Hey Coach,
I am a poor college student, and as such, I need to make money any way I can. I sell my blood plasma twice a week. Will this be hurting any of my gains in the gym? I figure maybe just slow down recovery because the body is swtiching effort to make new plasma, but anything besides this?
[quote]cro0sh wrote:
oh and another thing, for a person who wants a good-looking physique, not necessarily be strong but still move decent weight - should they do a strength program initially and then do a bodybuilding split? ie. rippetoes then do a push/pull/legs sort of thing or keep doing a bodybuilding split? exact goal: 175 very lean.
Thanks and I enjoy reading your articles/Q&A.[/quote]
Your best bet is to alternate between phases of intensification (lower reps, more weight, less exercises variety, more sets per exercise) phases and accumulation phases (higher reps, moderate weights, more exercise variety, less sets per exercise, use of ‘‘bodybuilding techniques’’).
4-6 weeks each.
[quote]Blaze_108 wrote:
Hey coach
In your article “Hot wheels in a hurry”, you have leg curls as one of the exercises. Is there any alternate exercise that can be used here? or will taking it out make a considerable difference to the program?
I don’t ask out of a need to personalize the program, I just don’t have access to any sort of Leg curling device. Thanks.[/quote]
Despite the fact that it’s a machine exercise, it is still the best option to train one of the two main functions of the hamstrings (knee flexion). Are there alternatives? Sure, glute-ham raises and natural glute-ham raises.
[quote]ant885 wrote:
Hey coach
I remember reading an article or post on here by I believe you (possibly another T-Nation writer) about using mirror workouts when you switch up programs. If I follow your beast building program for 3 months, is there any particular program you’d recommend to use as a mirror once i’m done with the beast building? Thanks.[/quote]
The beast program has this principle built in. Phase III is basically a mirror (opposite) of phases II and I.
[quote]scytal wrote:
Bonjour CT.
I must have been reading questions and answers given here on that thread and the old thread for about 2 or 3 weeks now. I have been learning plenty of things.
I’m 23 and currently losing weight as much as I can. Used to be a real fat kid, 5’8" 240 pounds at age 15. I’m now 173 and still loosing. I’m working out 4 days a week and carefully watching what I’m eating, 5-6 times a day (low carb). I lost 22 pounds in the last 2 month.
I never had my Bodyfat % tested.
Question: I am thinking about getting my Biosignature done. I am willing to do anything to be in GREAT shape. Being in the Montreal area, Do you know anyone that you would recommend for the biosignature test ? Or any of the 4 person listed on Poliquin’s website would do?
Also thinking about getting someone to help out with my diet.
Thanks for taking some of your precious time to answer us.
Jo
[/quote]
Larry Vinette at the Pro Gym on Hochelaga
Hi coach,
When doing a motor learning phase with let’s say 3 workouts of motor learning (with about 8 sets of 3 reps at 80%) and two of maximal strength (with an intensity superior to 90%), what is the impact of the motor learning workouts on conjonctive tissues, tendons and joints? In other words, from an injury standpoint, is motor learning as dangerous as the other maximal strength methods?
Thanks in advance
[quote]Dave284 wrote:
Coach,
Is there anything wrong with rolling the bar towards you in the deadlift?
Vid eg:
[/quote]
As long as the bar and body are set and in the proper position at the beginning of the movement, no.
This is sa variation of a dynamic start which is used in olympic lifting (there are several types of dynamic starts, the dive, the dive and set, etc.).
[quote]forbes wrote:
Coach, is liquid cod liver oil considered a good fish oil supplement (in regards to EPA and DHA)?
again, you’ve been awesome with this stuff. i greatly appreciate the time you take to answer not only mine, but other’s questions every single day. you’re the best! [/quote]
The problem with cod liver oil is that it is way too high in vitamin A. When consumed in the proper ‘‘fish oil dose’’ one can develop vitamin poisoning from vitamin A excess.
[quote]stubest wrote:
CT
I have read your HSS100 specialization routines where it states you can specialize upto 2 muscle groups at any one time.
Would it be okay to do a specialization routine with chest and back at the same time (training chest and back together two or three times a week). I am training antagonistic muscles together like chest and back one day, shoulder and traps, quad and hams and bi and tris.
If I do it this way,it would mean I would need minimal (if any) training on shoulders and arms as they are getting trained on chest and back. This would spare more sessions for chest and back 2-3 times a week with the a leg routine in. It would also reduce chances of over training smaller muscle groups. What are your thoughts[/quote]
Actually this is pretty much how I train right now because of time constraints (tons of clients, answering questions, working on some other projects, getting married, etc.).
I do hit legs once a week (but they are a strong point from years of olympic lifting training).
I found that I can maintain my arm size pretty decently this way. This is NOT an approach that I would recommend for someone who want to maximize arms growth, I do believe that direct biceps and triceps work is required for most to achieve that goal, but those who are strapped for time and already have a good base of muscle mass can get away with it.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
forbes wrote:
Coach, is liquid cod liver oil considered a good fish oil supplement (in regards to EPA and DHA)?
again, you’ve been awesome with this stuff. i greatly appreciate the time you take to answer not only mine, but other’s questions every single day. you’re the best!
The problem with cod liver oil is that it is way too high in vitamin A. When consumed in the proper ‘‘fish oil dose’’ one can develop vitamin poisoning from vitamin A excess.[/quote]
would cod liver oil also be high in mercury?esp the cheaper brands?
[quote]JSMaxwell wrote:
Coach,
Is Poliquin’s Uberzinc something to take on an empty stomach or with food?[/quote]
I’ll pop in here and answer this - keeping in mind that individuals respond differently, I personally tried to get away with taking it on an empty stomach and wound up being sick within the hour.
Hi Coach
I’m looking to increase my intake of BCAAs (other than around workouts) and wondered whether you still endorse your previously published system of 5-10g five times daily or whether there are any modifications to this?
Many thanks in advance for your time
JB
Hey Coach,
I have a question regarding ground meats (beef, chicken, turkey…) Are they a fair source of protein or is it crappy processed meat that should be avoided?
Thank you
Sorry to post 2 questions in 2 days but i have brought some Zinc and just wanted to be sure i am doing it correctly.
From searching your old posts i found
Start at around 120mg/day for 2-3 weeks, then reduce the dose by 15mg every 5 days until you are down to 30mg/day. Take it with the firt 2-3 meals of your day.
So EVERY day for at least 2 weeks its 120g a day ?
Does it matter if the 2nd one is liquid ?
Then take off 15g every 5 days after that …
Thanks for your time as always.
[quote]JamesBrawn007 wrote:
Hi Coach
I’m looking to increase my intake of BCAAs (other than around workouts) and wondered whether you still endorse your previously published system of 5-10g five times daily or whether there are any modifications to this?
Many thanks in advance for your time
JB[/quote]
The best strategy, the one that I now recommend is 30-50g of BCAA peri-workout and 3-5g of LEUCINE with every meal.
[quote]NiallC wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
forbes wrote:
Coach, is liquid cod liver oil considered a good fish oil supplement (in regards to EPA and DHA)?
again, you’ve been awesome with this stuff. i greatly appreciate the time you take to answer not only mine, but other’s questions every single day. you’re the best!
The problem with cod liver oil is that it is way too high in vitamin A. When consumed in the proper ‘‘fish oil dose’’ one can develop vitamin poisoning from vitamin A excess.
would cod liver oil also be high in mercury?esp the cheaper brands?[/quote]
Most likely
hey coach,
due to various fish and nut allergies, i’ve found omega-3 supplementation difficult (if not impossible) in sufficient doses.
are you familiar with/have an opinion concerning algae-based sources of omega-3 fatty acid’s, which frequently can been seen sold as vegan alternative sources of DHA/EPA?
thanks for your time
Coach, if I really feel the pecs doing the work in all kinds of presses, only they get pumped and are sore the next day (on’t feel a thing in tris and delts), should I do any isolation exercises?
THE MONSTER IS BACK!!!
A world class amateur bodybuilder that I work with is now 5 weeks out from his next contest in which he hopes to turn pro.
Right now Amit is 198lbs and at 5 weeks out he is still improving on his best lifts! Last week he did:
435lbs bench press
640lbs deadlift
630lbs full squat
