Neurotype Test Result Guidance

Bigger Stronger Leaner Christian Thibaudeau Coaching
1

Hello CT and fellow lifters,

I have been training on and off for 20 years, am 35 years old, weigh 145-148 lbs, and 5’4” short. Just a couple of weeks ago I bought your Neurotyping Test and attained the following results:

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Clearly 1B, with Type 3 being close second.

I used to compete at weightlifting (snatch 100kg and CJ 125kg @62kg), but not interested on going back to it and my goals now are muscle size - powerbuilding. Love to squat and deadlift, hate to bench (although floor presses are nice :wink:). With my weightlifting background, technical mastery is a must for the big-compound lifts, and I dislike higher reps (anything above 10 just gets me exhausted and unmotivated).

Since taking the test and reading plenty about your Neurotype training recommendations, I have been doing Upper / Lower split, but with 3 days per week rotating each week on Mon, Wed, and Fri (50-60min sessions). So I train 3x each area every 2 weeks.

Just recently I switched to doing 5am sessions due to family, work, responsibilities, and just more time in the afternoons. On Tue and Thu, I have started to do inclined walks on treadmill for ~45min (5am as well), which I really like. I used to love sprinting, but not HIIT stuff. Plus, the walking seems to calm my stress/anxiety.

So, I have just been trying to figure out hands-on how to accommodate Type 1b and 3 recommendations. That’s why I do 3x per week (Type 3), lower reps 1-8 (Type 1B), perfecting technique (Type 3), and honestly, I love to train with clusters, your layer-system, and rest-pauses (1B).

I read your post on your wife being 1B dominant, but with some 3 traits because of life’s hardships, and I can relate to that. I greatly appreciate some guidance in regards to my Neurotype test scores.

2

I don’t understand what your question is. Are you asking how to train? I think I’ve been in a similar boat as you. I’m a 1B and I’ve had severe anxiety in the past due to life circumstances so I was able to identify with a lot of type 3 traits. I’ve found that the more I live and train like a 1B the better I feel period. I don’t train like a 3 because that’s really boring to me. Also many of my type 3 traits have gone since life circumstances have improved. For example, I had a bad concussion (my understanding is concussions tank serotonin levels).

Also on the technical mastery point… personally I find that I only devote myself to technical mastery in pursuit of a larger goal. Like I’ll devote a lot of time to technical mastery when it’s something I really want to nail. I don’t see that as being 3.

3

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I just wanted some guidance in terms of the recommendations towards mixing type 1b and 3 training methods (if any). And, if that would be beneficial or even adviced in CT’s experience.

I see you’re point on the technical mastery of lifts. Besides, I believe all should be striving for it whatever neuroypes identify us.

Taken from your response, I understand better that the most important thing about a recommended and tested program is to believe in it. And if training is making you feel good, it keeps motivating you to be consistent.

Interestingly for me, last lower body workout I did 5x5 squats with 50-60s rests. Trying to merge a 10x10 GVT with higher intensity. Did not use a heavy weight (12-15 rep max), but felt gooood in my quads . Maybe I push this a while, plateau, then switch to heavier clusters.

Any ways, thanks again for your response.

4

Well CT has answered this question on the forum and in podcasts (I think his second appearance on Just Fly), except for the absolute rarest of cases, no one is a mix of neurotypes. Rather, if someone has a mix of two types it usually means either 1) being socialized in a certain way. Like he had an example of a 1B Chinese weightlifter who had a lot of 3 traits because that’s how he was raised or 2) being under a lot of stress. Such as getting more 3 traits because you have anxiety.

So short answer… no you should not be mixing neurotype training approaches because you should just be doing the approach for the neurotype you actually are.

Yes I do believe that the most important thing is believing in your training program… but my point was as a 1B I’ve instinctually gravitated towards 1B training as the stuff I enjoy most. E.g. training like an athlete, explosive movements, fast movements, heavy stuff, alternate sets, competitive environment, etc

5

What I think is important to add to your respons is that CT’s Neurotyping material has evolved since his first articles and podcasts about the subject. @tito_gil Please look around this forum to learn more about the subtypes. It can give you an insight about why your 1B and 3 scores are both high, and how to tackle nutrition and training strategies.