This Could Be Important New Information

I’ve been charting my progress on a graph.

I’ve now made a discovery that I’m not sure has actually been noted as yet:

Over my last two cycles (hanging about 3kg) it’s taken me one and a half months of hanging, following each decon-break, before I started gaining again.

Click the link below for the graph. Here’s the key…

(The blue lines denote the beginning and end of two decon-breaks.)

1. The one-and-a-half-month period following the March/April deconditioning break, and leading up to mid-June, where gains resume.

2. A sudden increase on the graph resulting from both closer monitoring (when new gains began (at around mid-June) and re-gaining of length lost during the decon-break (had I anticipated posting these results to the forum I would have kept better records during this phase). The basic fact to note is that length remained constant for that one-and-a-half month period (leading up to mid-June) despite the fact that I was hanging a minimum of twelve sets every day.

3. Growth period, starts mid-June and slows to a plateau.

4. Plateau reached around the time I develop a thrombosis (probably due to long periods spent in the hanger (make sure to frequently promote good blood-flow)). I’m forced to discontinue hanging because of the thrombosis (at this point (end of November / beginning of December) I begin the next decon-break)

5. A slight retraction in length towards the end of the deconditioning break (this time around I’ve measured closely and accurately throughout.)

6. A second month-and-a-half period where no gains are made despite the fact that I’m regularly hanging up to eighteen sets a day (at just over 3kg (approx. just below 7lbs). The length lost through retraction during the decon-break is regained during this phase.)

7. Gains resume just after mid-March, at a fantastic rate (just what’s needed to compensate for the previous month-and-a-half), bringing my personal maximum gain-rate to a rough average of one eighth of an inch per month.

Very interesting, Mr. F. Lots of guys may be given up on hanging too soon.

I think so. It used to be set in stone that you had to hang for at least
three months before you could be sure that a routine was working for you. I don’t know why that’s changed. Maybe this is the reason for that old-school rule, and the explanation for ‘growth spurts’.

All measurements on the above graph are bone-pressed flaccid-stretch. Your results may differ.

As stated by ModestoMan; very interesting. I don’t think this only covers hanging, but other exercises out there also. “Consistency is the key”.

Mr. F, how long are your decon-breaks? I had been hanging consistently every day about 3-6 sets a day and have gotten up to 17lbs for my initial set. I actually hung at 18.75 this morning, but it felt a bit much. Anyway, I have been stuck on 7.25 side BPEL for awhile, and I was wondering if it may be because I do not take breaks? Because I always thought that days off were counter-productive, or so it has been said. I will search on here for a thread on this deconditioning break, and see what I can find. I have been away from this board for awhile, as I have been corresponding with bib about what my primary angle should be. I can’t get it figured out. I gained what I did by doing straight down and tugging, as well as hanging BTC. The BTC was for the past 2-3 months, and that is how long I have been stuck on 7.25.

If your gains slow to a stop then yes— take a deconditioning break. The last one I took was two months long, and was perfectly adequate (or at least it was perfectly adequate for me (results might differ)).

Check out the first link in my signature for more pertinent information, and definitely start keeping a graph (keeping a graph can accelerate your results).

Mr. F, fantastic contributions! It is interesting that you are seeing plateaus after your deconditioning breaks end. I would not have expected that. Have you been measuring erect length during the period graphed, and if so does it follow the same line?