Squats - unusual side effect?

[Technics]

Muscle soreness from exhaustive or strenuous activity is called DOMS, and it's a good indicator your body is trying to limit your mobility so it can more easily rebuild itself afterward.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness

One thing I noticed when I picked up doing heavy squats and deadlifts was that I started breaking out on my face and back - worse than when I was a teenager. I managed to get that in control by wearing a clean t shirt to bed, a clean undershirt daily, washing my pillowcases every few days, using a new towel ever other day and a separate clean towel for the gym, and not drying my hair with my towel first, and when I do dry my hair with my towel, I always use the ends of the towel and never use the ends of the towel on my face or back.

Same here with the zits. I have almost instanteous break-out after I start squating again, but just on my BACK.

Glad to see these tips. I'm going to try these out. I really don't care much about the zits, except that they can be a little painful if something has to touch my back (especially the squat bar).

 

[IRTdenialist]

Just make sure you are absolutely OBSESSIVE about your form. When I first started squating, I did over 3 weeks with just the bar, tweaking my movements until I was 100% sure I was doing it properly.

Listen to Technics guys. This is probably the best piece of advice that you'll get. Leave your ego at the door and learn the craft of lifting properly. You will be rewarded 10 fold and avoid injuries. Remember, perfect form and PROGRESSIVE overload builds muscle and strength, not heavy weights and crap technique.

 

[lush1]

Guys I was getting the spots too until I started taking zinc supps - cleared them up completely.

 

[TheBulldozer]

One unusual side effect of throwing heavy weights around is feeling like a fucking man.

It's too bad most don't get to experience this eye opening.

 

[ryanf]

Soma and MattC have it right.

Compound leg exercises, by virtue of utilizing several of the largest muscles in your body, will unleash a torrent of testosterone (especially if you've been neglecting your legs until now), which has a pretty profound impact on metabolism and appetite; for instance, steroid users often report nearly insatiable cravings for sweet foods and other fast carbs.
Just keep stuffing your face with lean meats, wholesome carbs, adequate protein, stay religious with the squats, and prepare to be blown away by the results!
You'll likely notice substantial size gains throughout the rest of your body in the coming weeks to months.

Have you thought about deadlifts as well?
If you don't do them already, they're a very good compliment for squats, and a nearly essential addition to a whole body strength routine, and they'll help propel your endocrine system into an even bigger frenzy.

Makes sense that it's simply the body craving nutrients for rebuilding. I was surprised at how deep the hunger went. As far as the soreness, it's a fantastic feeling, not unusual at all.

You really need to deadlift too imo, my favourite compound exercise

I'm going to add those in as well. I have a buddy who used to be a cross-fit trainer who goes with me once every two weeks. We worked enough squats that I trust being able to do them without assistance now, my form is *almost* solid. Deadlifts, I sucked terribly at first. I won't work them again without his aid on the form.

Really strange that you have the insatiable hunger. All I get is usual side effects like a finger growing out of my head.

HAHA very nice

Just make sure you are absolutely OBSESSIVE about your form. When I first started squating, I did over 3 weeks with just the bar, tweaking my movements until I was 100% sure I was doing it properly.

Listen to Technics guys. This is probably the best piece of advice that you'll get. Leave your ego at the door and learn the craft of lifting properly. You will be rewarded 10 fold and avoid injuries. Remember, perfect form and PROGRESSIVE overload builds muscle and strength, not heavy weights and crap technique.

I'm fairly confident in my form. I had a little soreness in my lower back today, so I know it wasn't perfect. I'll hopefully be able to correct that.

 

[IRTdenialist]

Also, don;t forget the growth hormone releasing effects of squatting and dead lifting. For 'natural' lifters the synergistic effect of the testosterone and gh is very important.

 

[alecks]

sorry guys but test and gh are not "that" anabolic in the pysiological range.supra-pysiological range yes they are very anabolic,but in our circumstances they arnt.

watch this video and skip to about 2:50 and youl know what i mean.

 

[IRTdenialist]

sorry guys but test and gh are not "that" anabolic in the pysiological range.supra-pysiological range yes they are very anabolic,but in our circumstances they arnt.

watch this video and skip to about 2:50 and youl know what i mean.

Agreed bro, in the natural physiological ranges we are talking about the gh/test IS going to make you hornier and increase your sense of well being. That's what I meant, for anything more you would require injectable test. (I'm going to make a thread on this soon)

 

[void]

Went to the gym after a very long pause, feeling all sore today. I missed that feeling.

 

[txtraveler]

With my line of work right now, I can't have the soreness in my legs as I already a lot of lifting. I know that if I just would take the soreness forb a few weeks I'd be used to it...but I'm waiting until I get a promotion and don't have to do so much lifting...then it's squats I go.

 

[Eastside]

If you are having trouble with soreness after squats and leg exercises, I suggest taking a 12-15 minute ice bath. You really only have to get your lower body/sore areas in the water to get the positive benefits. I notice a big difference in my ability to recover after workouts when I so this. Ice baths have also been linked to testosterone gains.

Stretching and using a foam roller also help get the lactic acid out of the muscles.

 

[bojangles]

foam rollers are great, i use it on my back and legs everyday without fail

 

[Khaleth]

Anyone do weighted lunges instead of squats?

I know you cant get the same weight but I always felt more comfortable doing them if I didn't have a spotter to help me with form for squats. Still burns for days after and feels like more of an athletic movement.

 

[beta_plus]

I experienced that same thing when I started lifting, but it was a very specific craving for skinless, boneless chicken breast. I found that it went away after about 3 months of lifting. I still lift and now do the insanity work out (while massively over emphasized in our society, I still think cardio and endurance is important). Even after leg days, I don't get hungry like I used to.

My guess is that the body starts to build muscle after the initial shock of persistent heavy lifting and then tapers off after you build up initial mass.

 

[Ziltoid]

If you think non-steroid induced changes in testosterone won't affect your muscle/strength gains, try eating a low fat diet and see how that impacts your workouts.
(Hint: not well)

 

[Magic Bullets]

https://www.facebook.com/bigmikedebenham#!/photo.php?v=10200471700613917

 

[Dhorv9]

It won't increase your GH and test to ultra high levels, but it DOES do something.
Sometimes it isn't good to rely on studies and listen to all these debates on things like this.
For me, squats and deadlifts are hard movements, I can feel all my muscles working and burning, I have to mentally push, and I feel fucking fantastic after.
I can rely on myself for a situation like this. I know that I get hornier and feel way more animalistic when I have squats and deads in my routine. Placebo? Maybe. But I don't think it really matters.

 

[The Beast1]

Leg day is the best day.

That hunger means you need to EAT!

 

[vilevigilant]

Ya, whenever I work out hard, then I am always hungry and sore.

That is why it's important to get all the protein and calories that your body needs to get to the size that you are wanting to get to.

Keep working out though, it will not just make you healthier, but you will live longer and enjoy life more. All thanks to the stress decreasing hormones that are released when exercising; as a result you will feel a lot better post-workout when your body adapts more to your training.

Keep it up and cheers!