This isn’t necessary. Besides, you can still read whatever threads you want or make a new account.
5/3/1 can really be quite “easy.” I don’t mean that it doesn’t take effort but you can literally have every single weight planned out for you, even for warmup sets, and don’t have to do much volume, besides the main lift and a couple assistance lifts.
You can do it if you put your mind to it.
I built a home gym before everything got totally nuts. My coach has me doing squats at like 50% for sets of 8. I questioned him on it, and he was like it is really tough to switch from a PLing / Strongman gym to your basement. Let’s make the workouts a bit less taxing, and really try to get all of them in to reinforce the habit of training in the basement. It is more volume, but much less intense. I don’t think I have lost any muscle, and I am looking leaner. I think it was a wise decision.
I’ve played the violin for 30 years now, arguably the hardest instrument to be great at. So trust me, I get it.
I also play the piano, and the guitar a little bit. Those instruments are MUCH easier to play. You can get to baseline proficiency in either of those in a matter of months without a ton of effort. I was playing popular songs on the guitar within a month of picking it up.
This guy is deadlifting 135. After 13 years. I think the odds of him learning to play stairway to heaven in one year are higher than hitting any respectable lifts in his lifetime. Guitar is just one of those hobbies where you reach a ‘fun’, non-frustrating point extremely fast. That’s a point that our OP will NEVER reach in the gym.
You could get good enough at the drums (my instrument) to play in a cover band or church band in a pretty short time IMO. So learning basics is easy.
Being really good is another story altogether. I would argue being rated as top tier by drummer magazine, guitar magazine, or violin weekly would each take extreme dedication to the instrument.
Nice! Didn’t know you were a music man too.
When I see you mention it these threads I start to imagine the paralysis by analysis that’d ensue. Humbuckers or single coil? Neck through or bolt on? WHAT SCALE LENGTH?!
Maybe just a recorder and a goal of hot crossed buns.
There’s a great video on youtube of a jazz musician (drummer) listening to Meshuggah. You might want to check that out.
OP, best of luck on your current attempt at this.
I have seen that one. I have seen a few of his videos actually. I saw one he did on Danny Carey, and maybe one on Neil Peart too? I can’t imagine being able to play like any of those guys. Peart was my first exposure to really good drumming that I am aware of. Been getting into tool more lately though. Danny has a style of playing that I haven’t heard anyone do anything similar to, although I can hear a bit of a Neil Peart influence in certain parts.
Thanks! I can’t blame anyone for shitting on me given my past efforts.
Yeah. This gets all of us at one time or another (or the opposite and people think they’re eating more than they are… or so I hear)
Yeah my gym was lending equipment to current members, but I didn’t have the room to transport a combo rack in my car or put one in my house/garage. So I just grabbed an axle and some plates for what I can do.
My main movements are pretty much zerchers, pushups, tempo OHP, tempo deadlift. I can’t mentally get in the zone in the same room that I usually watch movies and play xbox in, but I’m also getting awesome new stimuli from the zerchers and tempo work, especially on the axle. Hoping to move to the garage after it gets warmer.
Hi all.
I just wanted to say i stumbled on here from a web search. Didnt know T Nation existed. Mind im out the dark ages. Got an iphone last eek. Till then i had a Nokia with snake on it ha.
After reading this thread, all the non judgmental advice with a very challenging OP I’ve signed up to this forum. Credit to you all and hello.
OP. i just wanted to say i too feel your in your own way. Bit hey you stuck through this thread and respond very very well to constructive criticism. Seriously. Pick a routine and stick with for 12 weeks. A bodybuilders diet is %75 of how they look if not more. Get that hardcore! If your genetics are poor more so!
You can do it man! The guys on here and me have better things to do than waste time on a non starter. You got 150+ replies. People believe in you!! You start believing in you!! Stop listening to your internal neigh sayer. Its got nothing to say and its saying it to often and too loud. Get board of that voice quick.
Just 12 weeks man! Come on. You been on it over a decade! Commit to 12 wks
1- get your diet 100% spot on!!! This is paramount!
2- stick to one of the great routines from this thread for 12 weeks. Do not waver! If you want to swap out do that next 12 week block.
3- report back.
Theres a guy on this thread saying his natural build is toothpick limbs and marsh mallow body. Yet does he accept that. No!! Then why should you? I have max respect for the genetically challenged who refuse to stay like that and train through. Guys like this rock! Its not all about being mr universe. Look at those special olympics guys!
Its a mindset. Forget results! Just eat right and stick to that diet. Then train right. Then check your progress in week 12.
Usually id say monitor and adjust accordingly but as soon as you don’t see results it messes with your head snd you change.
Keep your head down and crack on.
Again respect for weathering this very personal thread.
Good luck and peace.
If a guy with average genetics thought he had the genetics of Ronnie Coleman I am wagering he would get better results than if he thought he had terrible genetics. It is a good idea to train like you potentially could one day be great.
I think this is now my go-to reply to any training questions from here on in.
it was a big part of my life for a long time. Now it’s just a thing that I do on occasion, lol. In high school, I thought I would end up being a violin performance major in college. I loved it. As I’ve said before on here, the 20 years and younger version of me, and the 25+ version of me are pretty stark contrasts. It’s hard to believe I’m both things.
I’ve got a really beautiful violin with a 1 piece back, I’ll post a picture on here, since this thread’s kinda dumb anyway. Might as well fully derail it.
But yea, my identity today, particularly my public one, does not include this.
I did the bar band thing for a handful of years until college was over. Some of my buddies are in pretty solid bands now, and other guys are getting into the festival operation scene. Definitely miss it sometimes. It is funny when people I meet in life now eventually hear stories or see photos of the band days, always catches them off guard.
I’m assuming you keep the violin stored somehow? I’ve basically made my basses art pieces for the house haha.
Let me guess, you met a girl
Jees, you were in a going places band and your bass was your right arm.
One by one it all got eroded away till, they now decorate your hse.
Haha nah man, not really. My band wasn’t destined for greatness and I actually met more women when I stopped playing than I did during. Just decided to focus on other hobbies and making a decent wage so I could live comfortably.
I hate to be that f’n guy, but what do you think my body fat % is in the 135 lbs pic.
That’s the first one? Probably around 12% with no muscle. Typical skinny fat.