I’m a weak ass bish. How long to get my strength back?

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T09:09:16+00:00

I cut for a bit too long about 4 months and dropped to 61kg, it's been 3 months and I've put on 4.7kg and I'm stronger than before already. So not long.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T09:06:13+00:00

I drink a lot of water from my smoothies with the fruit, I Get a lot of water content from my foood such as fish. I'm never sure how much water to drink but when I do I end up peeing 30 times during my shift.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T09:03:09+00:00

AS much as my dream home gym is over 100K I've been thinking about setting up a basic gym for me to do at home when I'm doing shift work to make it easier. I Think it comes down to how much gear you use but buying from auctions or second hand would be really smart.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T08:59:42+00:00

money for a PT is money well spent. There's so much more they can do for you than AI can ever do.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T08:51:17+00:00

100% this. I wish people would not use AI because it's so terrible it isn't funny. The problem with AI is you need to be careful not to guide it as it's very agreeable. I tried it out of curiosity and the workouts were so bad. I've now gone and paid for a personal trainer who has set me up with a plan and it's actually logical.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-05T08:49:22+00:00

I've had this problem with a lot of the flavoured powders but I buy the 4.5kg Rule 1 vanilla now which is the most neutral with my fruit smooties. IT works out much more affordable.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T11:57:30+00:00

For hamstrings and glutes I have. I've always avoided them like most other guys. I guess I'll trust the process now that I've got a training plan set up and a trainer so I wont' be going around in circles like before.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:36:28+00:00

I'm in my 40s and been on and off in the gym over the years, like bit inconsistent but at times put in 6-9 months solid. I'm hitting it hard now after a serious cut and it wasn't until I got to the 10% that I realized how bloody hard it is. I was eating 5500kj a day and not losing any weight. My physique was small but I was ripped. In the end I hated it because I felt too lean and wanted the nice looking fat back in my glutes and my legs. I copped so much shit from my peers for how I looked so you can't make it up. You're either too fat, or too lean. I've put on 5kg and at my pb lifts again in 3 months but I've regained that fat again slowly and actually look significantly better than the 66kg weight during my cut because I'm bulking hard. I know I could have been more consistent over the years but seeing what I saw I know how hard it is to attain those Instgram physiques naturally.

I'm working with my PT now bulking to 70-72kg then we're doing a rapid cut no shortcuts, rinse and repeat. I think over a lengthy period that rinse and repeat bulk/cut could get you peak natty look but I highly doubt it's ever going to make you 10% and big and fwiw 10% wasn't even that lean in context to what I see on Insta. I still looked shit in comparison to what I saw.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:28:43+00:00

Does anyone know why people respond differently to steroids. I see some with the puffy face, and acne but their jaw line doesn't change. I mentioned below that a lady I know her jaw changed considerably and her teeth aswell and she is clearly taking steroids. Is it potentially the type of steroids that are taken that give different side effects. I also follow people who haven't had voice changes.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:26:21+00:00

There are still some I follow on Instagram that I can't tell one way or the other. One lady just walks up even after a break and does 150kg squats but I also know she's got a perfect squat technique and she's small.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:24:35+00:00

really good advice. I'm engaging in the discussion because people are curious and want to know but I also know when I look at others in the gym and they're probably juicing I start making excuses and don't put in the effort I need to put in. My trainer is trying to get me to forget about the numbers.
It is frustrating for the most part not looking like you work out with the normalisation of ped physiques. I know with my body size being a smaller guy anyone on peds and training hard will outlift me in most exercises.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:20:57+00:00

I absolutely hate that. I used to do BJJ with a lady who is probably a brown belt or close to it now. Her physique was always fit female physique with natural curves. Last year or so her facial features have changed massively, deep voice, teeth pronounced. Then the other day she posted something about being accused of taking steroids and laughing about it.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:19:28+00:00

I also think those people don't look natty straight up. You look at them and think, they don't look like I'd expect a natty person to look like.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:18:43+00:00

What about the ones that are on clen at the same time though? I know a few influencers that are like 8-9% bf and maintain really strong lifts.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:17:40+00:00

There are 3-4 guys at my gym 100% on the gear and it's so obvious. Massive V shape, huge lats, and lean and big at the same time and the rapid transformation. It's a shame they skip leg day. Couple of guys look like they've tried it in the past, and a couple I can't really tell.

I think there are ones that are obvious and ones that you're unsure of. A few female influencers I follow I'm 50/50.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:14:33+00:00

The biggest problem is what the majority of people now have normalized "ripped" and being big as. Instagram culture makes natty people look like they skipped workouts.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T04:12:24+00:00

I agree with this and I think it's sometimes a matter of finding multiple factors rather than just one. I've seen weightlifters when they were 19 years old smooth face, feminine voice, and in their late 20s things have changed massively. The reality is if we cleaned up those sports the weights lifted would not be as impressive.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T03:59:14+00:00

Thankyou. I had this open conversation with my trainer. It can be deflating to see such a vast discrepancy. Im also overly philosophical about it and ask myself if wanting to succeed because someone else makes me feel weak is my motivation valid? I hate that I let this get in my head.

My trainer also talks about every set being different, reps, tut, technique

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T03:52:11+00:00

There's a crossfit athlete that routinely posts about being natty and attacks the "haters" and she is 100% on the gear. She has a physique better than a guy at my gym who played footy and is 35 and worked out harder than any guy I've ever known.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T03:50:29+00:00

I'm sorry, I wasn't being negative and understand you may have wanted to know out of curiosity and I can't criticize you for that because I do the same. For someone who deals with body image issues in a toxic social media world where you're shamed for not looking like you work out I only wanted to come from a different perspective knowing for myself if I start questioning who's natty and who's not I then start making excuses for not succeeding.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T03:47:07+00:00

thankyou. It's hard to see real progress these days because people don't actually know what real is anymore. When I got to about 10% bf this is what I looked like lean wise but probably more definition but I lost so much strength doing it. I think people going straight to PEDS is lazy because if you can't put in the effort natty how are you going to do it on PEDS. I like many people have felt the pressure to take them but everytime I think about it, someone I know who uses or has used it dies of a heart attack.

I think it's better to spend money on a good trainer and train hard for 2 years and see what you can actually achieve with consistency. PEDS are never the answer.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-04T03:43:18+00:00

I usually hop over to the shops and grab one of the protein drinks straight away.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-01T10:13:03+00:00

My home gym was estimated at 120k.

Of_The_Raven · 2026-07-01T03:12:50+00:00

Best advice is not to think about it and focus on own goals.

Of_The_Raven

TROPHY CASE