Dieting- It doesn’t really matter what you eat as long as you’re consistent in hitting your macros and aren’t eating in a completely idiotic way. I’ll also never do a keto diet again and always have a MINIMUM of 100 grams of carbs when dieting. Doing keto just made me lose muscle.
Great post. Agreed on many points as I have been training for 20+ years and competed in several BB contests. Here are my “in the trenches” thoughts:
-Listening to your body. In my 20’s I could get away with rounded backs and back technique. Now, I need to train smarter and give myself planned layoffs. Nagging injuries? Don’t try to work through them. Work around them.
-Being consistent. You can go 5-3-1, 8x8, whole body, whatever. If you are not consistent, than you won’t see results
-Diet is critical. You eat like a pig, no training will compensate.
-Everything has it’s place, including carb loading, low carb, going heavy for singles and going time under tension for 40 seconds or more. Nothing is “bad” or “better” Just depends on how and when you use them. I look at different diets and training methodologies like a toolbox. Pull it out and use as needed.
-Getting soft tissue work is important, such as Active Release Techniques.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
This! I started training waaaay back when I was 20, but man, if I didn’t make some of my best gains during the last 5-8 years. I like to joke that at a certain point, a trainer can “see the Matrix”.
[/quote]
Putting biomechanics aside and looking at this idea in terms of programming: beginners often attribute success to and concern themselves too much over the raw numbers of a program. Do 3x5 instead of 5x3 and your gains will be fucked (sarcasm)! As infinite shore said previously, intermediate and above lifters start thinking in terms of principles, hence seeing the matrix.
–Success in lifting is (genetics aside) a combination of mental toughness and problem solving ability.
–Training with people smarter than you will help you program better and make better decisions. Training with people stronger than you will make you mentally tougher. Training with people who are smarter and stronger than you is ideal.
–A deload does not have to be an arbitrary cut in volume or intensity. A good way to deload is to simply switch to more difficult movements or movements you are not proficient in (ie back squat to front squat, switching grips etc) while still PUSHING yourself every session.
–The hardship of being a beginner lifter without previous athletic experience or coaching is that you can’t even identify the problems with your lifting and technique.
–Eat more, Train more, Sleep more = Stronger me.
I think getting 8+ hours of sleep is overrated. I know rest is extremely important, but i get right around 7 hours a night and don’t feel any negative effects. I used to get 8.5 hours of sleep per night and see no difference between that and 7 hours of sleep. I may get crap for this.
[quote]David98 wrote:
I think getting 8+ hours of sleep is overrated. I know rest is extremely important, but i get right around 7 hours a night and don’t feel any negative effects. I used to get 8.5 hours of sleep per night and see no difference between that and 7 hours of sleep. I may get crap for this. [/quote]
I agree with this. I don’t really need 8 hours of sleep.
Doesn’t mean I don’t love days when I get to sleep in til whenever I feel like it, but I seem to do fine with 7 or so.