[quote]Rusi wrote:
I really did hit the weights during those months. I didn’t miss a single workout. I started with 95 pounds squat and got it to 290 for 4 reps. I started with 95 pounds deadlift and got it to 375 for 5 reps. Bench started at 75 pounds and ended at 185 for 3 reps. Military press started with bar and ended at 120 for 3 reps. Pull-ups have remain the same number - 8 reps.
Anyway I’m now focused on bodybuilding and changed some of the exercises. I do front squat, leg presses and hack squats because I have long legs and the back squat is more of glute exercises for me. Also started doing dumbbell bench because I feel it hit my chest much more and there is less shoulder pain. The regular bench only made my front delts grow a little and did nothing for chest.
Looking back the biggest mistake I did was not being honest with myself - I started training because I wanted to gain muscle and look good which is pure bodybuilding but then I got into that thinking - bodybuilding is bad and so on, bodybuilders are not strong which is ridiculous. Anyway I’m happy now. [/quote]
That means your results were based on NOT training for optimal muscle mass…and then noticing you didn’t gain optimal muscle mass.
Man, I really wish a lot more newbies would read this thread before going and recommending Starting Strength to every new lifter interested in bodybuilder.
[quote]jskrabac wrote:
Man, I really wish a lot more newbies would read this thread before going and recommending Starting Strength to every new lifter interested in bodybuilder. [/quote]
Starting Strength is not a cure-all by any means, but like I said earlier, there’s really no problem with the advice in Starting Strength (especially the advice on gaining weight, which is what we’re talking about in this thread).
The problems come from misinterpretation or misapplication of that advice. And that speaks more to a combo of shortened attention span, lack of common sense, and a hope for a quick-fix solution.
[quote]jskrabac wrote:
Man, I really wish a lot more newbies would read this thread before going and recommending Starting Strength to every new lifter interested in bodybuilder. [/quote]
The problems come from misinterpretation or misapplication of that advice. And that speaks more to a combo of shortened attention span, lack of common sense, and a hope for a quick-fix solution.[/quote]
This is a great thread. Really good discussion no name calling this is how all threads should be. I dont know how many times i have read on so many different threads these points. Gain weight not excessive amounts of fat. Lift with extreme intensity. That is the recipe to get big. I still have not read in one of these threads eat as much food as possible and just gain weight (ie fat). I dont no where anyone gets this from.
Anyways i dont really have much to say but if 20lbs is the max you can gain in a year or what ever was said i better stop lifting until Jan. because i went from 155 (which was down form 180 over the course of 2 years) up to 185 in 8months. So i shouldnt be able to add anymore muscle till Jan becuase i am over the limit. i think not. I am in vegas right now and putting these buffets to shame for 4 days. Am i eating too much maybe. Am i enjoying hell yes. Is it going to ruin me or my goals or anything. No. Still training my ass off 2 workouts a day. Maybe i can go even farther past that limit of weight gain.
[quote]jskrabac wrote:
Man, I really wish a lot more newbies would read this thread before going and recommending Starting Strength to every new lifter interested in bodybuilder. [/quote]
Yes, this is true. I’ve also had to change my mindset completely. For example when I started training I was so: “Squats are the real shit. Leg presses are for pussies…” I was completely caught into that Rippetoe is the man and there is nothing else. But then I realize it’s not like that and that bodybuilding is about finding what works for you.
I never had sore quads or hamstrings from squats but once I added hack squats, leg presses, front squats, RDLs and leg curls I finally felt my legs working. Also I don’t see how leg presses or hack squats are for pussies at least to me they seem just as tough as squats. (I know you will argue).
Also I never had sore chest from bench press. However I had sore front delts all the time. Once I added a decline bench and a dumbbell bench I was finally able to understand that I actually have chest muscles. Of course soreness is not indication of good progress but it’s very good indication which muscle was hit and used during a certain movement.
Starting Strength made me stronger but I thing it’s not the optimal bodybuilding program for beginners. It’s probably good to use Starting Strength to learn the basic movements squat, bench and deadlift, build a small strength base and then add or change something. However following the dietary advice which comes with the program would be ridiculous. I never did that GOMAD thing and gained 45 pounds in around 6 months. All that with a lot of fat and water.
However Rippetoe claims that many people will gain 50 pounds in 3-4 months and about 60% of that being LBM if they follow the GOMAD stuff. Technically this is correct to some point but LBM does not mean muscle. And if I gained 45 pounds and 20 of that are fat, 10-15 of that are water and glycogen it leaves me with 10-15 pounds of muscle. So if I combine the water and gained muscle mass it’s really around 60% LBM but who cares about water gains. I lost 5-7 pounds of water in 10 days after removing carbs from my diet. So my conclusion is that the mass gains from Starting Strength are around 30-40% muscle. lol ;0
In my case I gained around 10-15 pounds of muscle in six months. I could’ve done that without the fat if I was focused on gaining just 2 pounds a month. I would’ve end up at the same place but I would’ve save some money from food, some time in the toilet and I don’t know but I think my strength gains would’ve been similar maybe a little less but who cares if you squat 275 or 290 - it’s not impressive in both cases.
[quote]Rusi wrote:
However Rippetoe claims that many people will gain 50 pounds in 3-4 months and about 60% of that being LBM if they follow the GOMAD stuff.[/quote]
Where did he ever state this?
gomad is a good option for skinny kids and learning proper movement through constant repetition is one of the best ways to ingrained in their mind about the main lifts, it does work.
There are better options? maybe, i started with starting strength and i regret nothing.
[quote]kaisermetal wrote:
i regret nothing.[/quote]
That really only means something if the people watching you take your shirt off can say the same thing.[/quote]
True.
This isn’t a shot at you, Kaiser, but everyone has to remember that a gallon of whole milk is still 2,400 frickin’ calories. A person’s physique, metabolism, training, and whole food intake better merit that kind of boost.
I’m not necessarily knocking the GOMAD approach. If finances or other circumstances make that the best option for the situation, then have at it, but do it right and do it smart. I’ve also seen plenty of people using GOMAD as an excuse to get way out of shape, and then turn around and blame “the plan.”
i actually gained about 50 pounds in 3-4 months or so back in the day and I would say it was mostly muscle. Of course I was 6’2" and 150 pounds so my body was just dying to put on weight.
The real key and the reason I think Rippletoe says what he does is to not limit yourself to what is possible before you even start. Everyone’s situations are different so everyone is going to respond different, not exactly a complex thought.
[quote]kaisermetal wrote:
i regret nothing.[/quote]
That really only means something if the people watching you take your shirt off can say the same thing.[/quote]
True.
This isn’t a shot at you, Kaiser, but everyone has to remember that a gallon of whole milk is still 2,400 frickin’ calories. A person’s physique, metabolism, training, and whole food intake better merit that kind of boost.
I’m not necessarily knocking the GOMAD approach. If finances or other circumstances make that the best option for the situation, then have at it, but do it right and do it smart. I’ve also seen plenty of people using GOMAD as an excuse to get way out of shape, and then turn around and blame “the plan.”[/quote]
It’s true. Far too many people go mad with GOMAD. On a 3x a week program like SS, it’s inevitably going to lead to excessive fat gain if you’re chugging those cals down on off days with no other activity.
[/quote]
i think not. I am in vegas right now and putting these buffets to shame for 4 days. Am i eating too much maybe. Am i enjoying hell yes. Is it going to ruin me or my goals or anything. No. Still training my ass off 2 workouts a day. Maybe i can go even farther past that limit of weight gain.