Disclaimer: I have used anabolics, “beginner doses” if you will, and this still happens to me.
Hey coach, appreciate if I could get your input. I go through these periods where I will make rapid gains in size and strength and then I will drop off sharply. Resembles overtraining, but sometimes may only take three weeks to hit me even though overall volume is relatively low (120 reps per muscle per week, legs a bit less, reps no less than 5).
An example: after recovering from a long term back injury, I managed to bring my squat from 185 3x5 back up to 275x10 in about 2 months. Then I hit the wall and felt like shit for about 2-3 weeks with no symptoms of any illness. When I came back, I could squat 225x6.
I will be lethargic, strength is pathetic, lose size, look fatter, brain fog, etc. Thing is, after a week or so, there is no bounce back. There never is. I just have to work at it again and pray I get back to where I was before I “overtrain” again. I sleep between 7-10 hours a night, eat enough to put on a couple pounds a month and my protein is about 150g-200g and I’m about 6’ 200lbs 14% bf right now. Goal is strength, but I have noticed bodybuilding training (light weight, infrequent training) does not give me this shitty feeling, but strength is gained at a snail’s pace for me.
Any suggestions?