Greg Oden: 30 Pounds Muscle, 5 Months

Off Topic
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[quote]Whey Man wrote:

  1. Wow. You think I’m the one who’s ignorant? Look at yourselves. You’re judging my knowledge based on the fact that I’m 174. Wow. Sorry. Didn’t know I had to weigh more to have an opinion. I think I’ll stay around 174 for athletic purposes…thanks though. [/quote]

No, I am judging your knowledge based upon your ability to perform basic mathematical reasoning. Which is why in my initial post I said it wasn’t all muscle. Do the math. See here:

The article says: Oden has the same body-fat percentage (7.8%) that he did when he was drafted. Only now, he is 30 pounds heavier. Translation: he gained 30 pounds of muscle.

Can you really not see how it doesn’t make any sense? It wasn’t entirely muscle. If it was, his body-fat percentage would have DROPPED (it’s a PERCENTAGE, you see).

Couple that with my earlier reasonings and those of others thus far, and there really is no need to either alert either Guinness as to his achievement, or the fire department as to his pants.

And yes, believe it or not, you DO have to have put a little muscle on your frame to know what, exactly, goes into the process of it. I don’t give a shit WHY you choose to stay at the weight you do, but if you have never attempted to slap a little meat on your bones, you really don’t get how quickly it can happen for a beginner.

Think about it: the people so far who are agreeing it IS possible are the people who haven’t run around wearing medium T-shirts after their first 6 months of training. The people who are saying it is exaggerated are the ones who don’t even look like the lift in a swimsuit.

Do you REALLY want me to say whether or not I think you’re ignorant?

…you’re welcome, though.

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[quote]conner wrote:
Whey Man wrote:

  1. Wow. You think I’m the one who’s ignorant? Look at yourselves. You’re judging my knowledge based on the fact that I’m 174. Wow. Sorry. Didn’t know I had to weigh more to have an opinion. I think I’ll stay around 174 for athletic purposes…thanks though.

No, I am judging your knowledge based upon your ability to perform basic mathematical reasoning. Which is why in my initial post I said it wasn’t all muscle. Do the math. See here:

The article says: Oden has the same body-fat percentage (7.8%) that he did when he was drafted. Only now, he is 30 pounds heavier. Translation: he gained 30 pounds of muscle.

Can you really not see how it doesn’t make any sense? It wasn’t entirely muscle. If it was, his body-fat percentage would have DROPPED (it’s a PERCENTAGE, you see).

Couple that with my earlier reasonings and those of others thus far, and there really is no need to either alert either Guinness as to his achievement, or the fire department as to his pants.

And yes, believe it or not, you DO have to have put a little muscle on your frame to know what, exactly, goes into the process of it. I don’t give a shit WHY you choose to stay at the weight you do, but if you have never attempted to slap a little meat on your bones, you really don’t get how quickly it can happen for a beginner.

Think about it: the people so far who are agreeing it IS possible are the people who haven’t run around wearing medium T-shirts after their first 6 months of training. The people who are saying it is exaggerated are the ones who don’t even look like the lift in a swimsuit.

Do you REALLY want me to say whether or not I think you’re ignorant?

…you’re welcome, though.[/quote]

  1. Look, all I’m saying is that it’s not 30 pounds of pure muscle. That’s it! That’s all I’m saying. He may have added 30 pounds, but it isn’t all muscle. Geez guys. And thanks for the math lesson, but I haven’t even mentioned fat% throughout this thread. I just simply listed it in the beginning as per the report, I haven’t said ANYTHING else about it. So stop talking to me like I’m an idiot. You’re making arguements that were never even presented by myself. You assume way too much. It’s like me saying the words “ice cream” and you telling me I’m an idiot for eating something so unhealthy, even though I didn’t even say anything else about it. Ridiculous, right? Yeah, ridiculous…

  2. Yes…I have no muscle. Apparently my arms look pretty small, don’t they? Clearly I know nothing and am a newbie. And what makes you think I haven’t added weight in the past? You say you don’t care about my history, but you better if you’re going to make claims aboutme and be a complete douchebag about it.

  3. You guys say I don’t know the specifics about the time Oden started lifting…fair enough…but you all keep saying how he’s a newbie lifter. What gives YOU the right to assume things about him but not me?

  4. I hate arguing, I hate ignorance, and I HATE when people are so caught up in disagreeing with that they don’t see what I’m trying to say in the first place. Perhaps my thoughts are very undefined and unclear in this thread, and that’s my fault if that’s the case. I also apologize if I in turn am overlooking some of the things you guys are saying as well. For instance, I just noticed your post earlier in the thread about how it’s not all muscle, and I COMPLETELY agree with that, and I’m sorry if I made it sound like I didn’t. I’m simply talking about this SPECIFIC situation where many variables are in effect…I’m saying I think it’s highly unlikely for Mr. Oden during this time of his life to have really gained that much pure muscle in that amount of time (most of it coming within the last few months), and that the report was overexaggerated. If he did gain 30 pounds in that amount of time where he was able to not gain much fat…well then he’s just simply a freak (obviously a mesomorph).

  5. Bottom line…I’m NOT saying impossible…I’m saying UNLIKELY in this case. I can’t be any more bottom line than that.

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[quote]Whey Man wrote:

  1. Look, all I’m saying is that it’s not 30 pounds of pure muscle. That’s all I’m saying. He may have added 30 pounds, but it isn’t all muscle. Geez guys. [/quote]

You say this, then follow with:

[quote]Whey Man wrote:
And thanks for the math lesson, but I haven’t even mentioned fat% throughout this thread. I just simply listed it in the beginning as per the report, I haven’t said ANYTHING else about it. So stop talking to me like I’m an idiot. You’re making arguements that were never even presented by myself. [/quote]

If the point you were trying to make is that the article is incorrect, you SHOULD have mentioned that discrepancy. I’m talking to you like you are an idiot because you can’t even back up your assertions with a basic, factual observation that would prove your point.

It would’ve gone over a hell of a lot better than [quote]All I can say is…yeah right…[/quote]

[quote]Whey Man wrote:
2) Yes…I have no muscle. Apparently my arms look pretty small, don’t they? Clearly I know nothing and am a newbie. And what makes you think I haven’t added weight in the past? You say you don’t care about my history, but you better if you’re going to make claims aboutme and be a complete douchebag about it.[/quote]

At 6 feet, 174 lbs, I fail to see how your arms can be anything but small. Call me crazy. The illusion of size through low bf% does not equal hyoooge.

[quote]Whey Man wrote:
I’m saying it’s HIGHLY unlikely for Mr. Oden during this time of his life to have really gained that much puremuscle in that amount of time (most of it coming within the last few months), and that the report was probably overexaggerated.[/quote]

The report was incorrect. Once again, if your point was that it wasn’t all muscle, you should have mentioned the math proving it as such, instead of [quote]Ehh… [/quote] and the remark about his arm definition in college.

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this thread is making me L O L

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Again, I apologize for being unlcear. Yes, I started this thread out with lazy and gernal rsponses. Ok? I get that, that’s a my bad. I just assumed most would be thinking like me on the subject, so I didn’t feel the need to delve any further than “Ehhh” type response. Clearly I need to present myself and opinions better in future instances.

And I know I’m not “hyyyuuuuge” or anything, and I can appreciate the efforts and first hand knowledge from those like you (assuming you’re fairly large) who have personally gone through the experieince of doing so, but please don’t think I’m some puny punk with stick arms and legs running around telling other people how to gain mass. Despite the low weight, I do believe it or not have good amount of size. Can I have more? Yes. Do I know how to get more? Yes. It’s actually rather easy for me. Am I choosing not to take that route at this time? Yes.

I usually hate it when people brag about themselves and what not, because they usually over exaggerate how big they really are. But I’m just trying to say I’m not as small as my weight makes me sound.

26

Why would anyone think this report is even accurate in the first place?

I tend to doubt this stuff, not because it is not possible but because reporters tend to get EVERYTHING wrong.

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[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Why would anyone think this report is even accurate in the first place?

I tend to doubt this stuff, not because it is not possible but because reporters tend to get EVERYTHING wrong.[/quote]

Yeah, they exaggerate everything to make a good story. Heck, I’d do it too though if I were them. :stuck_out_tongue:

28

When I read the story on ESPN online, it was in the context of “Oden told to not gain any more muscle”. I thought I’d post THAT story, since I think it’s debatable whether he’s really jeopardizing his knee by having bulked up his upper body. To me, it would be more hazardous being skinny and having to go against guys like Shaq who would punish him physically.
But, the OP obviously went in a different direction. I don’t doubt that he gained that muscle. I did wonder if he maybe was given HGH or something to possibly aid in the recovery of his knee injury. But we don’t need to debate that, we really don’t. Besides, I’m tired out from that damn Barry Bonds thread. Doc

29

[quote]conner wrote:
It wasn’t all muscle (do the math). [/quote]

Nice catch. Whoever wrote that article is definitely not so bright.

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It would be tough to believe if he was an average joe putting in 45 minute session when he could through out the week, but as has been mentioned he is an athlete whose sole goal is to become as athletic as possible. All he does is build his life around training and work to put on some muscle.

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It would seem to be legit.

The trainer for the Blazers comments in this story.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1195446340227160.xml&coll=7&thispage=1

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Dr PowerClean I definitely think this is going to hurt his knee. Considering its already severly damaged, and he isn’t running to come back and sprint up and down the court with 30lbs more than you could handle before.

People are forgetting how young Greg Oden is and how tall he is, and the fact that he’s a basketball player. His height and age make him a prime example of high natural hgh and testosterone. Gaining 30 lbs will be nothing for him from 250. The fact that he’s a basketball player makes it highly likely he’s dehydrated a few pounds during the season, and severly overtrained. Many highschool basketball players the first 2 weeks after the season ends get bigger stronger and jump higher without working out at all.

33

[quote]red04 wrote:
jsbrook wrote:
Not possible? Are you people kidding. 6 lbs of muscle a month is not very miraculous for what is basically a newbie. And it’s not all muscle. Some is increased glycogen. Some is water. Some is fat. Even if he did stay at 7.8% bodyfat, his bodyfat increased. His bodyfat percentage would’ve gone down if adding all that muscle and no fat. This is entirely realistic for a new lifter.

Finally someone who knows what a % is.[/quote]

Seriously… If you have a higher amount of muscle you can carry more fat while still having a lower bf PERCENTAGE

34

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Dr PowerClean I definitely think this is going to hurt his knee. Considering its already severly damaged, and he isn’t running to come back and sprint up and down the court with 30lbs more than you could handle before.

People are forgetting how young Greg Oden is and how tall he is, and the fact that he’s a basketball player. His height and age make him a prime example of high natural hgh and testosterone. Gaining 30 lbs will be nothing for him from 250. The fact that he’s a basketball player makes it highly likely he’s dehydrated a few pounds during the season, and severly overtrained. Many highschool basketball players the first 2 weeks after the season ends get bigger stronger and jump higher without working out at all. [/quote]

I follow basketball, but not fanatically. Is his knee as bad as Amare Stoudamire’s? If it is, he’s in for a rough road ahead, and I can understand the team’s concern about the added weight.

And yes, I saw many “genetic freaks” in my day. I was friends with Kenny Lanier, who ended up having a fine career as an OT for the Broncos. We had basically the same height and weight, 6-4/5, 280ish. Mine came from seven years of brutal training and fanatic nutrition, his came from his Mom and Dad. Seriously, I watched him grow forty pounds of muscle over two years with almost ZERO weight training, no AAS, and just eating like a hungry kid. It happens. Doc

35

[quote]Dr.PowerClean wrote:
Airtruth wrote:
Dr PowerClean I definitely think this is going to hurt his knee. Considering its already severly damaged, and he isn’t running to come back and sprint up and down the court with 30lbs more than you could handle before.

People are forgetting how young Greg Oden is and how tall he is, and the fact that he’s a basketball player. His height and age make him a prime example of high natural hgh and testosterone. Gaining 30 lbs will be nothing for him from 250. The fact that he’s a basketball player makes it highly likely he’s dehydrated a few pounds during the season, and severly overtrained. Many highschool basketball players the first 2 weeks after the season ends get bigger stronger and jump higher without working out at all.

I follow basketball, but not fanatically. Is his knee as bad as Amare Stoudamire’s? If it is, he’s in for a rough road ahead, and I can understand the team’s concern about the added weight.

And yes, I saw many “genetic freaks” in my day. I was friends with Kenny Lanier, who ended up having a fine career as an OT for the Broncos. We had basically the same height and weight, 6-4/5, 280ish. Mine came from seven years of brutal training and fanatic nutrition, his came from his Mom and Dad. Seriously, I watched him grow forty pounds of muscle over two years with almost ZERO weight training, no AAS, and just eating like a hungry kid. It happens. Doc

[/quote]

I think there are a lot more people who are capable of insane gains than most would realize. There are tons of “big boned” people walking around with a natural strength level and size comparable to intermediate weight lifters who do not touch weights. Put them in a weight room for a year and I bet they’d blow all sorts of local gym records away.

Lots of people who do lift weights don’t eat well enough, don’t sleep enough etc and get pretty big and strong regardless, but could probably put up much greater numbers on the scales and in the rack should they make a few adjustments to their diets and sleeping patterns.

The body fat thing isn’t hard to believe either. When I joined this site, my first body building discussion forum, I was surprised at how many people not only don’t perform cardio, but detest it.

Combining weight training, cardio and a proper diet with good rest can bring huge gains with out fat increases for anyone. I would imagine the people in awe of this “phenomenon” have not run a collective 2 miles in 4 years or sprinted since grade school P.E.

I guess as an ex wrestler/current grappler I’m used to manipulating body weight. Granted most changes were water in season, but from one season to the next in HS it wasn’t uncommon to move up weight classes 15-20lbs heavier while maintaining the same body fat, and body fat was scrutinized heavily due to stringent weigh in rules.

That is not to say that gains such as those mentioned are easy to achieve, but they are possible and for more people than a select few. It would take an athletes dedication to training, including cardio, but it could be done. With the proper stimuli, fuel and rest, a body can do crazy things.