Starting Strength a Myth?

Training Bodybuilding
28

[quote]skiracer wrote:
My goal is to 1) get big. My secondary goal is to get strong. Big to me means take my arms from 16 to 18 inches and my chest from 48 to 52 inches. [/quote]

OK. Bottom line is you’re 34. You’re a little chubby. I didn’t catch how tall you are.

I’ve been there.

Here’s my last couple years of logs (starting May 2008). I’d say I’ve logged, oh, lets say 3/4 or so of my workouts for the past couple years starting in my mid 30’s with the goal of “getting big/strong”-- and knowing I don’t have time to waste or fuck around.

You get to see all my triumphs and all my mistakes.

My biggest mistake was “cario-ing off 70 lbs” before I started hitting heavy weights. Don’t do that.

Part I: “Shut Up 'n Lift (Log)”
http://tnation.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding_senior/shut_up_n_lift_dimeos_log?id=2149580&pageNo=0

Part II: “One Bourbon, One Squat, One Beer”

Part III: “Sex, Squats, and Rock n Roll (and Bacon)” – current

I’m certainly not the poster child for bodybuilding or powerlifting, but I’ve found my sweet spot somewhere in between and it seems to be working (warts and all).

The 5 things (minimum) you MUST do are:

  • Consistency in the gym (5-7 days/wk or more)
  • ATTACK the weights with EVERYTHING you have everytime you can
  • Eat for strength and growth (use your best judgement)
  • Sleep
  • Monitor and adjust diet/routine for progress

You have time and age (and therefore diminishing hormones) against you. 2 strikes. There is no room for large errors. If you can’t do those 5 things (minimum) for a few years (minimum) your fail probability is HIGH.

I advise reading the BB stickies, read everyones log in “Over 35”, and listen to:

  1. The BIG/STRONG/EXPERIENCED dudes (Mauradermeat, Prof X, MODOK, etc)
  2. The BIG/STRONG/EXPERIENCED/OLDER dudes (MaurauderMeat, Colin Wilson, PeteS, Bunny, and the other freaks in O35)

Why?

Group 1 is most like what your GOAL seems to be
Group 2 because they are more age/hormonally/etc LIKE you.

The truth is this will be harder than 20 years ago. I know-- I’m living it. But that’s key: YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT, or frankly, you don’t have a chance. That’s not meant to cut you down, that’s meant to lay down the reality of ‘getting big’ in your mid/late 30’s when you don’t already have 15 years of consistency under your belt.

Make the decision. Do it. No excuses once you commit.

Go to O35 and start a log.

Good luck. We’re here to help. Seriously.