Um, something very wierd just occured. I went out to do my bodyweight circuit and I couldn't manage even ONE pullup! This is a puzzle to me as I was able to do 5 easily earlier in the week. I'm still a little sore, but not THAT sore. All I've done this week is a run and a few pullups on monday and swimming this morning. What the bloody hell is going on?
What have you been doing over the last few weeks? Have you been sleeping OK? Have you been doing the Christmas indulgence thing? Is is possible you've got a low level infection (cold/flu etc). Sometimes your body is fighting things off/recovering from something you are unaware of and you only notice it when you try to do a workout.
LOL! It might be worth giving the cleans a rest tomorrow (or if you're so OCD that you can't, just do a light set with lower than normal weights).
news just in: I tried eating a packet of oatcakes and a snickers bar, waiting 10 minutes and trying again, and I managed a pullup. Could it be that the glycogen levels in my 'muscles' have been depleted?
It's a possibility. The swimming will definitely wear you out though. I'd recommend either doing pull-ups the same day you swim and before you hit the water, or save the swimming for where you have a day of rest after. Make sure you're stretching your lats too.
right, something to bear in mind then. It's bloody alarming having all your precious pullups suddenly disappear on you.
Another thing to be careful of when using a swimming workout is that you rehydrate afterwards. A lot of people forget to do this because they don't notice that they're sweating when they're in the water.
Probably just fatigue, but there's a very slim chance of a minor injury. Either way a bit of rest is probably in order. 5 is 5, I'm willing to bet you didn't start out doing 10 reps. I'd also be willing to bet I could outdo your pullups at a heavier bodyweight, but telling the OP how much better I am doesn't exactly help with anything.
As hypocritical as this sounds coming from me, you need rest. I had an episode last month where I was failing weights I normally used for warm up. Took a week off(very reluctantly), did light stuff, and regained all my previous strength just fine.
we'll see how the workout goes tomorrow. I take a day off on friday anyway. I think it's probably just a case of waiting until my recovery ability catches up with my new schedule.