Plateau! The Musical!!!

I’m singing the blues.

I’ve done about 20 sessions with my bib-starter since I bought it at Christmastime. Starting with three sessions of twenty minutes at pretty intense weights (I had been stretching for the past year, doing a lot of time with the penimaster and jelquing; my first gains were with the “swimcap method”). Now I’m trying to get in at least two actual hours of hang-time a session, starting with the high weights (around 15) and ending with lighter (10-8). I feel stretched, worn, but I measure at the same mark that I’ve had since my first gains a year ago All I want are some gains, I’m not greedy, and with the time and intensity of weight I’ve been hanging, I think I should be showing some growth!

Currently, I start out with a wet hot compress to warm up the area, then hang 15 pounds straight down for 30 minutes.

then 15 pounds straight up for 30.

Then 12 down for 30

Then 10 up for 30.

then 10 down for 30.

With quick rests in between.

Thats it. Should I reapply the compress at the end? Is there anything else I could do to help make some gains. ( I have a low lot, by-the-way, ergo the hanging angles).

Thanks for your suggestions.

Did you ever figure your LOT out and try and use that as a guide to what angle you should attack best at?

Let me add, the one place I show esteem-building gains is with my flaccid hang. Was a grower, now getting to be a show-er.

I think that if you have already made gains you may have lowered your LOT. If so hanging higher up instead of the down may lead to more efficient use of your time. But we don’t know if you have a LOW LOT until we get that data. You sure are putting the time in, let us see if we can use it more productively.

Taking 4-6 weeks off first would help if you can stand it. I’ve taken long breaks like that twice now and have made excellent progress after each.

Since your LOT is low don’t bother hanging down. Spend all your time in the upper angles. Preferably, pick one, such as OTS, and hang that way every set or until fatigued. If you reach total fatigue OTS and wish to continue, change to SO or somewhere in between for the rest of the session. Then go back to OTS the next day.

After you get some tunica gains you can shift over to work the then-deconditioned ligs.

Thanks hobby. When I hang straight up I hang to a pulley over my desk. Is over-the-shoulder a better way to attack?

4-6 weeks off? I’m kinda in a period of addictive behavior. I would like to get at this now. Would love to hear what others say about taking that much time off.

My LOT is between 8 and 7, twateaser, I do believe that is considered: low; information that I supplied in my first post. Thanks for your input.

A pulley should be more comfortable than a rope over the shoulder.

Okay cool. No problem, I was just trying to get a specific number since a few people believe anything below ten is low. ;)

I wonder if an ADS setup could help you out during your suggested sabbatical? Perhaps also an ADS inbetween hanging sessions too? Just farting ideas out. I hope you get this resolved.

No problem, twateaser, thanks for your 2 cents. I was checking out the ADS this morning. Will definitely look into that. (After walking around with the penimaster under loose clothing, wondering if it’s noticable, I’m a little over doing an all-day set-up, but hey, if that’s what it takes.)

jcloud,

Try to concentrate on only one angle for an extended period. You might or might not benefit from the lower angles, but go ahead and try the upper angles for another month or two. Since this is only Feb, I would not think you can be considered on a plateau yet. It is not unusual to go for a couple months without gains, especially when you are stressing the tunica.

On a daily basis, concentrate on the upper angles, using your pulley system, lowering the weight as needed, until you become too fatigued to continue. Then, you can finish your session at the lower angles if you wish, and can handle it.

Do that for at least a couple months, then re-test your LOT. If it has risen appreciably, then switch to the lower angles as your primary angles.

Bigger

J-
Consider integrating heat into your routine instead of just before hand. Heat a rice sock and use it before you begin your routine and for the first half of every set. Be sure to consistently allow your unit and ligs to achieve normal body temp while extended during the second half of each set.

Also- IMO doing 30 minute sets is asking for trouble.

-Cap

Thanks for all the good advice, am hanging with a rice sock as I type. I like the over-the-shoulder cause I can walk around, and the angle is closer to the body than on my pulley. Mostly, its a change. I think I’ve been in a bit of a rut, so something new makes all the difference. OTC’s a bit uncomfortable, but I like that I can move around. I will work on this angle for a month or so, try to get in at least an hour a day for a while, even if it is a low weight (10lbs.). It’s great to get all this feedback, I think it will push me through this plateau.

jcloud,

Try to work up to at least ten hours per week.

Bigger

God, 10 hours is tough! I thought I’d be able to do it this week, but with getting to the gym and other social engagements, it’s not easy, if at all possible. I’m on the fifth day of the week, with 5 hours under my belt. I’m going to shoot for two hours tonight, but Friday will be difficult to get any time alone.

But it’s much more than I usually do. 10 is a good goal.

If I do 10, there better be an increase!

(Watching Oz and hanging, that’s my evenings now.)

Bigger,
For how long to you think someone should be hanging before they try and get to 10 hrs per week?