Bad start, possible halted gains?

Hey everyone, first time poster here.

I started the newbie routine back in July or August, I don’t quite remember. In a matter of weeks to a few months I managed to make good gains but I made a couple of newbie mistakes and have continued them for much longer than I should have. I stretched hard enough to cause pain during and afterwards, I would have a stinging sensation for a while after a routine. I squeezed hard enough during jelqing sessions to make my fingers hurt afterwards, it was more like I was trying to clamp with my hand. I’ve run into a plateau that I’ve been stuck on for a while and increasing the number of jelqs and the duration of each one hasn’t shown any growth and neither has more intense pulls during stretches. I plan to take a week off soon but I was also thinking about going on a full three or four month long decon break just to be sure. I’m not entirely sure when a decon break is necessary however. I’m nervous that this might be where my gains end from manuals and if I want any more I’ll have to resort to hanging but I fear that may not be enough to take me to my goal. I reached this plateau a few months ago, probably when I changed my routine to 50 jelqs.

Former routine:
-Warm 20 min.
-Stretch forward, up, down, left, right for 20 sec. Each
-30 jelqs for 2 sec. Long strokes
-Stretch in each direction again
-Warm down for 20 min.

Current routine:
-Warm 20 min.
-Stretch forward, up, down, left, right, and in between each of the four directions for 30 sec. Each
-150 jelqs for 3-5 sec. Long strokes
-Warm down for 20 min.

I removed the after stretch because I felt as if I lost blood flow afterwards and I lightened up the pressure greatly, no longer enough to get a hand full of egg yolk but still enough to crack the shell. I think I might have to lighten it up more though. The stretches are also less intense but I don’t feel like I’m really “stretching”. Should I use different stretches? Should I take a week off? Should I take a full decon break? Is this where my manual gains end? I still have a long way to go before I reach my length goal. Going into this with a “no pain, no gain” mentality was a big mistake.

Sorry if this post is kind of sloppy.

I personally recommend a couple months off. If you know you hurt yourself multiple times, your penis isn’t going to cooperate anytime soon. Literally, it is fighting your tugging to stay intact. That’s what pain means when it’s inflicted on a part of thr body, that it’s time to preserve itself. Much longer like this and you’ll see losses.

I’d take a couple months off. Start back with the Newbie. Not scale up. Not push the intensity.

Never fix what ain’t broke. If you are getting gains, never change the routine until they stop.

Wow, I didn’t think I would get a reply so quickly, thank you!

I have noticed slight losses sometimes when I lower the intensity of my jelqs now that you mention it. It’s going to be a painful few months.

I was thinking about deconning until the first of February, is that too much? Too little? Just fine? Is there anything I should do during this break? I started my decon break last week cold turkey and since I’ve only done piss pulls and warming to maintain my gains. I’ve only used enough force to stretch the shaft itself instead of the ligs, I pull with my fingers now instead of my wrist like I did a few days ago. The warming is really only warming done in the shower, is this good too or should I stop?

Sorry if I’m asking too many questions, I just want to make sure I do things right this time.

Listen mate, you had a bad start.

Fuck it. Don’t do anything until, say Christmas. Not even piss pulls.

Then start again and do it right this time..

That’s what I think. Forget it happened. Start fresh.

I agree with Bill10. You had a bad start, some injury but not debilitating or disabling. Some small loss. 2 months is enough unless you would personally like to wait longer.

No manual exercise. No kegels. Nothing. Start the Newbie Routine fresh when you do start back, at least 2 months from now.