Good afternoon fellow t-nation readers. I had some interesting thoughts I would love to bounce off of you. I have been thinking a bit philosophically about designing training regimens and have come to the determination that it is best to think of yourself as an “artist painting on a blank canvas”. You have to create something that will be uniquely your own and fits your needs. After it’s all said and done, the means of how you train don’t matter as much as the drive. You can use the time-tested principles for effective training to design your own training programs.
I came to this determination after reading about different training methodologies, different ways to work out, and routines that all “work” but are vastly different in execution. It dawns on me that all of these different styles of training can all lead you to the same destination. Wendler 5,3;1, strong lifts 5X5, or any other “power-building” program that is followed with passion and reverence, is going to take you to your desired goals. You will be stronger no matter what you program you pick so why not pick the one that you enjoy the most. You are the artist and the routine doesn’t matter.
Now I would be remiss in saying that you should definitely have a baseline of knowledge in proper training. If you are new to training, follow an established routine to the letter. What I am merely suggesting is past a certain stage in development, you can begin to decide what works best for you. This is provided it’s not completely retarded and is a proven methodology. (Don’t misunderstand me when I say it’s a free-for-all to just do your own thing and ignore basic principles that must always be practiced.)
Thinking of myself as an artist with a blank canvas in regards to training design is liberating. I don’t feel like I’m missing out or there is a routine that is more “optimal”. What is “optimal” is sticking with a routine long enough to reap the benefits of it. Training with a passion and faith in something personalized for me will yield superior results. I don’t feel the need to be so dogmatic in my training.
Please share some thoughts on this? I’m not sure if I’m making sense at all but this is the best way I know how to describe my new philosophy in training.
I came to same conclusion 10 years ago when i understood that Arnold was known for huge volume and then came Mentzer with his 1 all out set.
I have done it all and never saw anything work any better - food first, then drugs(if enhanced) but your training either stimulates enough, or it doesnt, or it does too much and you bury yourself under workloads. Nothing else really matters and that is what Wendler basically says over the years - when you read all his stuff and look at it from a bit of a distance its basically “do 531, then do whatever the fuck”.
Look at Lilliebridges : “do 1 heavy set every 14 days, then do whatever the fuck but high volume”.
In bodybuilding almost nothing matters as long as volume is there and it progresses. In strenght its a bit different, but anyways - you can pick ANY program for your bench/dead/squat and then do - whatever the fuck.
Genetics, food and drugs(in this order) are the difference between Mr.O first place, and first place in the middle of Nowhere… Same thing with strenght. Obsessing about bicep curl angles in hopes of finding PERFECT exercise to have biceps like Arnold, was just a good way to sell magazines.
As Paul Carter said - One of my most favorite quotes of all time about what it takes to get better was by Dr. Ken Leistner - “I’m fond of telling doubting trainees that it’s just a matter of always adding weight to the bar, adding another repetition. If you could get to the point where you’re squatting 400 pounds for 20 reps, stiff-legged deadlifting 400 pounds for 15 reps, curling 200 for 10 reps, pressing 200 for 10 reps, doing 10 dips with 300 pounds around your waist, and chinning with 100 pounds, don’t you think you would be big? I mean awfully big? AND strong? Obviously!”
For me, this means doing a routine that does not hurt me, does not bore me and does enough to keep me adding another rep, another pound…little by little
Thanks for the reply and thoughts on the matter. I think that the magazines, the current fitness “it” celebs, and just the current culture in general thrive in over complicating training to make money. While I’m not against someone making a buck, it just frustrates me that is where the we are in the current era of training.
I’ve been reading a lot of old time training methods from earlier times as of late. The gentleman by the name of Bradley J. Steiner who wrote these old articles from the 1970’s made sense to me. He talks about just getting stronger in barbell training by focusing on the fundamentals. He takes a good amount of time to promote health. Based on my 15 years of training knowledge, I would say there’s nothing “gimmicky” about his advice. It’s just good, old-fashioned, hard work. I will say that some stuff could be a bit outdated but for the most part, I like the guy’s style.
Does it really matter about whether you do a tricep kickback, or a skull-crusher? I’d say you’re splitting hairs there. Also I think that worrying about the supplemental exercises to that degree is a waste of time. Everyone would benefit if they put their focus on what counts. The big exercises which yield the best results should be the focus.
I would love to see the zeitgeist of physical culture to return to where it was about getting stronger and physical health. The things that every man and woman can do and don’t require fancy equipment or a subscription to the “flavor of the month” on youtube.
Yes! Exactly right! I used to be of the mind when I was younger that you had to change your routine all the time to “keep the body guessing”. While I’m still not totally against that, I think it’s best to stick with the time-tested routines for a lot longer. That is a big challenge for me as I can get bored easily. How I think I may of solve the dilemma is by keeping just 1 or 2 “mandatory” exercises for a LONG time, milking them for all they’re worth, and constantly striving for progression. For variety, I can then use my “supplemental” exercises and change them on almost a weekly basis. I think the key to long-term success with a routine is flexibility being built in.
I developed a routine that I have been sticking with for 10 months now and I think it’s because it’s not as rigid as my previous attempts. I do enjoy it.
I’ve never actually tried that program myself but I always hear good things about it. I love the concept of getting stronger on the lifts that matter but still being able to do other things.
The one reason I haven’t done it is I’m also trying to practice progressive calisthenics as well. I know it’s ill-advised to really tamper with a program template like 5,3;1. What I’m currently doing is a hybrid-program I made myself that focuses on progressive calisthenics and weight training equally.
I was rereading what you wrote yesterday and this stuck out as a gem. What I’ve been doing is picking 1 o 2 mandatory, compound exercises. These are set in stone and are not for negotiation. It is the bare minimum necessary and if time is short, that’s all I have to worry about. Then I have my supplemental work, and I’ve been treating that as a “free-for-all” to do whatever I want (if I do it at all). I like to view my mandatory work as my “strength work” and my supplemental work is the “pump work”. From what I know of the 5, 3; 1 program, it is advised to do something similar.
It just makes sense to set it up that way. When you don’t make any exercise except the one’s that truly matter mandatory, it makes it that much easier to train when you don’t feel like it or you are short on time. You can be done in 20 to 30 minutes depending on what your doing. The barrier for entry on getting started is very low. I think there are people who would benefit from focusing on nothing more than what matters and keeping the rest optional.
i know, i just kinda added his name in case he doesnt know the author, because you can find lots of good stuff about that searching for Wendler, not necessary 531
sounds like 531 is exactly for you
and yes, you can do calisthenics with it also… bodyweight assistance is a template in 531 you are free to modify and add whatever the fuck…
