Early Stalls / Drop in sugar intake

[jab50]

This is a lengthy post, so if you want to read the abbreviated version, here it is:

All my lifts stalled at what I consider very low numbers (especially squat and deadlift) for some reason after 3 / 4 months training. My squats were never that high as it took me several months just to be able to go to parallel. So, could this be because of my age? My lack of prior experience with any kind of weight training? My 30+ years of eating tons of junk food and now trying to eat correctly for the first time?

More details:

I’m 36, and prior to April of this year, I have not done any strength training before. I am 5’10, and my weight now is 90kg (198 lbs). My weight in April was 76kg (168 lbs). By eating a lot more, within one month, I had gained 5kg (up to 81 kg / 179 lbs). In June, I was 85 kg (187 lbs), and I have been gaining weight steadily ever since.

Unfortunately, I think I have gained too much fat, and not enough muscle. When I put on the weight belt, the fat hangs over the belt and looks quite ridiculous surrounded by several very thin Asian guys.

My protein intake has been consistent, between 150 – 200 grams per day. I also try to eat something like hamburger or put some olive oil on something to make sure I’m getting some fat as well. But I really think I over-did it on the carbs. I drink cola (a lot when I do drink it) every few nights while studying.

Over the past week, I have been successful eliminating a lot of the sugar in my diet. But my energy level is quite low at the gym. I have been sleeping a lot more lately too (more than 8 hours per day as recommended). My lifts have gone down dramatically as well. What I could lift a few weeks ago, I either cannot do now, or I can barely do it. I certainly am not improving at all (ie: I could press a bit over 50kg x 5 x 3 a few weeks ago…now I am having trouble with 40kg x 5 for one or two sets).

The reason I decided to cut out most of the sugar from my diet is that I have been stalling quite a bit over the past few months. And I’m stalling on such low numbers, so I figured something was wrong with my diet.

Here are my stats from April to sometime in June / July when I started stalling quite a bit.

All are for 3 sets of 5 reps, except deadlift:
Squat: bar -> 176 lbs
Bench: 99 lbs -> 176 lbs
Deadlift 132 lbs -> 264 lbs
Press 66 lbs -> 115 lbs
Power C. bar -> 88 lbs (I still have trouble with these due to a wrist injury)

So, I have two questions: why did I stall so early? why am I doing so poorly these days after cutting out sugar from my diet?
I appreciate any comments that you more experienced lifters might have. Hopefully, others have been in my situation before and will have some decent advice. Thank you in advance!

[hatmanii]

What are you currently lifting?

[jab50]

I was up to 77.5 kg on the squat about 2 weeks ago. I was able to squeeze out 3 sets of 5 reps each with a 10 second pause between reps (I have to catch my breath - seems my fitness has gone down a bit lately). Last time, I could barely do 5 x 70 kgs. I am supposed to be doing 52.5 kg on the press, but I could only do 40kg yesterday. Bench also went from 80 kg to 70 kg (actually, I am unsure if it's even that much as I didn't register it the last time because it was so low). I did 100 kg (rather than 110+) on the deadlift. I just feel so lethargic lately.

I should add that I read in one of the recent articles posted here that 1 out 5 days might be considered an "off-day". However, it seems that over the past few months, most of my days have been "off-days". This happen to anyone else?

[Regin Smidur]

Had any bloodwork done lately? Maybe your test levels are low.

[jab50]

Had any bloodwork done lately? Maybe your test levels are low.

I also considered this before. I would have to look into how I could get bloodwork done out here as I don't even have insurance at the moment. Would low testoserone levels decrease my sex drive? Cuz that hasn't seemed to change at all.

[iampiercedson]

Boy, jab, you're in the wrong place for getting answers to questions like these...

But I'll shoot you the straight shit here as best I can:

You gained weight too fast and progressed too slowly on your lifts: in other words, you ate too much.

I'm shocked you can't figure out what's causing you to feel lethargic. Like maybe the fact that you cut your carbs back after carbin' it up for so long (seriously, board members, you didn't realize this either?), combined with a little bit of mental and physical burn out from doing the same program week-in and week-out (it happens, it's okay, it's not a sin).

I'm just telling you what these guys are unwittingly incapable of or unwilling to tell you.

[iampiercedson]

Had any bloodwork done lately? Maybe your test levels are low.

Christ, this made me laugh. This gets thrown out every time someone has a bad training streak. Armchair medical advice FTW!

[MikeC1]

Boy, jab, you're in the wrong place for getting answers to questions like these...

But I'll shoot you the straight shit here as best I can:

You gained weight too fast and progressed too slowly on your lifts: in other words, you ate too much.

I'm shocked you can't figure out what's causing you to feel lethargic. Like maybe the fact that you cut your carbs back after carbin' it up for so long (seriously, board members, you didn't realize this either?), combined with a little bit of mental and physical burn out from doing the same program week-in and week-out (it happens, it's okay, it's not a sin).

I'm just telling you what these guys are unwittingly incapable of or unwilling to tell you.

Harsh but the truth.

[Carlos Daniel]

Dunno about eating much but cutting carbs can hamper progress in the gym. Just make sure you replace the sugar with some healthier carb choices like potatoes or rice.

[msingh]

Another starting strength success story. At the weight of 90kg you're now officially a Starting Strength Man. Congratulations!

It's time to lose the fat, get on a diet fatty.