Review of 'Muscle Revolution' By CW

Training Bodybuilding
41

Chad
i am a police officer on the tactical team and a high school wrestling coach. i ordered the book last week and have already recieved and read it. hell i even put my dean koonz book aside.

i feel like after reading the “science chapters” once more it is gonna be on. i have tried tbt before and implemented it with my team and saw great results for myself and my kids that took it seriously. with this new and more complete knowledge it’s about to be scary. i am ready for every question a doubting parent puts to me.

you will need to book a flight to tennessee to recieve your award at the banquet this year. we are very thankful but still poor. all kidding aside the book was everything i belived it would be. thanks.

42

[quote]ptocsmtc wrote:
I just wanted to chime in on this thread…

I’ve used some of Chad’s programs in the past with great success, so I was excited to find the book was being released. And, after giving it a thorough reading, I have to agree with many of the others on this thread in regards to the quality of the text.

As with all of Chad’s work, it has great scientific basis, but not so much explanation as to keep it from being easily read by almost anyone. I was very pleasantly surprised at the scope of the book, which thoroughly (and somewhat unexpectedly) covered energy systems progressions, nutrition and supplementation, as well as recovery strategies.

I am personally using the information in the text to guide my return to training following non-training related injuries and surgery. I have a feeling I’m going to come back better than ever before.

Thanks, Chad. I hope you sell a million of them…
[/quote]

Thanks for the feedback!

43

[quote]Niall wrote:
I got my copy a few days ago and just completed it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and rate it as a great resource.

One question for Chad though - apart from fairly brief mention of the Perfect 10 bodypart specialisation program, high frequency training beyond 4 sessions a week is not covered. I was hoping for coverage of this and ideally some new insights beyond recent T-Nation articles. Any particular reason why it was left out?

[/quote]

As I’ve mentioned before, if I delved into HFT, the book would’ve been about 700 pages. Thus, the cost would’ve been even higher.

I simply didn’t want to delve into HFT because there’s MUCH that readers need to understand before they even consider HFT. Too many people mistakenly jump straight to HFT when they should be following my other guidelines.

That said, my next book will unveil all of my new HFT parameters and case studies.

44

[quote]MANONFYA wrote:
Chad
i am a police officer on the tactical team and a high school wrestling coach. i ordered the book last week and have already recieved and read it. hell i even put my dean koonz book aside.

i feel like after reading the “science chapters” once more it is gonna be on. i have tried tbt before and implemented it with my team and saw great results for myself and my kids that took it seriously. with this new and more complete knowledge it’s about to be scary. i am ready for every question a doubting parent puts to me.

you will need to book a flight to tennessee to recieve your award at the banquet this year. we are very thankful but still poor. all kidding aside the book was everything i belived it would be. thanks.[/quote]

Thanks, buddy! That means a lot to me.

45

Outstanding book.

I didn’t read the reviews before buying, but while I was reading, I was really struck by how different this book is from most others.

Why? Because it’s NOT written for the general market. It for the knowledgeable T-Nation reader/body builder.

First, it’s not 75% filler – meaning it doesn’t have dozens of pages showing how to do a bench press or variations on a squat, etc. It’s dense material, all of which flows very well together.

2nd… the science used in the book is actually there for a reason… you can see how CW’s programs take advantage of the way the body works.

3rd… an outstanding discussion of CW’s programs and how to use them for every imaginable fitness goal.

Also:

– great discussion of pre/post workout nutrition and supplementation.

– includes the new Total Strength Program… this alone is worth the price of the book. Detailed programs that can be used to increase Deadlift, Squat and Bench, by either isolating the weaker lift or working on 2 or 3 simultaneously.

Highly recommend.

46

[quote]futuredave wrote:
Outstanding book.

I didn’t read the reviews before buying, but while I was reading, I was really struck by how different this book is from most others.

Why? Because it’s NOT written for the general market. It for the knowledgeable T-Nation reader/body builder.

First, it’s not 75% filler – meaning it doesn’t have dozens of pages showing how to do a bench press or variations on a squat, etc. It’s dense material, all of which flows very well together.

2nd… the science used in the book is actually there for a reason… you can see how CW’s programs take advantage of the way the body works.

3rd… an outstanding discussion of CW’s programs and how to use them for every imaginable fitness goal.

Also:

– great discussion of pre/post workout nutrition and supplementation.

– includes the new Total Strength Program… this alone is worth the price of the book. Detailed programs that can be used to increase Deadlift, Squat and Bench, by either isolating the weaker lift or working on 2 or 3 simultaneously.

Highly recommend.
[/quote]

Thanks for the testimonial!

I’ll tell ya, your avatar alone is worth a golden ticket in my world (as I’ve mentioned, I have that picture framed in my office). But the fact that you also took the time to write a review makes it even more special!

47

[quote]Chad Waterbury wrote:
Niall wrote:
I got my copy a few days ago and just completed it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and rate it as a great resource.

One question for Chad though - apart from fairly brief mention of the Perfect 10 bodypart specialisation program, high frequency training beyond 4 sessions a week is not covered. I was hoping for coverage of this and ideally some new insights beyond recent T-Nation articles. Any particular reason why it was left out?

As I’ve mentioned before, if I delved into HFT, the book would’ve been about 700 pages. Thus, the cost would’ve been even higher.

I simply didn’t want to delve into HFT because there’s MUCH that readers need to understand before they even consider HFT. Too many people mistakenly jump straight to HFT when they should be following my other guidelines.

That said, my next book will unveil all of my new HFT parameters and case studies.

[/quote]

Thanks for clarifying that Chad.

While I have your attention, I’d like to thank you the first rate information and training advice you’ve imparted via T-Nation over the last few years. I have used many of your programs with great results and the book does a fantastic job of bringing your theories and practice together in a comprehensive and cohesive way. The writing style is also very engaging - a nice added bonus.

I look forward to reading your next book when it’s available.

48

Received the book on Thu and finished reading it on Friday. I work for a men’s health magazine and have taken about sixi weeks off of serious lifting and clean eating in order to test drive a new program and see how a more “typical” body responds. Looking forward to starting this program next week.

Need some clarification for those whose goals are fat loss and hypertrophy. I have about 25-30 pounds of fat to lose and I’ve been lifting regularly for nearly 2 1/2 years so I put myself into your intermediate category.

  1. For increased muscle mass and fat loss you recommend the BBB, ABBH, TTT, OSC programs. Should I be concerned that 3 out of the 4 are rated under your beginner-level programs given my intermediate lifting/fitness status?

  2. My targeted program length is 3 months. Given my fat loss goal combined with increased muscle mass, I’d like to try the one-month low-carb plan discussed on p. 135. Is there a recommendation on which month this should occur? In other words, do I begin with the low-carb plan to jump start the fat loss or should I wait until the second month to keep my body’s metabolism on its toes by changing the nutrient ratios?

Thanks again. Will post results in 3 months.

49

[quote]ibizan wrote:
Received the book on Thu and finished reading it on Friday. I work for a men’s health magazine and have taken about sixi weeks off of serious lifting and clean eating in order to test drive a new program and see how a more “typical” body responds. Looking forward to starting this program next week.

Need some clarification for those whose goals are fat loss and hypertrophy. I have about 25-30 pounds of fat to lose and I’ve been lifting regularly for nearly 2 1/2 years so I put myself into your intermediate category.

  1. For increased muscle mass and fat loss you recommend the BBB, ABBH, TTT, OSC programs. Should I be concerned that 3 out of the 4 are rated under your beginner-level programs given my intermediate lifting/fitness status?

  2. My targeted program length is 3 months. Given my fat loss goal combined with increased muscle mass, I’d like to try the one-month low-carb plan discussed on p. 135. Is there a recommendation on which month this should occur? In other words, do I begin with the low-carb plan to jump start the fat loss or should I wait until the second month to keep my body’s metabolism on its toes by changing the nutrient ratios?

Thanks again. Will post results in 3 months. [/quote]

  1. Don’t be concerned about the generalized “ratings” in the book. If your goal is to lose that much fat, you must not do too much weight training since it’ll cut into your recovery abilities while in a caloric deficit. Stick to the plan as outlined.

  2. Start with the low carb plan in the beginning. The programs are designed with progressions (higher volumes) built into each subsequent phase. So by months 2-3, you’ll be expending more calories, so you can consume more calories and lose fat.

50

The information in the book is awesome. But, just to note on the physical qualities of book itself. The cover and the pages are of very high quality. Every page is thick semi-glossy, with big typeface, just about double spaced, which makes it very easy on the eyes. It was the best $40 bucks I’ve spent in a very long time.

51

[quote]jm85 wrote:
The information in the book is awesome. But, just to note on the physical qualities of book itself. The cover and the pages are of very high quality. Every page is thick semi-glossy, with big typeface, just about double spaced, which makes it very easy on the eyes. It was the best $40 bucks I’ve spent in a very long time.[/quote]

Yep, I really wanted to create a high-quality product so it’s great to hear that people appreciate the extra time and quality that was put into it.

Thanks!

52

[quote]Chad Waterbury wrote:
jm85 wrote:
The information in the book is awesome. But, just to note on the physical qualities of book itself. The cover and the pages are of very high quality. Every page is thick semi-glossy, with big typeface, just about double spaced, which makes it very easy on the eyes. It was the best $40 bucks I’ve spent in a very long time.

Yep, I really wanted to create a high-quality product so it’s great to hear that people appreciate the extra time and quality that was put into it.

Thanks![/quote]

I feel like this book is my own little personal training manual for the next year. Easy to read…not over/under done. Great examples. Great programs. I am looking forward to see what happens with these programs over the next year.

Thanks Chad.

53

FutureDave’s review sums up my thoughts on the book nicely. I received it a few days ago, and my brother and I have been reading it since then and have been extremely impressed.

So many books give general tips of what exercises are beneficial, or maybe a good 12-week program for losing fat or gaining mass, but I’ve never read one that has a year or more worth of programs for every goal imaginable. Plus, it has great stuff for posture/flexibility, nutrition, ‘energy systems’, and more.

I’m actually surprised this isn’t in my local barnes and noble, because the production quality is the same as any well-done book, yet the info is much much more complete and detailed with science to back it up.

Well done to Chad and well worth the price.

54

Just so you know Mondo, Joe got me on Chad before you! Haha, but I didn’t know about the whole other gym thing, that’s cool.

I’m not great at writing but I’m gonna give it a shot.

Anyways, what I like best about this book is that it reads like one long T-Nation Waterbury article. It was really made for the T-Nation crowd, and the words/chapters flow very nicely, seeming to get more specific as it goes on. I am not even done with the book yet (on ch. 9), but it feels as if I’ve read dozens and dozens of information-gathering articles on T-Nation. When you read this book, you will be so much more knowledgeable on almost every aspect of “fitness”, and I use that term broadly. It covers everything from different running methods, posture correction, nutrition, different progression methods, etc. He gives you goal specific information (fat loss, strength, hypertrophy, etc), and how to use his programs to best achieve that goal. For T-Nation readers looking for some new sprint/running training, you’ll be glad to find out that Chad covers 100/400 meter sprints, and new HIIT routine.

However, while I am not done with the book, the best part I have read so far has got to be the nutrition chapter. He gives you all the information you’ll ever need regarding every aspect of nutrition… when to eat, what kinds of food to eat, macronutrient ratios for you specific goal, his recommended dosages of your pre/post-workout drink, caloric intake for your goal, etc. He also reveals a one-month low-carb fat loss plan that is simple to grasp but seems very effective. He goes over the supplements that he personally takes, why they help, and how to take them.

Another great chapter follows after nutrition. It covers fatigue and recovery. He reveals his insight on how to have faster recovery in many areas (sleep, “failure” training, your diet, posture, flexiblity, etc). I particularly liked his little recommendations on sleep and naps during the day, which help a lot. And for posture towards the end of the chapter, he brings new uses of a walking stick/foam roller/swiss ball to further correct posture. He also gives us a daily stretching routine that focus around the muscles that tend to be the tightest.

That’s as far as I can go as I have not read Chapter 9 or 10 yet. However, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “I wonder how Chad utilizes his knowledge in his own daily life”, you will be satisfied by this books. The book will reaffirm what you knew, and also bring about new material that will make you confident on the subject of “performance” both inside and outside the gym. In my opinion, if you buy this book, you’ve hit the goldmine of fitness/weight lifting-oriented books.

55

Looking for clarification on the daily BCAA dosage. For a guy my size it lists 28g/day (7g taken 4x/day). Is there a particular supp that you recommend for this? All the ones I’ve found max out at around 5g/serving and that quickly equates to A LOT of money each month just for BCAAs. Here’s an example using Biotest’s BCAA (http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1123403).

One serving is 3 tablets which delivers 3.6g of BCAAs. To hit the 28g/day recommendation that equates to nearly 8 servings (24 tablets/day). That means I’ll go through a $28 container of 250 tablets every 10 days. I’m not willing to spend $60/month just on BCAAs so am I missing something or is there a better, more economical way to meet this daily requirement?

56

[quote]ibizan wrote:
Looking for clarification on the daily BCAA dosage. For a guy my size it lists 28g/day (7g taken 4x/day). Is there a particular supp that you recommend for this? All the ones I’ve found max out at around 5g/serving and that quickly equates to A LOT of money each month just for BCAAs. Here’s an example using Biotest’s BCAA (http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1123403).

One serving is 3 tablets which delivers 3.6g of BCAAs. To hit the 28g/day recommendation that equates to nearly 8 servings (24 tablets/day). That means I’ll go through a $28 container of 250 tablets every 10 days. I’m not willing to spend $60/month just on BCAAs so am I missing something or is there a better, more economical way to meet this daily requirement?[/quote]

60$/month on BCAAs is a good investment, but I understand your point.

My recommendation is to get as close to that dosage as possible. If you can only afford to take half that amount, do it. Any amount of BCAAs is better than none.

57

Hey Guys,

I’m starting Big Boy Basics and I’m looking for some help on properly performing a DB Deadlift. I did a search but couldn’t find a whole lot. Could someone point me in the right direction?

58

Geez, any bad reviews?

I ordered the book, finally, lastnight. I’ve been following Chad’s work for over a year.

Little disapponited thou there’s no info on HFT. Which i just started to use.

59

[quote]Chad Waterbury wrote:
60$/month on BCAAs is a good investment, but I understand your point.[/quote]
LOL, especially on a budget with a family of 4.

[quote]Chad Waterbury wrote:
My recommendation is to get as close to that dosage as possible. If you can only afford to take half that amount, do it. Any amount of BCAAs is better than none. [/quote]
Agreed. And I’m already getting a significant amount each day via my workout shakes. Whey is approx 30% BCAA, so 2 scoops of my isolate gives 50grams of protein at 30% BCAA, is 30% of 50,000 mg, is 15,000mg of BCAA. I do use a stand-alone BCAA supplement as well so I think I’ll be fine.

Thanks for the input.

60

I’m getting this book - a friend who’s driving down to the states to pick up an order is grabbing it for me, so I can save the shipping. It’s very frustrating that Biotest’s shipping charges are so high for anything outside of the US, but I was planning on buying this book and sucking up the full cost anyway - lucky for me I don’t have to now, I can just pay for the book!

YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!