The Flame-Free Confession Thread

Training
602

Assuming you don’t have natural talent or genetics to carry you, your success in lifting (of any variation, BB PL OL) will mostly be a product of your effort and problem solving ability. Or if you have a coach, your effort and their problem solving ability.

Overdosing vitamin C totally works wonders.

Cold/contrast showers are great too.

The folks who grew up playing sports their whole life and started lifting “seriously” later don’t really comprehend how much of a head start they got despite not “seriously” lifting.

I’m not sure exactly if it is functional training (or what that means), but I believe that many lifters could benefit from placing an emphasis of their training on correcting form, poor habits (posture etc), and in general developing a stronger mind-body consciousness. In other words, there is “skill” in lifting (not just strength), and if you don’t possess this naturally you better develop it.

That the last paragraph does NOT mean you should avoid squats or something when you start because your form is off. Practice the real lifts and practice them heavy, but be aware of your weak points and what you need to fix.

Try everything. Play with your programming. Try different kinds of diets. If you are serious, spend some money on supplements at least to experiment and see what works for you and how.

Supplements only AFTER your training and diet are in order.

Protein is NOT a supplement. It’s freaking calories and either part of or not part of your diet.

Giving your 110% in training is the most important factor. Understanding what that means is difficult.

Last: We may need the whole package to be ranked #1 in the world, but any normally functioning young human being should be able to in time get to 90% of that level. That means if the #1 squat in the world were 600lbs, we can all work hard and get a 540lb squat.

1 Like
603

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
All you need to win olympia:

  1. Genetics
  2. A well timed cycle

and a distant 3rd

  1. Consistency

Glad this is flame free :)[/quote]

Yeah, but it doesn’t prevent you to look like a retard.

604

[quote]infinite_shore wrote:

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
All you need to win olympia:

  1. Genetics
  2. A well timed cycle

and a distant 3rd

  1. Consistency

Glad this is flame free :)[/quote]

Yeah, but it doesn’t prevent you to look like a retard.[/quote]
from looking like

I believe is what you meant.

605

You cant tell me that any of the last olympia winners had anything unique or special about their training or diets that seperated them from the rest. Coleman, arguably one of the greatest ever, his chest routine consisted of incline, flat, decline, pec flyes. What guy hasnt tried that routine before.

606

[quote]csulli wrote:

[quote]infinite_shore wrote:

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
All you need to win olympia:

  1. Genetics
  2. A well timed cycle
    and a distant 3rd
  3. Consistency

Glad this is flame free :)[/quote]

Yeah, but it doesn’t prevent you to look like a retard.[/quote]
from looking like

I believe is what you meant.[/quote]

Yeah, I knew something was off as soon as I hit the submit button. But hey, I do have the 2nd language excuse going for me. Anyway, to add to my shame I also completely misunderstood Hull’s opinion. Was thinking of the Olympic Games. Makes it way less retarded.

ps: But I’m still stronger and bigger than you, so actually all your criticism is void.

607

Noooo, thats a completely different ball game all together.

I know its out there but i think alot of people are just afraid to say it. Its a shame things are going that way but i truley think they are. Thats why it frustrates me all these BB selling programs etc and are exactly the same as the last one.

Theres nothing unique about stringing a few compound exercises together then throwing in a few isolations, blood sweat and screaming at the end. Thats why i have so much respect for CT and what he does. He pushes the training envelope waaaaay out of the norm and to new territories not seen by the mainstream before.
If this is abit to much for you, check out my list back a page n see what you think.

608

for A drug free bodybuilder, I don’t really see much merit in going 10 to 20 lbs above stage weight at any time

609

Without a doubt, infact i would go so far enough to say that it would be detrimental to be that much heavier than contest weight.

610

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
Without a doubt, infact i would go so far enough to say that it would be detrimental to be that much heavier than contest weight. [/quote]
I think to what degree or detriment it will affect the athkete, depends on their stage of development.if you’ve achieved pro status, probably the best practice is to stay as close as you can while being happy. for someone who is still amatuer and needs more muscle I think the 10 to 20 lb cushion is enough to make gains

611

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
Without a doubt, infact i would go so far enough to say that it would be detrimental to be that much heavier than contest weight. [/quote]

It’s a flame free thread, so I’m not going to directly comment, but I do wonder what personal experience and accomplishments you have that make you harbor such thinking.

S

612

[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
ps: But I’m still stronger and bigger than you, so actually all your criticism is void.[/quote]
Very true hahaha. I’ve still got much work to do.

613

@Stu

The truth. None, and it is for that reason that i am not saying that is the right answer. But i like to think that most answers can be found by applying a little well ground scientific knowledge and common sense. In this case, one thing i can be sure of is the right answer almost never lies in the extremes and instead 9/10 sits somewhere in the grey area between.

In this case, the extremes are 20lbs over contest weight and staying extremely lean all year round. My view is that neither of these are right and the answer most probably lies in the grey area between which in this case would be staying maybe 5-10lbs over contest weight year round.

I apologise if my comment came across as inflammatory. I have loved this thread, mainly because it hasnt been dominated by rediculous and avoidable arguments and i would like it to remain that way.

614

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
My view is that neither of these are right and the answer most probably lies in the grey area between which in this case would be staying maybe 5-10lbs over contest weight year round.
[/quote]

Oh I agree that the best answer is usually between the extremes, but I can assure you that most competitors can EASILY put on 5 lbs in couple of days as their body re-acclimates and adjusts to levels of water, sodium, glycogen, and even “waste material” passing through the digestive system. So when you hear a competitor (usually a natural one) talk about staying 15-20 lbs over contest weight, they’re actually keeping a good lid on making lean gains and not porking up.

Nothing inflammatory, just seemed a little extreme in your perception as I read it :slight_smile:

S

615

[quote]Hull2012 wrote:
@Stu

The truth. None, and it is for that reason that i am not saying that is the right answer. But i like to think that most answers can be found by applying a little well ground scientific knowledge and common sense. In this case, one thing i can be sure of is the right answer almost never lies in the extremes and instead 9/10 sits somewhere in the grey area between.

In this case, the extremes are 20lbs over contest weight and staying extremely lean all year round. My view is that neither of these are right and the answer most probably lies in the grey area between which in this case would be staying maybe 5-10lbs over contest weight year round.

I apologise if my comment came across as inflammatory. I have loved this thread, mainly because it hasnt been dominated by rediculous and avoidable arguments and i would like it to remain that way.[/quote]

Staying 5 to 10 lbs above contest weight would be nearly impossible for growing in the offseason, not to mention making it incredibly difficult to have a life outside of bb’ing. I’m all for staying within striking distance of contest shape, but that’s just too extreme imo. Sorry if this is considered a flame

616

Last week I fell off the Glute ham raise at the gym…nobody saw but I was still ashamed

617

I go to Walmart for protein and creatine.

I do two full-body sessions a week. 3 total lifting hours/week.

Anyone who can’t bench 150%, deadlift 200%, and crank out 20+ pullups is a newbie who should stick to the basics and quit talking about advanced techniques, supps, and dieting. I also do not want to see your little veiny waxed arms.

I like the testosterone-driven talk on this site about heavy lifting, but all the physique talk about some guy’s waxed bulges sounds like it belongs on Estrogen-Nation to me. No one gets strong by staring at other guys.

Some T-Nation article writers should also move to Estrogen-Nation. I love it when the little pissant ones throw in a few manly sentences to up their cred. The token f-bomb or testicle reference in the midst of discussing girlie-man training.

1 Like
618

[quote]thegymismyshrink wrote:
I go to Walmart for protein and creatine.

I do two full-body sessions a week. 3 total lifting hours/week.

Anyone who can’t bench 150%, deadlift 200%, and crank out 20+ pullups is a newbie who should stick to the basics and quit talking about advanced techniques, supps, and dieting. I also do not want to see your little veiny waxed arms.

I like the testosterone-driven talk on this site about heavy lifting, but all the physique talk about some guy’s waxed bulges sounds like it belongs on Estrogen-Nation to me. No one gets strong by staring at other guys.

Some T-Nation article writers should also move to Estrogen-Nation. I love it when the little pissant ones throw in a few manly sentences to up their cred. The token f-bomb or testicle reference in the midst of discussing girlie-man training.[/quote]

Question: Have you been able to achieve those results (150% bench etc) with lifting 3 hours/week?

619

Yeah, it didn’t happen overnight of course, but with two intense full body days a week over a period of time it can happen. I’m 200 lbs. now and can hit a 315 bench press, a 385 squat, or a 465 deadlift during any workout. A lot of thanks to all of you who share good insights on this site! I have learned a lot while lurking here.

1 Like
620

After the funeral service for my fiance, I shoveled every last bit of dirt into the hole by myself. People probably thought I was nuts. It was over 100 degrees and it took me 7 hours. I ended up going to the hospital for severe dehydration and my hands were blistered beyond belief. Weirdly enough it helped and was what I needed at the time. The old guy on the backhoe just tipped his hat to me and left.

621

[quote]Bauber wrote:
After the funeral service for my fiance, I shoveled every last bit of dirt into the hole by myself. People probably thought I was nuts. It was over 100 degrees and it took me 7 hours. I ended up going to the hospital for severe dehydration and my hands were blistered beyond belief. Weirdly enough it helped and was what I needed at the time. The old guy on the backhoe just tipped his hat to me and left.[/quote]

Man, I’m so sorry to hear that buddy. Stuff like that just puts everything in perspective; we talk about adversity and struggles we face in the lifting game, but what a joke those things are compared to real life. You’re very inspirational bouncing back from such a terrible thing and maintaining a positive outlook on life; if I ever find myself in Mississippi I would love to attempt to go through a workout with you and buy you a steak!