Softer, Lighter, Stronger

[jfour]

Hi everyone, I'm a little confused.
Recently I've noticed that I've gotten softer. I haven't put on weight, if anything I weigh a tiny bit less. I am as strong or a little stronger than I was a month or 2 ago.

I can't work out how this can be. I've been doing the same training programme for months (I know - really bad!) and was wondering if my body is just used to it now. I just bought NROLFW so I'll be starting on that soon.

Just interested to hear if anyone has any idea what could be going on!

Thanks :)

[jfour]

anything?

[Amanda76]

Have your eating habits changed?

If you're not DEFINITELY lighter (that "if anything" caveat means your weight may have changed by a couple of pounds or something to me; a couple of pounds either way = no real change, especially over the course of months), maybe you look/feel soft because you've taken to eating something that makes you bloat. Maybe you're not drinking enough water. Are you taking anything like creatine? Used to seeing yourself with a tan 4 months ago? Could be anything.

If you haven't been challenging yourself in the gym, then a new routine will do you good...assuming you challenge yourself. If I half-ass it in the gym and miss workouts I seem soft and small to myself too.

[LuckyNumber23]

I would start with NROLFW right away. This is my first week on it and I'm so sore. I'm lifting heavier than I have in a long time. I would lift heavy 3 times a week. If you are already lifting, are you not lifting too heavy. Try going up on your weights 5 pounds upper and 10 lower. If you can do 15 reps, you are lifting way to light. Up your weights. On cardio, I would add resistence - hills on the treadmill - higher resistence on elliptical and bike. Make sure your heart rate is in the zone.

[terracotta]

Only two things I can think of
- a change in eating habits (for example, a stark reduction of carbohydrates)
- a change in repetitions used - for example, if you were doing 8-12 reps, and now you are doing 4-8 reps, you could have less pump to the muscles, less glycogen storage.

I suppose really not challenging yourself in the gym wouldn't help either.