Five Best T-Nation Articles

Training Bodybuilding
21

[quote]Professor X wrote:

My point is, even with info dropped literally into your lap, you felt that wasn’t enough.[/quote]

As I’ve already explained, I’m not familiar with the website and my observation skills are poor. It wasn’t about me “not feeling that it’s enough,” as much as it is not knowing about them.

[quote]Professor X wrote:
People like that bother me. It tells me that before the internet, people like this would have made NO progress and looked for NO info on their own, waiting for someone to do all of their research for them. Imagine how you would act if you actually had to drive to a library for this.[/quote]

I’ve done plenty of searching for information on my own. I’ve purchased over ten training books, and yes, I’ve even taken out lifting books at my local library. It’s this website that I’m unfamiliar with…

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I can only imagine you would give up before finding your car keys. It shows no initiative that you didn’t even read the beginner’s forum and didn’t notice the first posts in the section stuck to the top of the page with a title screaming to be read by newbies. Ask yourself, do people like that really belong here?[/quote]

Why not? This site is open to anyone. Most people probably feel overwhelmed at first. I’ve visited other forums, and once becoming aware of the layout and features, I’ve been able to find exactly what I want. The goal here was not laziness, but efficiency. If the option is open to you, use it.

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I happen to think not but maybe you can enlighten me on why someone needs to grab your hand and walk you through it all.[/quote]

Common courtesy. If someone has a few articles at their fingertips, they can list them. If not, then you don’t have to respond. If there are articles that are repeated, I’ll know where to begin my search.

(If you were persistent enough, you would have figured all of this out already, and you wouldn’t be asking me.)

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Some seem to think this is an interesting thread. I think it is not about listing what threads you like the most because that isn’t what was asked.[/quote]

If I had known it was going to go this way, I would have just asked the question, without explanation. No one would have known the difference. I could even have listed five random articles and I doubt many would think twice about it. In this sense, I was more fair to forum posters, since, if they don’t like my reason for the request, they don’t have to respond.

Jason

22

2 of my faves

http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=546953

http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do;jsessionid=62AB534B196570C544923A0E4F571D38.hydra?id=651322&pageNo=0

23

Dude, with all the time you spent arguing to Prof. X, you could’ve read like 4 or 5 articles on here.

I seriously think that you shouldn’t be allowed to post for like a month or so after you register to join the website. It would force people to just read and read. I lurked for a couple of weeks before I registered and probably made like 4 or 5 posts in the first month after that, it was mostly just browsing through the archives.

Just start reading man, and you’ll pick things up. It’s always better to find your own path through something than to have others spoon-feed it to you.

Here’s what I did. I read a couple of articles and found an author that seemed to have the same mindset and goals as me- in my case it was Joe DeFranco. Follow one of their programs religously (for me, WS4SB) while continuing to read things. After about a month, you’ll have a better grasp on what you need and what programs will work for you. You’ll learn more from one month of following a workout by the book and just thinking about why certain things were included (or not included) and what you like or you think is working then anything you could read.

Practical experience > book knowledge.

24

You can always try the “Random Article” function. If the article isn’t what you’re looking for, try it again until you get something you want to read.

It should go without saying, but vroom’s “Are you a beginner II” should be required reading for all new members. I got lost in there for a month before I posted anything.

25

[quote]jason_m wrote:

Why not? This site is open to anyone. Most people probably feel overwhelmed at first. I’ve visited other forums, and once becoming aware of the layout and features, I’ve been able to find exactly what I want. The goal here was not laziness, but efficiency. If the option is open to you, use it.

[/quote]

Knowledge isn’t about “efficiency”. There are men who have spent their entire lives doing research on topics related to strength training…and they still don’t know enough. This isn’t about finding the most efficient one true right way to train but to build your own base of knowledge so you even understand what questions to ask.

I personally don’t read many of the articles here at all and would recommend a col;lege level biology and anatomy&physiology book to most people before they ever start depending on the opinions and thoughts of others. People want it quick and easy. Nothing about this is quick and easy. Your goal here was laziness. You just don’t think anyone else can see it.

26

Shoulder savers I and II
Knee savers
Elbow savers
7 habits of staying lean?
anyone about proper deadlifting or full squatting.

27

Cressey (any)
Robertson (any)
Thibaudeau (any)
‘my experience on the anabolic diet’ thread
Waterbury (any)
Berardi (any)
Poliquin Q and As

(No disrespect to other authors, this is what i’ve been reading and growing off)

Vroom’s beginners thread is obviously a must,
and i saw ‘anti-skinnyfat manifesto’ as a good general ‘manifesto’, you should read that.
Read all these man. Then make a 6 month plan, work your plan.

Prof X is a purist, and i can see why his attutude can be off-putting. He’s testament to reading and effort though.

28

Professor X Why do you even bother replying if you don?t like the sound of the post. Don?t waste your time reading it just go read something else, or better yet go do something productive instead of ripping on a guy that wants an idea where to start.

29

[quote]Think tank fish wrote:
Professor X Why do you even bother replying if you don?t like the sound of the post. Don?t waste your time reading it just go read something else, or better yet go do something productive instead of ripping on a guy that wants an idea where to start.[/quote]

Because he doesn’t want an idea of where to start, he wants to be spoon-fed information. Shit, this website is “the start”. If you’re too lazy to spend 15 minutes sifting through articles until you find one you like, I can only imagine your intensity in the gym.

30

[quote]Think tank fish wrote:
Professor X Why do you even bother replying if you don?t like the sound of the post. Don?t waste your time reading it just go read something else, or better yet go do something productive instead of ripping on a guy that wants an idea where to start.[/quote]

An idea? You mean, LIKE THE ENTIRE BEGINNER’S FORUM? Making a thread titled “Are you a beginner?” isn’t enough? What the hell would anyone else need to get “an idea” of where to start?

This site needs to be handing out mental wheelchairs if people are that damn lazy. The ones enabling them are even worse.

31

[quote]jason_m wrote:
I’ve been a member here for a while, but I haven’t visited this site too often. I’ve noticed that there is a huge number of articles.

I haven’t viewed many of them, but would like to learn more. Therefore, in order to visit the cream of the crop first, I ask that you list what you think are the five best articles at this site. [/quote]

Isn’t what the best five articles for you based on your current knowledge, area’s of limited knowledge, and goals?

Take for example me: I know I needed some direction in nutrition and supplements so I headed that way. I wanted to read some about discoveries in workouts and such so I read some applicable articles.

I think my best tool was the search button in the articles section (not the forum search). Using that tool I found articles specific to what i wanted/needed to know, and I found articles I would not have found by simply browsing through the articles or authors section.

32

I put this together awhile ago with a bunch of good articles. Not all the article links work due to the last redesign of the website but I believe you will still be able to find some good ones here.

It hasn’t been updated recently so many of the articles that are in the archives now aren’t in there, but it would be a good place to start. Good luck!

33

Research Kelly Baggett. You seem kind of lazy so I’ll go ahead and post a link to some of his articles.

EDIT: here’s a better link…

34

What you have asked for, OP, is for everyone to give their opinion on what you should (and therefore also should not) read. You dont see any problem with that?? Without a goal you are wasting time. You’ll get to the point where youll want someone to lift the bar for you too…

However, to keep in the spirit of things, I will recommend this link – this is all you need to know for now:

http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1237442

But Im guessing that if your current level of non-engagement and non-initiative persists you wont have any gains to show.

35

All anyone had to ask was “What are your goals?”

Instead, once again, I see a bunch of bullying, rude responses.

Why do people feel the need to respond so unhelpfully? Say nothing if the best you can do is bait someone over their request, however basic you think it is.

I’m sure you’ll find the need to respond to this now.

Feel free if you really need to flex your “muscles” you big bad macho mutha you! Gimme your best shot!

PS. Vroom’s Beginners thread is superb.

36

[quote]Ran wrote:
All anyone had to ask was “What are your goals?”

[/quote]

Good question. Wreckless alluded to this in the first post.

If you are trying to lose 100 pounds Scrawny to Brawny may not be for you.

37

I see, and youre the champion of the oppressed are you…?

I clicked on this link originally thinking the question was of the general interest nature, you know, like – “what 3 programs have you made the most gains on” or “who are your top 3 bodybuilders of all time”. Instead its “uh… Im not very observant and I dont have the patience or initiative to look for myself (even though its in plain site!) so can you tell me what I should be doing?” And I can understand why people get annoyed with that attitude after a while.

38

Profesor X: Breathe in, breathe out.

Just pretend jason_m asked " Hey guys, what’re your 5 favorite articles?" and be quiet.

Remember what someone said about arguing on the internet!

39

Far from it. Like most relatively mature individuals I don’t see the point in this kind of behavior.

What’s the point in flexing your virtual muscles because someone asked a question you don’t like?

And for the record, the question heading is pretty clear - “Five Best T-Nation Articles” not "“what 3 programs have you made the most gains on” or “who are your top 3 bodybuilders of all time”.

Ran