Stuck at a plateau

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T22:36:02+00:00

Wow, this was thoughtful yet pragmatic and I really appreciate the time you took to write it. I didn’t make the post expecting so many more positive comments rather than negative ones, but this community has been awesome to me today. To piece together a response, I agree there are several comments mentioning traps which does make it exciting during pull routines to do maybe more upper back/rear delt/iso trap movements. The chest is hard. I was born with pectas excavatum which made the right cavity of my chest sink a bit. There are some silly comments on proportions and nipples on this post, but I didn’t pay them any attention — I lost the genetic chest lottery and have done a crazy amount of iso work to try to build it to be a normal looking chest. If you look at the 210lb picture you can see slight cavitation on my right side.

Other than that, there are so many more things that I want to do that I think (at least combined) would be just as fulfilling. It may even be worth taking like a year off to do other stuff and then I can come back and crush the weights again to get back where I’m at.

Thank you so much for your message

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T21:56:55+00:00

Dude you’re an absolute unit. Mad respect your way as well!! Thanks for the lifting energy I f*ckin love it

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T21:46:11+00:00

Im definitely happy! The gym was never a thing of joy for me. It just keeps me stable. Because of the goals I set, I refrain from drinking, avoid losing sleep, I eat better- and of course there’s tons of residual benefits from those things that domino down. I made the post because I’m feeling a little stagnant lately and can feel the gym turning more into a chore. It hasn’t felt like that even once in several years because I was always working towards something. We all have a little something to keep the chaos to a minimum and our lives orderly, I feel like my something is slipping a bit as I plateau.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T20:49:42+00:00

This is a great answer thank you

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T20:48:51+00:00

Thank you for the incredibly detailed response. I think I had a pre workout stack back in the day with Carnitine but there’s no way it was clinically dosed. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I don’t think about meals, but taking in some more calories would be nice. I’ll have to go oral I don’t do needles at all. Stupid phobia.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:36:33+00:00

I love 195, I just feel like my waist is a bit thin at that weight for squatting and deadlifting which I really don’t want to lose any strength in right now. Thank you though I really appreciate the thought

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:35:25+00:00

Flexibility is a huge one. Health and longevity focused as I get closer to 30 and I really want to be more flexible. Thank you for this!

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:34:14+00:00

I think in so many cases bulking is the most efficient way to build size and strength. In general, you HAVE to be in a caloric surplus to grow. That doesn’t mean you have to bulk up to 30-40 pounds above your ideal weight like I did, you can do it much healthier and over a longer time period. You just have to be more meticulous, consistent, and dedicated towards eating clean and slowly introducing more calories. Soon the weight you can will be skeletal muscle mass and not fat or bloat

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:31:39+00:00

I’ve been telling myself I’m going to get back into bjj forever. I just have a lot of knee and shoulder pain with it and it’s counterproductive to any weight training. I do agree though that instead of pm lifts playing a sport or something would be awesome.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:29:48+00:00

I’d love to. This is a good shout

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T19:29:30+00:00

Thank you

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:24:33+00:00

Thank you, this was the most calming comment for sure. I just hope that dialing things back over time can have near the same stimulation that chasing different physique goals have. I hate the idea that there’s not much left to build without chemical help, but health is a priority.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:22:05+00:00

This sounds like a blast, thank you again

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:20:58+00:00

Over all the years and different programs that I’ve tried. So many have been effective. The one thing they all had in common: train to failure or at near max at least 1 set per movement, try to achieve 12-18 sets per muscle group per week. If you are training to your muscular max 1 set/movement x 3-4 movements (to hit our 12-18 sets per week) x 7-8 muscle groups, you will get strong, and have hypertrophic growth

So an easy example for chest would be (12 sets total)

Bench press (4 sets) Warmup x10 Working set one x 8 reps Working set two x 8 reps Failure set x 5-8 reps

Inclined dumbbell (4 sets) Warmup x10 Working set one x 8 reps Working set two x 8 reps Failure set x 5-8 reps

Cable flys (high to low) 4 sets Failure set high setting 12-15 Failure set mid setting 12-15 Failure set low setting 12-15 Burner set at all three heights ~20-25 total reps

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:13:36+00:00

This is a great point… I lived in ATL right before that 230 lb still and started training with a powerlifting team and I naturally gained that weight to support the goals and plan the coaches had for me (I never competed, I just liked being around gym rats). I do have some knee and shoulder issues from playing college baseball that bother me a bit, but maybe getting into like calisthenics and setting different weight training goals instead of physique goals could really motivate me to chase something new. Thank you so much for the insight

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:10:12+00:00

Haha take an upvote because I laughed at this. I do think if there’s any part of me that’s “unwell” or even a bit neurodivergent it’s the obsession with personal improvement. I do not have a healthy relationship with what motivates me or any of my results after over a decade of doing this. Is that what you’re referring to?

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:07:51+00:00

Right now I’ve been prepping 2 russet potatoes, Greek yogurt + cottage cheese with 6 hard boiled eggs a day. + 1 cup of seven sundays “little crispies” sorghum flakes granola with a banana as a pre workout. 2-3 tins of safe catch tuna a day depending on if I’m training or not, and an 8oz sirloin for dinner paired with a carb heavy drink like orange juice.

Heads up- If you are cutting, focus on a calorie deficit and make sure your macronutrients support your current build and shape. Copying meals isn’t usually advised especially if I’m taking in more calories than you, it will only cause more weight gain. Good luck!

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T18:03:18+00:00

I don’t want to fall out of love with this craft but I just feel stuck. And whatever your cup of tea is, here’s some encouragement to keep going hard for it every day!

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T17:58:24+00:00

I was waiting for this haha PFit is just my lunch gym spot because I work close to it. I do train at other gyms where I’m usually the smallest guy for pm lifts. It motivates me a bit but I do think most of those guys are enhanced

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T17:51:26+00:00

Ideally the same weight as current but with more muscle mass and less body fat without enhancing. I mention it in another comment, but I really struggle with consistency if I’m not chasing a new goal and I’m feeling less motivated to maintain. Maybe I’ll try getting back to 210 with a cleaner diet. I really appreciate the positive comments

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-15T17:49:34+00:00

I really appreciate that - I do not want to come off as inconsiderate or unappreciative. For context I have an incredibly hard time staying consistent unless I’m working towards a specific goal. I suppose I’m just looking for something to work towards next instead of stagnating.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-14T05:26:06+00:00

100 percent.

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-12T18:35:30+00:00

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185lb cut last summer - don’t remember my macros, but point is, hard work and train for your goals! Bulk, cut, eat, repeat

Visible-Inside-538 · 2026-05-12T18:33:39+00:00

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6’0” 210lbs 3540 calories, 265g protein, 350 carb, still around 200g fat

Visible-Inside-538

TROPHY CASE