If I ever take a week or so off from training, my first workout when I go back to the gym I always look bigger and better and get better pumps then the following workouts. Could this be because o stored glycogen from my time or? Or maybe are my workouts too long causing too much cortisol realese making me look flatter on the following workouts. Maybe a combination of the two? Any advice is appreciated. Thx
what’s your actual training looks like ? how many times a week you are working out ? give us more detail
The two factors you mentioned are likely at play. There is also the possibility of “re-sensitization” of the muscles… if you train a high level for a long time in a row, the muscles become less responsive (because they are better adapted to that type of work and are more efficient).