MR, the fact that you can’t differentiate between pro bodybuilders and people on this site speaks volumes.
Perhaps you should speak a few more “volumes” and qualify your position a little more clearly then. What is your definition of a “respectable” bodyweight for a light structured guy at a height of 5’11" and a low body fat percentage such as Pitt?
UKfitguy, what the hell does size have to do with rehab potential!? Or do you still believe that once a person stops training all the muscle turns to fat? And a sugar tit like pit is 180 lbs is quite funny. Maybe the pounds to kilo thing got you confused thats 81.65 kg
When did DocT mention pro bodybuilders, or espouse that they were in any way healthy? All he suggests is that bodybuilding and having muscle mass can be healthy. If you object to that, then I must ask why you are on this site. He also implies that steroids may not be the suicide drugs that the media purports them to be, and if you would like a second opinion on that, try reading this week’s T-mag.
I’ve read the article. I didn’t say that muscle mass and health are two mutually exclusive items. Quite the contrary or I wouldn’t be busting my ass in a weight room four days a week either.
I don't follow the normal "bodybuilder" routine though and I don't think that most people that do are particularly fit or functional, at least not in my general observation of most of the denizens of the gyms that I've been to. Most of them are the stereotypical clumsy, anti-cardio, non-asthetic types.
That's why I wanted a definition of what DocT considers a "proper" weight for a guy like Brad Pitt. Exactly how much mass are we talking about? Are we talking a natural bodybuilder physique here or a guy knocking down a few grams per week?
The answer still doesn't change my opinion of taking steroids. There's a massive difference between a natural bodybuilder and a pharmacologically enhanced one. Pick up any natural bodybuilding mag and compare them to the norm at IFBB competitions even in the novice classes. It's two completely different worlds.
I understand that some of you guys might want to hit the needle to move up past your genetic norm and that's fine for you. More power to ya. Better living through drugs and all that stuff. Not my cup of tea though. I would rather be my natural average self than have my size (and with most guys, their ego) irreversibly tied to sticking a needle in my ass. Same reason why I didn't take propecia to keep from balding. Shaved my head instead.
Anyhow, this is all my personal opinion which you may or may not agree with. Take it with a grain of salt and find your path in life.
MR, you weren’t questioning what I consider appropriate in your first post. You incorrectly assumed I was talking about pro bodybuilders, and now you’ve backtracked.
I have no “proper” weight for a guy like Brad Pitt, nor do I give a shit. If he chooses to work out with the pink weights and look like that, so be it. I was merely pointing out to the previous poster that he’s not well built, nor does he attempt to be so. You can make excuses like his being “light-framed” and having a low bodyfat for his look. He’s a skinny bastard who doesn’t train to look any other way. Just drop the Brad Pitt shit.
Who cares about your opinion of steroids? You place natural bodybuilders on a pedastal and demonize users by your comparison of natural vs. “people knocking back a couple of grams a week.” Is there no middle ground with you? I’m not even speaking of people take several grams per week here. You’re ASSUMING that that’s what I mean. Another big mistake.
As for the “being your average natural self,” what a load of horseshit. You won’t take Propecia so you can remain “natural,” yet you’re working out with weights which is definately not “natural.” And as for the “average” part, well, that’s just your choice. I’d rather not be average in anything I do in life.
I am 5’11 and weigh 167lbs, i have about i’d say 3-4 percent bodyfat. I would definately compare my body type to that of brad pitts. That said, I think that to acheive this I would say that it is mostly genetic. I have a very hard time gaining weight, this is mostly due to a naturally fast metabolism, but also because of my workout i’d say. I eat a pretty good diet and the only supplement i take is whey protein. heres what I do just to give you an idea.
i run 2-3 times a week for 35-40 minutes and lift 4 times a week.
sample…
monday I’ll work my chest and tris
dumbell bench press (7-10reps),
barbell incline bench press (7-10reps),
then 3 sets of 30 degree incline pec flys(9-10),
Then 1 set of flat flys.
I then do 3 sets of decline pec flys.
After that I’ll do 3 sets of either dumbell pullovers or barbell pullovers (elbows kept at same angle throughout the movement)
Then either 3 sets of dips or 3 sets of some form of cable crossover, usually place the handles on the lower cables and bring them up and in.
Then i do reverse close grip bench press 3 sets of 10 for triceps.
then 3 sets of skull crushers
Then if my triceps aren’t feeling tired enought i’ll do some rope pulldowns on the cables.
Then to finish the workout off i do 3 sets of 8-10reps upright rows
3 sets of shrugs, usually 100lb dumbells
3 sets of not sure what there called…arms start at side and bring arms up parallel to floor
Head home and down a whey protein shake and some chicken or tuna and usually a bowl of cereal.
tuesday back and bis
3 sets of 8-10 preacher bench curls (have a spotter help you complete 2-3 reps after you cannot do any mor on your own)
3 sets of rows (8-10reps)
3 sets of 8-10 reps using a T bar
3 sets of 8-10 reps each arm alternating dumbell curls on a bench inclined at 60 degrees
3 sets of 8-10 reps each arm hammer curls
3 sets of cable curls with a spot (6-8 reps)
Protein shake and a bowl of cereal or pb sandwich.
Wednesday-ABS/lower back
do about 50 crunches just to get warmed up
next place hands underneath your butt lift legs and do flutter kicks counting every fourth kick as one rep…do 25 reps, hold legs 8inches off the ground for 10 seconds and then do 25 more reps, hold for 10 seconds and either repeat that one more time or stop
next, grab a medicine ball and do 25 toe touches (body completely streched out, medicine ball in hands, touch your toes with the ball bringing the ball up and your legs up to the top)
next do crunches on a decline bench until fatigue.
last do some hello dolleys…basically same starting position as flutter kicks, bring both legs up about 12 inches, then down just above the floor and open your legs to form a large triangle and then close them and lift up again…repeat this 25 times, then hold 8 inches above the ground for 10 seconds and repeat this whole thing again
do crunches to fatigue and then head over to a lower back machine and do 3 sets of 10 reps.
I then work my obliques
go home and down some protein etc.
thursday–30 minute jog
Friday–mondays workout, with probably 4 different exercises replaceing some of the exercises, but i’m not gonna type them because it will take a while and i dont even know if you will follow this
Saturday–Tuesdays workout with some different things
Sunday, light abs and 30 minute run
Also on one of my lift days I run afterwards, i choose the day by how i feel after the workouts or what i have to do that day job wise
Well thats a typical workout week…don’t be worried about wanting to look like brad pitt, millions of people do and just about every woman on earth wants him…its just the majority of people on this site prefer arnold to brad
3-4 % bodyfat…LOL!
No, I made no assumption whatsoever and I haven’t backtracked on anything. I know several guys now that are knocking back a few grams per week and may never look anything like a professional bodybuilder. Hell, they may never win a local competition.
I have no personal knowledge of how Brad Pitt trains. I'm sure that since the majority of the public has some appeciation for his physique and since he's in pretty high demand that he doesn't see any need to better his physique to "your" ideals. Why knock it? To each his own.
I never demonized anyone using steroids. It's just not for me. I'm 33 years old and happy with what "you" would consider average. I know where I came from and I'm happy to be here. You would call me scrawny because I have more in common with Pitt than Arnold.
Yes, I do have more respect for natural bodybuilders. That's my opinion. If you use steroids then I'm not knocking ya but I ain't idolizing you either. Like I said, it's just not for me.
I also never said that I don't take propecia to remain natural. I said that I don't take propecia or steroids because I don't want my self esteen tied to some pill or needle.
Maybe you're experiencing some roid rage 8)
Are you an MD?
MR, the only reason I was even commenting on Pitt’s physique is because somebody else made a comment about how well-developed he was in certain areas. He’s simply not, and that was my only point. I could care less about how he looks. And, no, this isn’t roid rage, but you’re assuming an awful lot again, aren’t ya? 
PS, I’m not really sure who you are, so I’m not sure of your motives in asking that question. My knowledge of things about training, nutrition, and drugs comes in small part from medical school and in large part from my personal interest and readings in things that pertain to the above. Being an MD doesn’t make you automatically knowledgeable about such things, nor does it automatically disqualify you from knowing about the same.
DocT i think i may have been unclear. by well developed i ment “i would like to look this this”. I did not mean huge, massive, bodybuilder big, peak genetics, etc. Thats all.
As a practicing director, I can tell you EXACTLY what your workout should look like.
Do this daily before the camera rolls:
- 2 hours with my make-up artist
- 15 minutes getting oiled and sprayed with water
- 1 hour doing lighting setups with my DP and operator
Your results will be instantaneous
Brad Pitt is a common physique goal, easily attainable by most overweight (but not obese) people in 12-14 weeks. I recommend daily intake of 1,700 calories, 200 grams of protein, thrice weekly full body workouts (2 sets per exercise, 2 exercises per bodypart), and at least three times weekly 30-45 minute sessions of moderate-to-high intensity cardio.
Follow the above recommendations, and you WILL obtain the Pitt physique. It’s only a question of when. Could be mere weeks, could be a couple of months. Good luck.
Cleric, the reason that you’re getting all these unhelpful answers is that anyone can look like Pitt does if he’s willing to starve himself down to that level of BF. It doesn’t tak a particular workout.
In your original post, you said “gain muscle mass distributed so that they had a physique similiar to brad pitt in fight club”. But that’s the point: you wouldn’t have to GAIN anything at all, just lose whatever fat you’re carrying. Any normal adult male carries as much (or more) muscle as Pitt. All you have to do is lose the fat to let it show. So it doesn’t take a partiular workout, and your failure to understand this point is what’s causing people to get irritated.
I also second the point made above about how difficult it would be to maintain that level of BF for any length of time. I know you like Pitt’s look - fine. But think in terms of practicality. Could you maintain it? If you’re weighing a fairly lean 190 now, I doubt it.
The first paragraph of DocT’s original post said it all, far as I can see…
DocT, much of what you’ve written is nonsense I’m afraid.
A balanced work-out with cardio work is what will get you fit, not a programme of super heavy weights of 3sets of 6 reps and no aerobic work… I’m with MR, I LAUGH at all the huge, ‘muscley’ guys who dont include any cardio in their weekly work-out. What about the treadmill, the bike, the rower or swimming? It’s much about having a healthy heart, not being some huge slab of meat that can’t run for more then 40m without stopping out of breath! Most guys dont even do a short cardio warm up, they go straight into weights. Dont they know that some cardio before weights promotes blood flow to the muscle and improves performance?
As for steroids, they’re some of the most toxic drugs you can put into your body. Most put stress on the liver. I know, i’ve taken them and felt the affects, add to that my mother being a nurse and a great well of medical knowledge and I feel I’m pretty informed.
At the end of the day, you cannot argue that big f*ck-off body builders are ‘fit’. They may be strong, but they aint fit mister. Get them to run a mile, or swim a few lengths, get them to do any cardio work of substantial length and they collapse! As for getting them to do simple dexterity exercises and it’s a laugh.
UKfitguy, there are many different ways to be “fit”, it’s all a matter of what the individual wants. For example, having the capability to run several miles in a row is definitely impossible for a competitive powerlifter in a high weight class. But that doesn’t mean that a big guy or gal is less fit than a wispy aerobiciser.
Fitness for the military is a different goal than what many of us on this board have. So be it. Soldiers need to qualify on a distance run every year, I don’t. For most of us to maintain a “physique” like Brad Pitt is impossible to do over the long term, it’s just too thin. Besides, I wonder if he specifically dieted down for Fight Club, and if he really is a little bigger than that normally.
So what would you define as fit? What kind of condition would that be? You know that it’s not impossible to be large and cardiovascularly “fit”, right? Check this out (while deleting any spaces): www.teamclydesdale.com/ triathlon_athlete_darrylhaley.htm It’s a link to a story on a 6’6’’ 325 lb triathlete who finished the Ironman. I agree with you that there are many bodybuilders who can’t handle a flight of stairs without heart failure, but you need to realize that there are athletes (bodybuilders included) out there who are big, strong, fast, and have endurance. And what would you consider a dexterity exercise? Just curious.
As for the steroid thing, to save some time, did you read the "Steroids for Health" article in this week's T-mag? If so, I assume you think it's a steaming pile of BS? You come across as quite close-minded on a lot of subjects, and I think it may limit your ability to learn. It's fine to have opinions. It's even fine to make some generalizations, but please don't tell us how everything works. You're also coming across as someone who uses "being fit" as a way to get over their own feelings of inferiority to larger men. But again, I didn't say you are doing that, I just said that's how you're coming across.
UKfitguy, please get off your high horse for just one second and realize that you’re ignorant as hell. I didn’t say a word about people who didn’t do cardio. What you’ve assumed is that big guys don’t do any cardio. That’s true for some, but not for all, yet you’d lump them all in the same group because it makes you feel better about being “fit.” Most of your argument is based on things that I didn’t say but things you assume. “Mongo lift weight. Mongo no like cardio.” Give me a fucking break. That’s fine for the Flex types, but there is a different breed here at T-mag. Maybe you haven’t been here long enough to realize that. Maybe you’re just a stupid fuck. I don’t know.
Your comments about steroids are even more ignorant than the previous comments. They’re not even CLOSE to being the most toxic drugs you can put into your body. More toxic things? How about aspirin and Tylenol?
“Most put stress on the liver.”
No, SOME cause a TRANSIENT in liver enzymes which go back to normal after a cycle. So does alcohol, so does Tylenol. Do you even understand the word “moderation?”
You’ve “taken them and felt the affects (sic).” Somehow I doubt that, as you imply that it’s a bad thing. Most people feel great while they’re on them. If you truly have and you “felt” something, why not elaborate for the class?
So your mother’s a nurse. Congrats. I guess that gives you some special knowledge, right?
My favorite part of your post is where you call yourself “pretty informed,” yet you spout ignorance that is commonplace among people who aren’t informed in the slightest. You’re here at T-mag, yet you disagree with pretty much every writer at the mag. Do you think they’re stupid? Do you think that guys who do this for their living have no idea about which they’re speaking? Are you actually ever going to provide something of substance to back up your ignorant claims? Congrats on being “fit.” Now work on the ignorant part.
ukfitguy–please don’t call people mister. I never thought it possible to come off homo during a basic email but my lands mr. dancer man you pulled it off. You have no idea what you’re talking about. As for your mom being a nurse (?) who gives a shit. My dad’s a publisher and I know how to write does that make me John Grisham? I don’t think so. I’ve sat here and read this horse shit for the last 2 days. Cleric should have been flamed off the board the second his faggy question was asked. This board wants to help people but to what end? I know I’m saying things all the others are thinking. We body build, you wear tights and leg warmers, that’s the main idealogical difference. You stay in shape for other men and for the way you feel they want you to look. (They don’t call this flaming for nothing). By the way who on God’s green earth gives a fuck about being able to swim any great distance? We’re not life guards. As for Brad Pitt in Fight Club, any guy who would publicly announce that they want to look like that squirrel on a world wide stage like this is open to ridicule. It ain’t normal. He looked good if you’re into that tiny, squirrely, homo club hopping look. People aren’t mad because Cleric has an ideal that doesn’t jibe with their own, their upset because they’re trying to shut him the hell up without having to call him faggot. These guys are much more polite than myself. Ukfitguy you gave your opinions so I figured you might like a few in return. Tata–penny