Got Vince’s Second Workout Bulletin.
10-8-6-15
too low on carbs to try this one yet but in a month or two…
Also got Vince’s 1st workout bulletin…
With only a cursory read you feel you have been gypped but if you read the how 2s of the bulletin fully there is gold there in these hills…
Solid
ended my 28 day Odyssey diet…
first off it was hard… there is no roid rage only low carb fury…
Tail of the tape:
starting weight 275lbs. ending as of today 266lbs.
Arm size stayed the same at 18" cold
Calf size stayed the same at 18 1/8 cold
My pants fit way better as do most of my shirts.
I lost little to NO muscle! (bingo!)
I also did over head dumbbell seated press today and did 80s for 10 reps ( my best ever )
updating my blog
Solid
My blog updated.
http://my.tmagnum.com/inthego
Will start Monday Oct. 1st for 28 days.
Will update my blog with my meal logs for the first week only. After that it only repeats any way…
For anyone interested, NSP does have a site. In fact I’ve found two sites. Anyone interested, PM me and I’ll send the link to you.
Updated my Blog…
[quote]inthego wrote:
Updated my Blog…
http://my.tmagnum.com/inthego[/quote]
I moved my blog to blogspot and added my take on some of the manuals I have read and reviewed and am adding more every week.
My goal is to review all the the manuals and with my tax return I will buy the elusive “pro series” that Vince takes you from day 1 of the year to the end of the year day by day…
Solid…
I have been collecting all of the training manuals/booklets for a while. I get a new one once a month or as funds permit…
I have a blog that has my reviews of them but I thought some might find it of some interest here…
Check it out
Solid…
The Wild Physique - Thoughts and Notes
This book was a very easy read. Well laid out and well written. ($28.00)
One Note to keep in mind is that as I go though all of Vince’s writing both paid for and free, I have noticed that there is a fair amount of contradiction from one thing to another.
Such as “never blend eggs in a blender due to the yoke being damaged” then blend eggs in a blender for a protein recipe. I think due to the years the writings span ideas on certain issues changed in Vince’s way of thinking.
The training is very descriptive and complete with many exercises to choose from. (Dogma aside) the diet information is highly debatable due to the heavy fat/protein to carbohydrate ratio. Vince believed in a very low carbohydrate to protein mix in order to cut fat. Much like the Adkins’s diet with the difference of eating the carbs and proteins at different times in the day and not all together. Further more on low to no carb cycles one carb up day was proscribed to refuel the muscles with glycogen.
Of all the manuals offered this one is by far the most complete in regards to a total package that is used for both nutrition/workout and mental attitude. Well worth the money ($28.00 + $2.00 for a binder) the only real big draw back is that this is a reprint or rather a photo copy of the original book print. (Original book is out of print for some time)
All pictures are in black and white. Perhaps they were in B&W in the original printing but with higher quality. (I would hope)
Vince’s Dogma:
Vince was as far as his writings and reputation was by most people’s account a very stubborn, high strung fellow with his later years teetering on curmudgeon and/or bitter.
In Vince’s Gym it was simply his way or get the hell out…
One might note that the greater the thinker the greater the successes but also greater the errors. In other words those that shoot for the moon either make a dazzling display of precision and grace or miss it by miles…
In any case Vince did not ever note any ware I can find that an error or evolution in his thinking corrected. You find only a change or contradiction in the writings.
By studying the dates of publication you may find an insight into his thinking at that time, however I am at odds finding true first time publications dates, the dates that are available are mostly re-publication dates in many muscle magazines
For an enormous amount of articles by Vince Gironda go to:
Many of the Q&A of the old magazines are copied and pasted there as well as full length articles.
A must site for the Gironda fan (you might know about it already :))
Marc
Great!
Thanks…
Solid
Blueprint For The Bodybuilder - Thoughts and Notes
This is a down and dirty nutritional supplement booklet. ($15.00)
The main thrust of this writing could be summed up by this passage:
“Controlling the body weight without exercise is almost an impossible task.”
This book could stand on it’s own but to fully understand the Vince Dogma you must read at least the Wild Physique.
Some high lights are:
Red meat is not just good it’s the king of Vince’s protein recommendations with eggs a really close 2nd.
“The human body can digest and assimilate only 20 grams of protein per meal.”
High cholesterol is more of a internal body issue than a diet one.
Desiccated liver - kicks ass!
Vitamins - they are-a-plenty, you will need a lot of water to wash all the recommend tabs down.
Over all impression: Really good for the intermediate trainer looking for that old school diet edge.
Balanced Arms - Thoughts and Notes
Balanced arms is a booklet ($15.00) aimed at the, my arms are tiny but want tree trunks and not twigs crowd.
Catalog description: “The secret of well shaped, fully developed huge arms can be yours.”
Filled with both biceps and triceps movements a plenty. Some however are difficult due to the cable pull position and execution. And of course Vince’s ever present never ending championing of cholesterol as a natural body secretion and not a diet intake one. With handy easy meal suggestions like:
Steak and eggs!! Wow what a shocker… Vince loved his eggs and meat on that there is no question.
One odd thing noted is that there is no, not one hammer type of movement. So the bicep brachial is never engaged directly. Sort of weird for a balanced arm type slant.
Some high lights are:
NO! Cardio work… NONE
Arms should be worked first.
Eat your protein, that means your liver tabs-meat-eggs…
Your mind needs to be focused on your goal.
Stress will make your muscles shrink.
Big Arms require leg work (though no exercises are given or suggested)
Not ALL exercises make muscles grow larger and stronger.
Over all impression: Glad I have this for the arkive but at $15 it seems a bit high.
Blueprint and Wild Physique are must have for every Vince library collection. Blueprint is the shit. I got alot of that book and still reference back to it from time to time.
What about the book with Robert Kennedy, the Wild Physique?
I must admit to being impressed by some of Vinces ideas when I was reading MI in the late 70’s / early 80’s
A muscle has FOUR SIDES - Thoughts and Notes
A muscle has four sides is a training manual for 1 type of workout scheme/system. $15.00
Some nutrition is in there to help with your hopeful results. This type of training is sort of a kin to a machine gun fire. Rapid succession of predetermined exercises in rapid order.
Catalog description: None. weird hu?
My take on this type of training is it reminds me of the Max-OT type training. Well this is perhaps where the max-ot training got it’s start. Doing heavy weight with a predetermined order and speed. There is a very specific diet plan included that must be strictly followed. Hint buy up eggs when on sale…
A few round a bout notes are that the full title is A muscle has FOUR SIDES, how to build more muscle in the shortest time possible. Then at the bottom “When Vince speaks the stars listen”.
The muscle building thing is on display clearly but the reference to the stars must have been a marketing thing that is now not understood. No actor, musician or other type of star including any physique person is used in the pictures or referenced in the writings.
Some high lights are:
One exercise performed for one set only with reps not exceeding 12
Exercises are set, no deviation is permissible.
Get ready to eat your eggs… RAW and a-lot of them.
News flash Vince has made arrangements with a local motel a block away from the gym so you can train with him (This is noted because most trainers try to do this very thing now a days, Vince; as always the innovator)
Over all impression: This is a really good type of training that all weight trainers should try at least once or use it to get past a sticking point, only real draw back is if you are not familiar with old style exercises, IE zottman curls
Vince’s First Workout Bulletin - Thoughts and Notes
Vince’s First Workout Bulletin is a Charles Atlas style exercise booklet. $16.00
Very simple and very short with most exercises either already known by most weight trainers or a variation of known exercises.
Catalog description: “Vince reveals the fantastic workout techniques that helped produce the West Coast Stars”.
Some high lights are:
An endorsement by Joe Weider
Rapid breathing or multiple breathing breath control should be employed on any and all strict form exercises.
Abdominal work should never be employed by slow gainers.
Over all impression: Don’t buy this. If you are like me and are trying to collect all of Vince’s writings then, OK. Other wise it is all most worthless due to it’s simplicity and the fact that all of the information is in other writings
Both the bulk & definition courses are booklets. $15.00 ea these are for the bulk up phase then the cut your fat phase. I combined the two because at the end of the bulk course “the next step” is the Definition-Diet, as it is put on the last page.
Catalog description-
Vince’s Six Week Bulk Course: Gain muscle weight with minimum loss of definition. Includes diet.
Secrets Of Definition: Step-by-step secrets to maximum definition: exercise, special definition diet and much much more…
Due to the sequel type ending of the bulk course I thought it best to combine these two reviews. Both have info that is discussed with equal or greater detail in other writings. The bulk course is set-up very clean and organized but with no pictures to help with the recommended exercises. The definition course is laid out like a personal journal with hand drawn pictures that show the recommended exercises. Both diets are very similar with the difference in the addition or removal of carbohydrates. Both diets are highly simple and are covered in only one or two paragraphs in the booklets.
Some high lights are:
A forward by Larry Scott
Smokers do not gain muscle easily
A lesson on breathing control
Over all impression: Glad I have them for the archive, however for those that are not interested in collecting Vince’s writings and only want training then avoid these two.
Vince’s Corner - Thoughts and Notes
Vince’s Corner ($16.00) is a compilation of some of his many magazine articles published in various muscle magazines over the years. This booklet is like appetizers at a bar and grill, all great and very filling. The writings are quick and to the point, chalked full with great info.
Catalog description: “Personally selected, up-to-date information on all phases of muscle building, diet, posing and over 40 revealing photos. A MUST!”
The information was compiled from a series of articles that first appeared in the Weider mags. The writings were very popular and for a time Weider and Vince got along in both a public and private manner, latter that changed as the Vince’s corner was pulled from all Weider publications.
This book has some interesting mental angles that give some insight into the man Vince truly was. The bite sized articles are easy to read and most are very helpful.
In my opinion the best tidbit is the “Forgotten Routine”. I have used this one for some time and find it to be one of the best. Some things you try and they are good but you always go back to what is best for you, and the forgotten routine is my home base for my workout lifestyle. There are a few nostalgic pictures peppering the pages to add some bonus flavor.
Some high lights are:
The Forgotten Routine
Complete arm development
How to do the “perfect” curl.
Old school Rib-Cage Development
Over all impression: If you could have only one teaching from Vince, other than “The Wild Physique” This is it. Some of the materials are thin on info and fat on price this one is a gold mine. Get if Fast!
I’ve got most of them. I don’t have "4 sides.’ nor do I have “Vince’s corner.”
Do you have masters series? or professional series?
[quote]greekdawg wrote:
I’ve got most of them. I don’t have "4 sides.’ nor do I have “Vince’s corner.”
Do you have masters series? or professional series?[/quote]
ah… the holy grail of the series… No, I wish. I have not even been able to find a pic of the cover…
just ordered the Sissy squat and the “how I trained the stars” that will be all of the manuals save the two you asked about; and when funds permit the masters series is what is on my mind…
I will post as soon as I order it and will lock myself away for a weekend and read it all at once…