am I???? Do y'all grind your teeth.....I do oik when I got gum in my mouth...but geez Ok let me have it.... Russ

Hi Russ,

I can only speak for myself, but yes it seems like I'm hurting myself at least once, maybe twice a week. I went down to the track this morning and I could do my 400's, but my upper thighs (somehow must have missed those in my workouts) are so  sore, it's like double matching injuries, as opposed to soreness. Wednesday after my second 100's session, I was so sore and inflamed that I was almost feverish.

It seems to follow a cycle though. This week was a bad week. It felt bad to get generalized fatigue. Other weeks, It's like Arnold said in Pumping Iron: "I feel like I'm co**ing all of the time." I think Chris said he rests on Wednesdays, and a lot of other people do take one day off in the middle of the week. I just try to rest hard on the weekends, because I like to stay pumped during the week.

As for the teeth, that sounds like an individual response. Probably not too good for the chompers, maybe keep chewing gum.

What's difficult for me is not being able to just pop three aspirin anytime I want. The one baby aspirin a day  is all I'm allowed. So now, it's lots of hot baths at night and getting my wife to walk on my back (sound Japanese or what?). Does your significant other weigh more than 105 lbs.?

Hope this helps,

Dave

Just a point of reference, Russ, to allow me to know what you are talking about:  "How strange am I?????  Do y'all grind your teeth...I do (oik) when I got gum in my mouth....but geez. Is that suppose to be 'oink' 'oink' or what? Thank you, Bob M.

Hey Padre..... How you doing??? Crap man, grunting like a pig, sounds about right...but I grind my teeth like I was chewing cheap meat.... you know come to think of it, a chick in our support group was having to get root canals because she grinds her teeth... maybe it is a displacement..hmmm...you think???? How are things in MO????? y'all sure sent us some pretty weather...thank you!!! Hope you didn;t get hit with all those nasty storms that were rumbleing thru... Russ

Russ, In the beginning it sucks, you dread it, it's painful, it's tiring...it's not a hell of alot of fun.  But, as you get in shape, you're not going to be so fatigued, and it's not going to be such a chore to get into the gym...you'll go from dreading it to looking forward to it.  So in a sense, it does get easier. Now, let me burst your bubble.  If you want to make progress, the answer to your question - does it get any easier...the answer is a resounding "NO".  Once you've met your goals...your time/distance on the treadmill, bike or eliptical for example will be improved.  And soon, the weights aren't so heavy and you'll be getting stronger.  In both cases it's time to raise the bar and put yourself back into workout hell again. Sorry dude - but NO PAIN, NO GAIN! CF

Russ, I was told about 15 years ago my molars have lots of stress fractures from gritting my teeth mostly from grunting and straining during weight lifting.  Dentist says at some point of my life they are going to start chipping and will all have to be capped or pulled and replaced.  Yipee-Yi-Yo-Cayae! I now try to be mindful of gritting my teeth but also use a mouthpiece to cushion the gritting and grinding when I do more than just a basic workout.  I no longer do must intense weight lifting like when I was younger but am trying to get back into a rythym with my stuff at home.  The mouthpiece thing works for me.  Only got one molar cap to-date. Just a thought to help save your teeth. Good job on getting some results and pushing yourself. Joe

hey Russ,

CF kinda hit it on the head. as for weight lifting, it's a sport that gets harder everytime you put on your sweats. the purpose is to create more resistence everytime you lift which means heavier weights. that's a big turn off to most people. so again, that's why i advocate picking an exercise you'll stick with. me? i'm addicted to the pump and can't wait to hit the weights. like Dave and some others it's a lifestyle for us. i really think you're in that catagory too. just keep looking to add more weight and you'll accomplish whatever your goal is. that means keep a journal so you can measure what you're doing. you also need to distinguish between workout pain and real pain signals that mean stop and rest. i'm sure you know the difference.

as for the teeth. well, i don't put anything in my mouth when i work out for fear of swallowing it! i breath too heavy to risk it. so just make a simple goal of trying to get extra reps, or a little more weight everytime you lift. it doesn't have to be for each exercise, just say maybe an extra rep or 5lbs on your bench or something like that. i had a really good day yesterday. i trained shoulders and legs and then jogged 3 miles. i hate running but did it for the first time in years. so that was my big push for the day and i also increased my military press and squat. just little things that show progress. you'll be surprised how good that makes you feel. keep up the good work, it really sounds like you've made a lot of progress since when we first talked about your workouts.....carbonblob