12 replies to this topic

[ajdos]

Does anyone on the forums talk nutz and bolts about training anymore- I mean when Im out and about I see questions on DC and things but it is less and less anyones first hand experiences on some sort of training experience and some results they got or didnt get from there last regimen.
It seems the forums are just plagues with "check my cycle" posts more and more and nothing about systems to encourage the "growth" stimulus anymore.
Now its all about chemically bombarding the body and tricking it into some new kinda arm chair growth.
Maybe Im just old and grumpy and tired of seeing those "cycle" posts from idiots with less than a year of training under their belts...but its disturbing to me that there seems to be no original though anymore, no experimentation, just the same tired ass mantras of training that have been around for years.
I myself have been guilty at times of having little to say but from time to time I like to point things out that dont seem to be discussed.
Its no wonder the physiques on the boards seem to be less and less- overtraining, overdosing, and under eating seem to be the followed path of failure.
Yet the questions always center around gear, and if the gear isnt working then peptides and insulin are next in the cabinet.
I will share one of my latest personal discoveries with training.
I have been dieting for about 13 weeks now. I have had a multitude of injuries this off season which carried into my diet.
I had taken full weeks off at a time more than any time in my training history and yet the inflammation of my left elbow and shoulders seemed only to worsen. Now compounded by diet and cardio it seemed to me that my body was falling apart and I looked introspectively into the face of old father time thinking that my days may have passed and hard, intense, heavy workouts would be a thing of the past.
Quite by accident, I found that I was wrong.
Something I have written about many times was occurring but I didnt realize that it had manifested itself to such a degree. What I thought was being rested enough, wasnt even close. So, after a full week off , I ended up with a fucked up work schedule and my off time was just as hectic. So I ended up only training three whole times in a seven day period...I felt like I was shrinking, felt like it was me being a pussy. The next week I only was able to go to the gym 4 times. Now during this time I was dieting hard and doing cardio anywhere from 6-10 times a week. But it dawned on me that my elbow was healing and I was feeling better when I trained.
So, I decided that I would only train when I "felt" like I had fully recuperated from the previous lift- sometimes this was the next day, sometimes one or 2 days before I went back- but completely by feel.
With some of my lifts I noticed small changes but starting three weeks ago I was up to 315 on incline bench and 585 on deadlift (average for me) . By the end of the three week period I went up to 335 and then to 365 on incline bench, while dieting...and deads went from 585 to 615 to 635 thats a 50 lb increase on both lifts with a calorically restricted diet.
What I can say about this is that mentally I almost feel as if I am undertraining. But the thing I realized that seems to never be spoken of is that while dieting, the body recovers slower and growth occurs at a slower rate if at all sometimes...so why do we continue to train with the same frequency? No one seems to talk about it- the training intensity and volume I am using is more per workout but the frequency at which I impose the stress is less frequent allowing for growth to actually take place, even in a calorically limited environment.
Makes me think that I was doing the same last year in an over eagerness to improve certain lagging bodyparts and come in to this years shows at 265-270.
Guess it only shows that even a seasoned vet in the game can still learn something...always learn something.
I would bet that many people on the forums suffer from this malady, I would suggest that everyone take a close look at your training schedule and honestly assess are you recovering or are you wearing yourself thin?

[PERSIANBOLIC]

Great post AJ, your absolutely right. It does seem that majority of posts nowadays are more and more about AS. Its funny you mention your experience, because Im doing the same thing. I wont move on to the next body part unless I am fully recuperated, if that means waiting two or three days extra then so be it. I realized I get better pumps and lifting stats when I follow this regimen. Im also pretty cut (hard gainer) with a low BF% so im constantly bulking and its definitely working out for me.

[deadweight]

Good post man.....I like the way you call out those that have a poor understanding of how rest is a soild foundation to the road of gaining....I myself train only 3 to 4 days a week.Due to many injurys which has me crippled most the time.But at the same time my lifts sky rocket because im giving my body fule for the next workout to advance in the next level of growthWhen ever i pick up a mag like muscle and fitness i see all these long ass workouts with a ton of diff exercizes ..WTF?i MEAN HELL DUDE,how the fuck can anyone gain with so much on there plate?Im old school and back in the old school rest was pointed out like common law.More is not beeter.Im no BB but its all the same when it comes down to growth and gaining.No workout should last 2 hours like i see most bb do.I look at them and measure them up then the next time around they are still doing the same shit and with that siad thats why they are still at the same level of fitness.Same lifts,same old body weight.same size muscles....Just the fucking same all around.Sure enough if any of these over worked junkies are still around 10 years from now im sure they will come to realize less is better and they will also have years of their own judgement that what works and what not.In the weight game there are so many cacth 22 situations..that for that or this for this........For me the sercert is years and years of training.Learning what best fit my needs and so forth.I could rambel on and on about mistakes new people make but just like clogged ears they dont hear me....LIVE AND LEARN....dw

[ashley2212]

Excellent post.

This has aggravated me with the boards for quite some time. You have to weed through the hundreds of people to find one that can (or WILL) talk intelligently about exercise/diet.

I recently posted on another board: "too many people don't push their natural potential to its limits before they start using gear."

I see too many 18 year old kids... and skinny women... running cycles without eating and training properly first.

Imo, AS should be "frosting on the cake" - NOT the foundation.

[macjohn64]

very well put AJ.

[Realize]

So I guess the lesson is to listen to your body.

The problem is that most of us tend to think that we are short changing ourselves if we miss a workout. I remember reading that Branch Warren said that if he can get out of bed then he can go to the gym. After reading that I always feel ashamed if I miss the gym.

ps. Great post AJ !!!

[muerto]

TTT, Dam good Post Brotha!! There is more than 1 determining factor in this lifestyle. One must exploit every area and only through trial and error will you learn. Again awesome post.

[MissKBuff]

EXCELLENT post....we really do, definitely need some more solid beef on the boards, instead of the superficial shit about cycles and such...you can't get anywhere great without a solid NATURAL foundation...

I was going to rant a little more on the subject, but then I read Ashley's post, and I have got to say that this sentence is definitely the basis of all argument on the subject for me...

"AS should be "frosting on the cake" - NOT the foundation." - YES!

[juiced2damax]

Great insight in this thread. I am not plagued with injury (minus a pulled hamstring for the past week). But for the most part injury free elsewhere. I am a firm believer in only training after your body has recovered from previous workouts.

ie- If I can barely walk from my legs being sore then I take the next day, maybe even 2 days off. It is counterproductive to tear up other muscle groups when you're body is working so efficiently to repair the ones you've already worked. The body would just have to work that much harder if other muscle groups were/are in need of repair and could hinder that growth.

[MissKBuff]

I hate to be this guy because I feel like I'm turning this post into a "Body Building 101" but ajdos is right. Not too long ago I switched multivitamins and I feel more energetic throughout the day and I feel like my workouts are better. Reminded me of the importance of a good multivitamin. A lot of people forget such basics.

Agreed! A good multivitamin is essential

[monsoon]

my problem is that I just like training too damn much and it's very hard for me to take time off. However, my work schedule usually forces 2-3 days off a week.