Originally Posted by remek
Now, two problems can throw this off a tad. 1) Are you really getting your maximum BPFSL? The penis can be stiff at times, sometimes stretching more than an inch less than the maximum BPFSL. 2) As sparkyx discovered in my favorite thread (PIs), overtraining leads to temporary ED. But overtraining isn’t the only thing that affects erection quality - drugs, your lifestyle, smoking, etc. can all affect the quality of your erections - making it a little harder for you to determine what to focus on.
Hey Remek!
We need to talk more, bro!
My current thinking on most “shrinkage” is smooth muscle contraction. I think that smooth muscle is the most reactive to stress, for what ever reason.
I first noticed this when I had over done PE, and took some Cialis to be ready for the wife that nite. Overtraining would cause the classic contraction, tissue stiffening, decreased EQ etc.
One of the effects of Cialis is relaxation of smooth muscle. When overtrained, and I took it, one of the indicators it was working or I had taken an effective dose, was the reversal of the above noted symptoms.
From that, and some other observations, I believe that for most guys (short of connective tissue contraction…which is less easily reversed) the “shrinkage” is due to smooth muscle.
It is something that used to puzzle me when doing bpfsl. My first measurement or two was the longest, but the very act of a hard stretch would cause my smooth muscle to contract, and the measurements would get progressively shorter!
I also think this answers the mystery of the thicker girth from a sleeping erection. Sleep activates the parasympathetic system which in turn relaxes smooth muscle. I think this may be a more effective relaxation of smooth muscle than a waking erection, which will allow it to get girthier with less internal pressure, because the tension from smooth muscle is less. Its kind of like blowing up a stretched out balloon vs a newer tighter one.
From this I am wondering if maximum bpfsl is a good indicator that the smooth muscle has recovered completely and is ready for further stress? The problem with stressing connective tissue when the smooth muscle wants to hold it in a contracted state, is that it allows it to heal the micro tears in this contracted state and may be counter productive. Most guys report gains when they are also seeing heavy and long flaccid…clear indicator that the smooth muscle isn’t damaged to the point of contraction…which then allows the connective tissue to recover or heal in a more extended state, both length and girth.
I’m gonna stop now, because if I high jack this thread, I will have to send myself a nasty PM…and I don’t want to piss myself off! :)
