Regaining Strength

[Kjerski]

I lifted for 3 years in high school and then stopped for 4-5 years, and now just recently got back into it May of this year.

Just out of my own curiosity I was wondering if anyone else did something simular and what did you notice in terms of regaining your strength?

The main lift I'm focusing on right now is my bench. I left off at 245 for a one rep, over the course of the last 3 weeks I went from 135 to 185 which is what prompted me to make this thread.

My squat was never impressive do to early injury, working on it now though.

Found an older thread that kind of relates to this: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=519974

I'm not asking how long it takes to lose strength or really to regain it. Just curious as to your experiences.

Some things brought up in that older thread were eating, and muscle memory.

I definitly ate lol, gained a **** load of weight when I stopped lifting so I might not of lost much in terms of muscle mass.

[DJAuto]

Muscle memory ... It shouldnt be hard to regain your strength exspecially now that you are older and more developed than highschool years.. Eat right .. Lift right and you will be back in no time! I was in the same position last year and I blew my highschool max out of the water within 6 months of dedicated lifting

Muscle memory will be diminished after 5 years. However, it's still a factor, albeit minimal.

[Mattman1217]

I basically quit for the best part of 5 years, and started out only 30lbs. under my all time max the first time out.
Now I'm 85lbs above my old best bench max.
Took me 9 months to get 60lbs. above my previous best max in 04.
Better programming, and more milk/food are the biggest changes I made.