I apologize for not keeping up with my blog as of late. My new career has been keeping me busy.
My next blog is a true story of a female competitor that is now a bodybuilding pro. I knew her right before she turned pro.
This inside story is a not miss!! The amount of drugs and the way she used them will blow your mind. And NO, I will divulge her identity.
ROGUE STRENGTH AND FITNESS Some qualifications: I've won Natural bodybuilding shows-I've won my weight class several times in the drug tested PL feds in my weight class-I have competed in Strongman shows and have competed with some of the Pro's you see on ESPN-I was a certified personal trainer for over 10 years- I have a Master Degree in Psychology so I know how these "fake" trainers think- I've worked for a MAJOR supplement company and know many "behind the scenes" stories.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
A primer for future info
Here is some of my older stuff. I will be getting more specific regarding my articles very soon…
I’m a little angry right now so please bear with me. This article is going to cut through the crap and get down to what’s real! I’m sick and tired of the mind/muscle link! Yeah you have to have a pretty decent degree of determination and concentration while you are lifting, but that is where it ends! I like when I read about these genetic freaks talk about how they force their biceps peak to become higher while they workout. Are you kidding me? Hey, I want to grow 2 inches in height, so according to them if I concentrate hard enough it will happen. I’m tired of being 5’10”! Sounds ridiculous right? Well it goes the same with muscle! Also the positive thinking aspect only can go so far. I’ll bring up the UFC like I did in my last article. Before the fights they usually interview the fighters. A fighter will go on and proclaim, “ I will win, I have already foreseen it and visualized it, so I have already won”. Then they go out into the Octagon and get their ass knocked out! Wow, positive thinking really worked for them! I’m not saying to think negatively, just be realistic and prepare your self through training and practice. Believing in yourself will get you through hard times and life in general, not just thinking positive thoughts.
Before the injectable, “instant oil muscle” came along; you were stuck with your genetics, period! The great Lee Haney had the best back, delts, and chest in the world, but his arms always lagged behind no matter how hard he trained them. That was what his genetics dictated. Just look at what happened with a current pro who tried to get his arms bigger by using the “magic oil”; he almost died! Some of the current pros are a big mass of bumps and lumps! I love some of the current crop of bodybuilders with 90-degree angles on their deltoids. Did they force their side delts to grow through intense concentration? Hell NO!! Some of the pros that I have met have a hard enough time signing their autographs let alone thinking positively! I do have a great respect for most pro and high amateur level competitive bodybuilders. Most of them bust their ass getting into shape. I’m just stating the truth of the matter. Remember many people’s biggest fear is the truth.
Think for your self; don’t let some “motivational” speaker spew a few fake words at you so you think success is magical! When your sympathetic nervous system kicks in, your brain does not care if it’s because you’re horny, angry, happy, or excited. Your heart rate and epinephrine levels go up either way. Have you ever become sick after a vacation? That was “good” stress right? Your body does not care that you were having fun on your vacation; it was still stress, plain and simple. Chronic stress is what causes illness, not short-term stress. Our bodies were designed for short-term stress followed by relaxation. Relax after your workout, not during it! Our bodies were designed for “fight or flight”.
“ The sympathetic division of the [autonomic nervous system] mobilizes the body’s resources in emergency, stressful, and emotional [good or bad] situations. Walter Cannon (1932) termed this configuration of responses the “fight or flight” reaction. Sympathetic activation prepares the body for intense motor activity, the sort necessary for attack, defense, or escape” (Brannon & Feist).
What is a more intense motor activity than a set of squats? You want to get excited while you workout, it helps you focus and perform better. It does this by the accomplishing the following:
“ The reactions include an increase in the rate and strength of cardiac contraction, constriction of blood vessels in the skin, a decrease of gastrointestinal activity, [meaning, it is better to train on an empty stomach] an increase in respiration, stimulation of the sweat glands, and dilation of the pupils in the eyes” (Brannon & Feist).
Our physiology has not changed much if at all since we were cavemen, hunting and gathering for food.
“ Emotional behaviors are accompanied by changes in heart and breathing rates and other internal activities that prepare the body for the increased demands it faces. The internal activities depend on the two branches of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for intense, vigorous, emergency activity. The parasympathetic nervous system increases digestion and other processes associated with conservation of energy and preparation for later events. The parasympathetic system becomes especially active after removal of a stimulus that excited the sympathetic system”(Kalat).
That quote explains pretty well why eating after a workout is so important. Our digestive system is raring to go!
We were pretty laid back as cavemen until a bear or saber tooth tiger started to chase us, then our sympathetic nervous system kicked into gear and told us to get the hell out of there! After the danger was gone our parasympathetic nervous system calms us back down and reverses the sympathetic process. That is a simplified version, but that’s pretty much what happens. Intense workouts are sort of the same idea. They are not the main culprits to a negative effect on our body. Unfortunately today’s world is a bit different than our ancestors but we deal with it with the same basic physiological make-up. It is the everyday chronic stress that our immune system has a hard time dealing with. Our bodies are not designed to handle a constant bombardment of stress. I guess you could coin chronic stress as “bad stress” if you wanted to.
What causes the strain on your health and bodybuilding efforts are the things that happen to you after you leave the gym. Your occupation, relationships, driving in traffic, sleep patterns, noise, pollution, crowding, etc. are the chronic problems that our bodies have a hard time dealing with. Getting psyched up during a workout is not the problem. (Unless you train everyday, hours on end). Please don’t get me wrong. Positive thinking is very important for your personal well-being and outlook on life, and the opportunities it brings to us. Confidence and feeling good about our selves is a wonderful and important thing. Cockiness and arrogance are not. Feeling “positive thoughts” before a lift will not make you magically stronger however. Hard training and determination over a period of time will.
Many people try and make things to scientific or complicated. I like to live in the real world, not some mystic false hope realm. Leave that sort of thinking to the cults. Staying positive helps us get through the day and succeed in our goals. Train hard, kick ass, and stay true to yourself. That is the mental key to bodybuilding success!
More Random Thoughts
Before we get to more specifics let me dispel some myths that people hold onto like they do some outdated religions.
Myth 1: Muscle takes 3 days to recover- Muscle takes a week to recover- Muscle takes 6 weeks to recover, (for all you Mentzer nuts). Bottom Line: Everyone is different, period. This is not new earth shattering news to most of you, I know. Even though most natural lifters know they should be training less, they are afraid to for some reason. If a total genetic freak like Dorian Yates only trained 4 days a week, how do you think you can handle that amount of stress? Really think about that for a minute.
Myth 2: You must hit the muscle from different angles to stimulate strength and growth. Bottom Line: What a load of bullshit! Since powerlifting is more of a cult sport than bodybuilding, many of you have not seen the quality of some of the physiques. I’ve seen some powerlifters that could step onstage at a state level show and blow some people away. They look better than many bodybuilders without even touching a cable or machine!! I’m not bashing bodybuilders here, because I still consider myself one too.
Myth 3: Your body will adapt to almost any training routine. Bottom Line: You know my answer, bull shit again! Who comes up with this stuff anyway? Usually someone trying to sell you their book on some “new” form of lifting. I’ll also use a personal example about this one. My best friend for years is obsessed with training. He attributes all my gains on genetics, instead of giving me credit on the way in which I workout. Now my friend has been to the doctor more times in the last 2 years than anyone I know. He is constantly complaining about some new ailment. When I bring up the fact that he trains 5 days a week even when he is sick, he just blows me off. This guy is so blind to his own over training, that it will probably kill him someday! (Actually I think he actually may be dead).
Myth 4: There is no such thing as over training just under eating. Bottom Line: This is a supplement manufacturers dream! This one is my favorites! You know what, I’m not even going to address this load of crap.
I usually take 3 to 5 days off in-between workouts, depending how sore I am.
This is not the be-all end-all of training routines. I just wanted to show you that you don’t have to live in the gym to grow. You will not lose muscle if you don’t train it every 3 days!! Most bodybuilding and powerlifting systems are all built around nothing or drug cycles.
Now all this information changes if you use drugs. I’m not condemning drug users, far from it. What I’m trying to get across here is that if you’re not chemically enhanced you have to train different!
I don’t train this way just to be different. I’ve found this particular workout through trial and much error. I’ll take a break from heavy training after the powerlifting season is over this year. I’m still learning all the time, and you should be too!
I’ve said this in the past but it so important it deserves repeating. Nothing, and I mean nothing can compare to an all out sets of squats or deadlifts! After I complete my squat workout, all the muscles in my legs and glutes are sore. Many times when I competed in bodybuilding I had the most deeply cut legs on stage. I got those cuts from squatting! Leg extensions no matter how “intense” they are will not do the job. Doing squats and deadlifts also keep your metabolism raging. Remember I’m talking about drug-free lifters here. All the above can be replaced by a drug, I know. Even the most intelligent users have to respect their drug use and monitor themselves. DNP comes to mind. Yeah I’m a wimp when it comes to using drugs, I just don’t want to risk it at this point in my life. More power to the guys who do I guess, I just don’t want to use them right now.
Here a few things for the natural lifter:
Flax/Fish Oil – These 2 oils have helped in protecting my joints from all the years of heavy lifting. Natural anti-inflammatory, and good for a healthy brain.
Antioxidants/vitamins - This one is a given for any athlete.
Quality Protein Powder – Protein Factory has some incredible mixtures. Also lactoferrin is starting to be empirically proven to help in overall health and recovery.
I also believe that a protein drink with peanut butter or flax oil before bed helps the body recover big time. (Cheesy word I know)
Sleep - You should never underestimate sleep. Sure you can get by with little sleep, but over long periods of time is where the damage is done and your system as a whole can crash.
Stimulants (Fat-burners) – These are excellent for short-term use. I like to compare ephedrine to using nitrous oxide in a car’s engine. Sure that car will be faster than the others and win more races etc, but then inevitably the engine is destroyed from overwork. This goes the same for your adrenal glands; Give them a break!
By adopting some or all of the above methods, you to can improve your gains in the gym. We are far from finding an empirically proven style of training, so experiment! Remember there is no one-way to train. We are all built different with different lifestyles.
Let’s Cut Through The Bull Shit!!
I’m a little angry right now so please bear with me. This article is going to cut through the crap and get down to what’s real! I’m sick and tired of the mind/muscle link! Yeah you have to have a pretty decent degree of determination and concentration while you are lifting, but that is where it ends! I like when I read about these genetic freaks talk about how they force their biceps peak to become higher while they workout. Are you kidding me? Hey, I want to grow 2 inches in height, so according to them if I concentrate hard enough it will happen. I’m tired of being 5’10”! Sounds ridiculous right? Well it goes the same with muscle! Also the positive thinking aspect only can go so far. I’ll bring up the UFC like I did in my last article. Before the fights they usually interview the fighters. A fighter will go on and proclaim, “ I will win, I have already foreseen it and visualized it, so I have already won”. Then they go out into the Octagon and get their ass knocked out! Wow, positive thinking really worked for them! I’m not saying to think negatively, just be realistic and prepare your self through training and practice. Believing in yourself will get you through hard times and life in general, not just thinking positive thoughts.
Before the injectable, “instant oil muscle” came along; you were stuck with your genetics, period! The great Lee Haney had the best back, delts, and chest in the world, but his arms always lagged behind no matter how hard he trained them. That was what his genetics dictated. Just look at what happened with a current pro who tried to get his arms bigger by using the “magic oil”; he almost died! Some of the current pros are a big mass of bumps and lumps! I love some of the current crop of bodybuilders with 90-degree angles on their deltoids. Did they force their side delts to grow through intense concentration? Hell NO!! Some of the pros that I have met have a hard enough time signing their autographs let alone thinking positively! I do have a great respect for most pro and high amateur level competitive bodybuilders. Most of them bust their ass getting into shape. I’m just stating the truth of the matter. Remember many people’s biggest fear is the truth.
Think for your self; don’t let some “motivational” speaker spew a few fake words at you so you think success is magical! When your sympathetic nervous system kicks in, your brain does not care if it’s because you’re horny, angry, happy, or excited. Your heart rate and epinephrine levels go up either way. Have you ever become sick after a vacation? That was “good” stress right? Your body does not care that you were having fun on your vacation; it was still stress, plain and simple. Chronic stress is what causes illness, not short-term stress. Our bodies were designed for short-term stress followed by relaxation. Relax after your workout, not during it! Our bodies were designed for “fight or flight”.
“ The sympathetic division of the [autonomic nervous system] mobilizes the body’s resources in emergency, stressful, and emotional [good or bad] situations. Walter Cannon (1932) termed this configuration of responses the “fight or flight” reaction. Sympathetic activation prepares the body for intense motor activity, the sort necessary for attack, defense, or escape” (Brannon & Feist).
What is a more intense motor activity than a set of squats? You want to get excited while you workout, it helps you focus and perform better. It does this by the accomplishing the following:
“ The reactions include an increase in the rate and strength of cardiac contraction, constriction of blood vessels in the skin, a decrease of gastrointestinal activity, [meaning, it is better to train on an empty stomach] an increase in respiration, stimulation of the sweat glands, and dilation of the pupils in the eyes” (Brannon & Feist).
Our physiology has not changed much if at all since we were cavemen, hunting and gathering for food.
“ Emotional behaviors are accompanied by changes in heart and breathing rates and other internal activities that prepare the body for the increased demands it faces. The internal activities depend on the two branches of the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for intense, vigorous, emergency activity. The parasympathetic nervous system increases digestion and other processes associated with conservation of energy and preparation for later events. The parasympathetic system becomes especially active after removal of a stimulus that excited the sympathetic system”(Kalat).
That quote explains pretty well why eating after a workout is so important. Our digestive system is raring to go!
We were pretty laid back as cavemen until a bear or saber tooth tiger started to chase us, then our sympathetic nervous system kicked into gear and told us to get the hell out of there! After the danger was gone our parasympathetic nervous system calms us back down and reverses the sympathetic process. That is a simplified version, but that’s pretty much what happens. Intense workouts are sort of the same idea. They are not the main culprits to a negative effect on our body. Unfortunately today’s world is a bit different than our ancestors but we deal with it with the same basic physiological make-up. It is the everyday chronic stress that our immune system has a hard time dealing with. Our bodies are not designed to handle a constant bombardment of stress. I guess you could coin chronic stress as “bad stress” if you wanted to.
What causes the strain on your health and bodybuilding efforts are the things that happen to you after you leave the gym. Your occupation, relationships, driving in traffic, sleep patterns, noise, pollution, crowding, etc. are the chronic problems that our bodies have a hard time dealing with. Getting psyched up during a workout is not the problem. (Unless you train everyday, hours on end). Please don’t get me wrong. Positive thinking is very important for your personal well-being and outlook on life, and the opportunities it brings to us. Confidence and feeling good about our selves is a wonderful and important thing. Cockiness and arrogance are not. Feeling “positive thoughts” before a lift will not make you magically stronger however. Hard training and determination over a period of time will.
Many people try and make things to scientific or complicated. I like to live in the real world, not some mystic false hope realm. Leave that sort of thinking to the cults. Staying positive helps us get through the day and succeed in our goals. Train hard, kick ass, and stay true to yourself. That is the mental key to bodybuilding success!
More Random Thoughts
Before we get to more specifics let me dispel some myths that people hold onto like they do some outdated religions.
Myth 1: Muscle takes 3 days to recover- Muscle takes a week to recover- Muscle takes 6 weeks to recover, (for all you Mentzer nuts). Bottom Line: Everyone is different, period. This is not new earth shattering news to most of you, I know. Even though most natural lifters know they should be training less, they are afraid to for some reason. If a total genetic freak like Dorian Yates only trained 4 days a week, how do you think you can handle that amount of stress? Really think about that for a minute.
Myth 2: You must hit the muscle from different angles to stimulate strength and growth. Bottom Line: What a load of bullshit! Since powerlifting is more of a cult sport than bodybuilding, many of you have not seen the quality of some of the physiques. I’ve seen some powerlifters that could step onstage at a state level show and blow some people away. They look better than many bodybuilders without even touching a cable or machine!! I’m not bashing bodybuilders here, because I still consider myself one too.
Myth 3: Your body will adapt to almost any training routine. Bottom Line: You know my answer, bull shit again! Who comes up with this stuff anyway? Usually someone trying to sell you their book on some “new” form of lifting. I’ll also use a personal example about this one. My best friend for years is obsessed with training. He attributes all my gains on genetics, instead of giving me credit on the way in which I workout. Now my friend has been to the doctor more times in the last 2 years than anyone I know. He is constantly complaining about some new ailment. When I bring up the fact that he trains 5 days a week even when he is sick, he just blows me off. This guy is so blind to his own over training, that it will probably kill him someday! (Actually I think he actually may be dead).
Myth 4: There is no such thing as over training just under eating. Bottom Line: This is a supplement manufacturers dream! This one is my favorites! You know what, I’m not even going to address this load of crap.
I usually take 3 to 5 days off in-between workouts, depending how sore I am.
This is not the be-all end-all of training routines. I just wanted to show you that you don’t have to live in the gym to grow. You will not lose muscle if you don’t train it every 3 days!! Most bodybuilding and powerlifting systems are all built around nothing or drug cycles.
Now all this information changes if you use drugs. I’m not condemning drug users, far from it. What I’m trying to get across here is that if you’re not chemically enhanced you have to train different!
I don’t train this way just to be different. I’ve found this particular workout through trial and much error. I’ll take a break from heavy training after the powerlifting season is over this year. I’m still learning all the time, and you should be too!
I’ve said this in the past but it so important it deserves repeating. Nothing, and I mean nothing can compare to an all out sets of squats or deadlifts! After I complete my squat workout, all the muscles in my legs and glutes are sore. Many times when I competed in bodybuilding I had the most deeply cut legs on stage. I got those cuts from squatting! Leg extensions no matter how “intense” they are will not do the job. Doing squats and deadlifts also keep your metabolism raging. Remember I’m talking about drug-free lifters here. All the above can be replaced by a drug, I know. Even the most intelligent users have to respect their drug use and monitor themselves. DNP comes to mind. Yeah I’m a wimp when it comes to using drugs, I just don’t want to risk it at this point in my life. More power to the guys who do I guess, I just don’t want to use them right now.
Here a few things for the natural lifter:
Flax/Fish Oil – These 2 oils have helped in protecting my joints from all the years of heavy lifting. Natural anti-inflammatory, and good for a healthy brain.
Antioxidants/vitamins - This one is a given for any athlete.
Quality Protein Powder – Protein Factory has some incredible mixtures. Also lactoferrin is starting to be empirically proven to help in overall health and recovery.
I also believe that a protein drink with peanut butter or flax oil before bed helps the body recover big time. (Cheesy word I know)
Sleep - You should never underestimate sleep. Sure you can get by with little sleep, but over long periods of time is where the damage is done and your system as a whole can crash.
Stimulants (Fat-burners) – These are excellent for short-term use. I like to compare ephedrine to using nitrous oxide in a car’s engine. Sure that car will be faster than the others and win more races etc, but then inevitably the engine is destroyed from overwork. This goes the same for your adrenal glands; Give them a break!
By adopting some or all of the above methods, you to can improve your gains in the gym. We are far from finding an empirically proven style of training, so experiment! Remember there is no one-way to train. We are all built different with different lifestyles.
Question
Ralfe wrote:"What has been more fun and satisfying, bodybuilding or strength competition?"
Thanks for the question Ralfe!
The strength sports have been much more satisfying. I love bodybuilding, but the judging can be so suspect. Even though many times the judging at powerlifting is also suspect - usually the lifts are the lifts. Either you make them or you don't.
Plus, since I have a small bone structure, lifting more than I ever thought I could was and is AWESOME!
Thanks for the question Ralfe!
The strength sports have been much more satisfying. I love bodybuilding, but the judging can be so suspect. Even though many times the judging at powerlifting is also suspect - usually the lifts are the lifts. Either you make them or you don't.
Plus, since I have a small bone structure, lifting more than I ever thought I could was and is AWESOME!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Some Thoughts...
People seem to think that “natural” bodybuilding or powerlifting is not hardcore. I am here to tell all you non-believers; F*#k off!! There, now that I got your attention lets dive into my “wimpy” natural world.
I have to train smarter and with more intensity than others who choose the other route. Being natural means you can’t be Mr. Olympia I know, but my physique is more developed than most of the “Gear Heads” at my gym. I have nothing against any athlete who uses juice; I would be a total hypocrite if I did. What I am saying is that some people can take enough shit to kill a horse and still bench 225 for 3 while looking like, well, a piece of shit. It takes more than drugs to build a championship physique. Training smart is the first step.
How I changed my training to be an Extreme Natural.
Most of you already know how, but are stuck in your current routine and afraid to experiment. Don’t be!! See, most of us cannot tolerate the daily pounding of the body like bigger boned guys can. You know the classic meso-morph body type. Look at the skinniest guys in your gym, more times than not they are also there the longest. To go to a further extreme look at the physique of a sprinter compared to one of those sickly looking tri-athletes! There are some sprinters out there who are totally shredded! Now lets get back to how that can work in the favor of natural training.YES- LESS IS BEST!! It sounds to simple but it is true! I’m a huge believer in the basics above all.
Natural guys and girls have to lift big using the famous Big 3: Squat-Bench-Deadlift. Those exercises force your body to produce the growth producing hormones. Why do you think there is never a line for the squat rack? Because they are brutally tough, both physically and mentally. You also have to concentrate more, and the fear factor comes in to play. Sitting down on that comfortable padded leg press is easy. You can’t fall off and you have safety pins if you can’t move the weight. Now put an amount of weight that is heavy for you on the bar. When that bar is fully loaded and on your back with you doing all the balancing, your heart begins to race and the sweat factory goes in to overdrive. See there is that fear of falling or getting stuck at the bottom, I believe that this “fear” helps us grow. There is no way possible that you can utter out a word while doing the last couple sets of tough squats! The same applies with the deadlift. You have to use your entire body to get that weight off the ground. I’ve seen some powerlifters who have never touched a lat pull-down with lats any bodybuilder would love to have! Here is the Natural Extreme Program that gave me these personal bests drug-free, 700 squat, 515 Bench, 600 deadlift (all in competition):
Day 1
Flat Bench: 5 sets 2-5 reps
Close Grip Bench: 3 sets 5 reps
Pull-Ups: 5 sets own weight max reps
Day 2
Squats: 5 sets 3-10 reps
Partial Deadlifts: 5 sets 5 reps
Barbell curls: 3 sets 10 reps
Day 3
There is no day 3!!
I would train twice a week using the above routine. Some times I only trained once a week if my work schedule was to demanding that particular week! Sounds crazy doesn’t it? That’s what I thought to until my bench went through the roof. My other 2 lifts are lagging because of back surgery on a ruptured disc at the L-5,S-1 vertebrae that I received courtesy of the Army. Hitting the ground after jumping out of a jet is not pleasant to say the least! But I’m pretty proud of my 500’s considering the doc told me to retire from lifting!
This is only one example of an abbreviated routine. There are many more, depending on your natural leverages, career, etc. I discovered this through trial and much error. Natural lifters might not be able to recover as fast but we can still train like wild pagan beasts! ROOAARRRR!!!!!!
Now my main concern is to get in my all-time best shape ever. I turn 40 in April, 2011. I don’t want to look like most of my peers! I figured if I don’t start losing this extra fat now I might never! So now I have incorporated cardio at a max 3 times per week. I’m training for a bodybuilding show but I still train for power. I’m also incorporating some shoulder press work to help my bench total. I’m not a big believer in “angle training” or pec-decs for those chest cuts. Bull shit! Your body doesn’t say: “oh, he’s doing cable crossovers now, we better put the strariations back in his chest!” It’s diet that brings out the cuts plus your genetics, not what fancy equipment you use. Take Dorian’s back for example, that thing was awesome sick!! You never saw him doing pooh-pooh exercises!
He took his fantastic genetics to their limits through hard brief intense workouts. People counter with, yeah but he tore his body apart! Well so have other lifters who use light weights, like Vince Taylor popped a biceps warming up with 30-pound dumbbells!
Alright back to being an Extreme Natural I don’t mean training without any supplement aids, or being a preacher for the natural cause like some of these freaks do. When I say extreme I mean train like an animal, eat like an intelligent animal, and never give up! Use every legal edge you can get your hands on. My goal is to prove that you can have a freakish physique using abbreviated training and being natural. I have not been this motivated since the first time that I picked up a weight and it fell on my chest! That was 25 years ago. Holy shit - I might have to start acting like an adult soon. (Probably not!!)
Living as a Warrior: Strength & Honor
Being a warrior requires having a strategic path. It also means that to achieve your goal, you (a warrior), must be committed and change or adjust your activities to further that commitment to your goals. “Not everyone will have the [guts] to take it. The warriors path is demanding and calls for its travelers to reorganize their actions, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions in ways that will make them different from most of the people around them” (Robert L. Spencer).
There are diets and training routines everywhere. Every magazine has tons of them, some real, some I have no idea where they came up with some of this crap. Which diet works? Some of them. Which training protocol is the best? Some of them. It is the dedication, consistency, and relentless goal of muscular development, which makes these diets and workouts successful. In essence it is what makes you a modern day warrior.
True warriors do not blindly throw weight around and eat haphazardly. They have a plan and stick to it. When an ancient warrior went to battle and only practiced movements with his weapon that were easy or just “felt right”, he was usually the first to die. Bruce Lee, I think hits the nail on the head with this quote, “When you drop a pebble into a pool of water, the pebble starts a series of ripples that expand until they encompass the whole pool. This is exactly what will happen when I give my ideas a definite plan of action. Right now I can project my thoughts into the future. I can see ahead of me. I dream (remember that practical dreamers never quit)…I am not easily discouraged, readily visualize myself overcoming obstacles, winning out over setbacks, achieving ‘impossible’ objectives.” Yeah, I know that was a pretty deep quote, and “what does that have to do with my bench press or arm size?”. Well I think it has everything to do with your current training. Your persistence, dedication, and the fire inside of you will get you the results you desire.
All warriors have a plan and a deep desire to capture and conquer their goals. Another quote that I personally think fits this discussion from Bruce Lee, “Don’t fear failure. – Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” Basically it means don’t be afraid to give something your all out effort! Pushing yourself to your own limits will get you what you want in the gym. Remember true warriors were and are both intelligent and disciplined.
Being a warrior has more to do with other strengths aside from battle and fighting. Becoming an “inner warrior” is what a true warrior is. Don’t have a closed mind; be open to new ideas and information. When a person thinks that he has learned it all, it is then that he is doomed for failure.
When you are in the gym focus only on the task at hand, not everyone around you. Train with a purpose; unleash your true strength and power! Now, unleashing your inner power while working out does not mean acting like an idiot. Yelling, screaming, throwing weights around, and basically being obnoxious does not make you a warrior. It makes you an ass! We’ve all seen these ass-clowns. Keep your internal energy to yourself. Walking around the gym with imaginary air lat syndrome is not being a warrior. That also makes you an ass. We’ve seen those wannabe bodybuilders walking around the lobby at a show with their arms all sticking out…but I digress. Anyway being a true warrior does not mean becoming an uncontrollable maniac while you train. Well, unless you were the Ultimate Warrior (the pro wrestler), he was pretty cool.
Samurai were not just barbarians who chopped off their enemy’s heads. They also had to master the arts of flower arranging and the tea ceremony. These extra abilities taught them discipline, and getting to look inside themselves. Although I’m sure decapitating your sworn enemy must have been pretty cool. No, I’m not advocating decapitating people. We don’t need any lawsuits here!
A favorite author of mine, Robert L. Spencer, sums up being a warrior very well, “The warrior trains daily. Physical conditioning, technical proficiency, tactical fluency, spiritual strength, emotional control – These are the substance of his goals and the weapons of his arsenal…Some days he pushes himself to the limits of his capability in one or more [areas] to test his progress”. No, I’m not saying you need to climb up a mountain and become a monk or something. Although some days that does not sound like a bad option! Basically if you are going to do something, do it right and do it with excitement and commitment. Utilize your own personal intelligence and growing knowledge in your training.
Even the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters do this. In the earlier UFC’s you had a bunch of bar room brawlers beating on each other. Now the top champions train every aspect of their fighting art. Tito Ortiz and Frank Shamrock use heart monitors while they are sparring to see how much energy they are expending, and how to make full use of their strength and endurance for a fight.
To sum up on becoming a warrior:
1. Focus more.
2. Keep an open mind.
3. Train with controlled ferocity.
4. Discipline yourself.
5. Control emotions.
6. Always keep learning more.
I’ll leave you with this awesome quote: “ We have this life to live, and we can choose to live like slaves or like Warriors”.
I have to train smarter and with more intensity than others who choose the other route. Being natural means you can’t be Mr. Olympia I know, but my physique is more developed than most of the “Gear Heads” at my gym. I have nothing against any athlete who uses juice; I would be a total hypocrite if I did. What I am saying is that some people can take enough shit to kill a horse and still bench 225 for 3 while looking like, well, a piece of shit. It takes more than drugs to build a championship physique. Training smart is the first step.
How I changed my training to be an Extreme Natural.
Most of you already know how, but are stuck in your current routine and afraid to experiment. Don’t be!! See, most of us cannot tolerate the daily pounding of the body like bigger boned guys can. You know the classic meso-morph body type. Look at the skinniest guys in your gym, more times than not they are also there the longest. To go to a further extreme look at the physique of a sprinter compared to one of those sickly looking tri-athletes! There are some sprinters out there who are totally shredded! Now lets get back to how that can work in the favor of natural training.YES- LESS IS BEST!! It sounds to simple but it is true! I’m a huge believer in the basics above all.
Natural guys and girls have to lift big using the famous Big 3: Squat-Bench-Deadlift. Those exercises force your body to produce the growth producing hormones. Why do you think there is never a line for the squat rack? Because they are brutally tough, both physically and mentally. You also have to concentrate more, and the fear factor comes in to play. Sitting down on that comfortable padded leg press is easy. You can’t fall off and you have safety pins if you can’t move the weight. Now put an amount of weight that is heavy for you on the bar. When that bar is fully loaded and on your back with you doing all the balancing, your heart begins to race and the sweat factory goes in to overdrive. See there is that fear of falling or getting stuck at the bottom, I believe that this “fear” helps us grow. There is no way possible that you can utter out a word while doing the last couple sets of tough squats! The same applies with the deadlift. You have to use your entire body to get that weight off the ground. I’ve seen some powerlifters who have never touched a lat pull-down with lats any bodybuilder would love to have! Here is the Natural Extreme Program that gave me these personal bests drug-free, 700 squat, 515 Bench, 600 deadlift (all in competition):
Day 1
Flat Bench: 5 sets 2-5 reps
Close Grip Bench: 3 sets 5 reps
Pull-Ups: 5 sets own weight max reps
Day 2
Squats: 5 sets 3-10 reps
Partial Deadlifts: 5 sets 5 reps
Barbell curls: 3 sets 10 reps
Day 3
There is no day 3!!
I would train twice a week using the above routine. Some times I only trained once a week if my work schedule was to demanding that particular week! Sounds crazy doesn’t it? That’s what I thought to until my bench went through the roof. My other 2 lifts are lagging because of back surgery on a ruptured disc at the L-5,S-1 vertebrae that I received courtesy of the Army. Hitting the ground after jumping out of a jet is not pleasant to say the least! But I’m pretty proud of my 500’s considering the doc told me to retire from lifting!
This is only one example of an abbreviated routine. There are many more, depending on your natural leverages, career, etc. I discovered this through trial and much error. Natural lifters might not be able to recover as fast but we can still train like wild pagan beasts! ROOAARRRR!!!!!!
Now my main concern is to get in my all-time best shape ever. I turn 40 in April, 2011. I don’t want to look like most of my peers! I figured if I don’t start losing this extra fat now I might never! So now I have incorporated cardio at a max 3 times per week. I’m training for a bodybuilding show but I still train for power. I’m also incorporating some shoulder press work to help my bench total. I’m not a big believer in “angle training” or pec-decs for those chest cuts. Bull shit! Your body doesn’t say: “oh, he’s doing cable crossovers now, we better put the strariations back in his chest!” It’s diet that brings out the cuts plus your genetics, not what fancy equipment you use. Take Dorian’s back for example, that thing was awesome sick!! You never saw him doing pooh-pooh exercises!
He took his fantastic genetics to their limits through hard brief intense workouts. People counter with, yeah but he tore his body apart! Well so have other lifters who use light weights, like Vince Taylor popped a biceps warming up with 30-pound dumbbells!
Alright back to being an Extreme Natural I don’t mean training without any supplement aids, or being a preacher for the natural cause like some of these freaks do. When I say extreme I mean train like an animal, eat like an intelligent animal, and never give up! Use every legal edge you can get your hands on. My goal is to prove that you can have a freakish physique using abbreviated training and being natural. I have not been this motivated since the first time that I picked up a weight and it fell on my chest! That was 25 years ago. Holy shit - I might have to start acting like an adult soon. (Probably not!!)
Living as a Warrior: Strength & Honor
Being a warrior requires having a strategic path. It also means that to achieve your goal, you (a warrior), must be committed and change or adjust your activities to further that commitment to your goals. “Not everyone will have the [guts] to take it. The warriors path is demanding and calls for its travelers to reorganize their actions, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions in ways that will make them different from most of the people around them” (Robert L. Spencer).
There are diets and training routines everywhere. Every magazine has tons of them, some real, some I have no idea where they came up with some of this crap. Which diet works? Some of them. Which training protocol is the best? Some of them. It is the dedication, consistency, and relentless goal of muscular development, which makes these diets and workouts successful. In essence it is what makes you a modern day warrior.
True warriors do not blindly throw weight around and eat haphazardly. They have a plan and stick to it. When an ancient warrior went to battle and only practiced movements with his weapon that were easy or just “felt right”, he was usually the first to die. Bruce Lee, I think hits the nail on the head with this quote, “When you drop a pebble into a pool of water, the pebble starts a series of ripples that expand until they encompass the whole pool. This is exactly what will happen when I give my ideas a definite plan of action. Right now I can project my thoughts into the future. I can see ahead of me. I dream (remember that practical dreamers never quit)…I am not easily discouraged, readily visualize myself overcoming obstacles, winning out over setbacks, achieving ‘impossible’ objectives.” Yeah, I know that was a pretty deep quote, and “what does that have to do with my bench press or arm size?”. Well I think it has everything to do with your current training. Your persistence, dedication, and the fire inside of you will get you the results you desire.
All warriors have a plan and a deep desire to capture and conquer their goals. Another quote that I personally think fits this discussion from Bruce Lee, “Don’t fear failure. – Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” Basically it means don’t be afraid to give something your all out effort! Pushing yourself to your own limits will get you what you want in the gym. Remember true warriors were and are both intelligent and disciplined.
Being a warrior has more to do with other strengths aside from battle and fighting. Becoming an “inner warrior” is what a true warrior is. Don’t have a closed mind; be open to new ideas and information. When a person thinks that he has learned it all, it is then that he is doomed for failure.
When you are in the gym focus only on the task at hand, not everyone around you. Train with a purpose; unleash your true strength and power! Now, unleashing your inner power while working out does not mean acting like an idiot. Yelling, screaming, throwing weights around, and basically being obnoxious does not make you a warrior. It makes you an ass! We’ve all seen these ass-clowns. Keep your internal energy to yourself. Walking around the gym with imaginary air lat syndrome is not being a warrior. That also makes you an ass. We’ve seen those wannabe bodybuilders walking around the lobby at a show with their arms all sticking out…but I digress. Anyway being a true warrior does not mean becoming an uncontrollable maniac while you train. Well, unless you were the Ultimate Warrior (the pro wrestler), he was pretty cool.
Samurai were not just barbarians who chopped off their enemy’s heads. They also had to master the arts of flower arranging and the tea ceremony. These extra abilities taught them discipline, and getting to look inside themselves. Although I’m sure decapitating your sworn enemy must have been pretty cool. No, I’m not advocating decapitating people. We don’t need any lawsuits here!
A favorite author of mine, Robert L. Spencer, sums up being a warrior very well, “The warrior trains daily. Physical conditioning, technical proficiency, tactical fluency, spiritual strength, emotional control – These are the substance of his goals and the weapons of his arsenal…Some days he pushes himself to the limits of his capability in one or more [areas] to test his progress”. No, I’m not saying you need to climb up a mountain and become a monk or something. Although some days that does not sound like a bad option! Basically if you are going to do something, do it right and do it with excitement and commitment. Utilize your own personal intelligence and growing knowledge in your training.
Even the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters do this. In the earlier UFC’s you had a bunch of bar room brawlers beating on each other. Now the top champions train every aspect of their fighting art. Tito Ortiz and Frank Shamrock use heart monitors while they are sparring to see how much energy they are expending, and how to make full use of their strength and endurance for a fight.
To sum up on becoming a warrior:
1. Focus more.
2. Keep an open mind.
3. Train with controlled ferocity.
4. Discipline yourself.
5. Control emotions.
6. Always keep learning more.
I’ll leave you with this awesome quote: “ We have this life to live, and we can choose to live like slaves or like Warriors”.
Just The Facts Please...
Many would call me an asshole, or at best a Rogue Trainer. I like to stir things up - find the truth - give you the real facts. I hate "fluff". That makes me a target and unpopular with the trainers with no clue just out for a quick cash grab.
For example most "Before" and "After" photos in the magazines are actually photographed in reverse. They start already ripped and cut then stop training and get fat. Then the "amazing" ad displays "the proof" of their fat burning product or training system. This happens way more than you can imagine. (More on that later)
Here is a list of trainers I trust:
Chris Young GetMightNow.com
Dan John
Brooks Kubik
Bob Whalen
I am someone who wants REAL WORLD proof regarding training systems, supplements, and diets. Not just a "three week study". Who gives a sh$t!! ANYONE can take a genetically gifted person and proclaim, "I created this awesome physique with my new secret training system that will cost you only &79.99!". Many to most training gurus train genetically gifted athletes as their subjects of success - not even including the MASSIVE drug intake of many of these "success" stories. These Pro athletes are not only at the top of their prospective sports, but they are also getting paid to train! Their entire life revolves around their body. All I am asking you is to open you minds to my ideas and true stories.
"To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform," Thoedore H. White
What will this blog be??
It will motivate, educate, and give you the truth regarding natural training, drug training, supplements, and diet.
Here are some of my qualifications:
I've won Natural bodybuilding shows-
I've won my weight class several times both in the drug tested USAPL and the AAPF in my weight class in powerlifting-
I have competed in Strongman shows and have competed with some of the professionals you see on ESPN-
I was a certified personal trainer for over 10 years-
I have a Master Degree in Psychology so I know how these "fake" trainers think-
I've worked for a MAJOR supplement company and know many "behind the scenes" stories-
I was a writer for a National magaize-
So strap in and get ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B-
For example most "Before" and "After" photos in the magazines are actually photographed in reverse. They start already ripped and cut then stop training and get fat. Then the "amazing" ad displays "the proof" of their fat burning product or training system. This happens way more than you can imagine. (More on that later)
Here is a list of trainers I trust:
Chris Young GetMightNow.com
Dan John
Brooks Kubik
Bob Whalen
I am someone who wants REAL WORLD proof regarding training systems, supplements, and diets. Not just a "three week study". Who gives a sh$t!! ANYONE can take a genetically gifted person and proclaim, "I created this awesome physique with my new secret training system that will cost you only &79.99!". Many to most training gurus train genetically gifted athletes as their subjects of success - not even including the MASSIVE drug intake of many of these "success" stories. These Pro athletes are not only at the top of their prospective sports, but they are also getting paid to train! Their entire life revolves around their body. All I am asking you is to open you minds to my ideas and true stories.
"To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform," Thoedore H. White
What will this blog be??
It will motivate, educate, and give you the truth regarding natural training, drug training, supplements, and diet.
Here are some of my qualifications:
I've won Natural bodybuilding shows-
I've won my weight class several times both in the drug tested USAPL and the AAPF in my weight class in powerlifting-
I have competed in Strongman shows and have competed with some of the professionals you see on ESPN-
I was a certified personal trainer for over 10 years-
I have a Master Degree in Psychology so I know how these "fake" trainers think-
I've worked for a MAJOR supplement company and know many "behind the scenes" stories-
I was a writer for a National magaize-
So strap in and get ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B-
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Upcoming Titles
*Reality Training - I'll give some of the best routines FOR FREE!! Stop getting ripped off!!
*Drugs: The REAL Story
*Natural vs. Enhanced
*Bold faced liars!!
*Behind the scenes at the conventions (Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia, etc.)
*Crazy stories that are TRUE
*Drugs: The REAL Story
*Natural vs. Enhanced
*Bold faced liars!!
*Behind the scenes at the conventions (Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia, etc.)
*Crazy stories that are TRUE
Friday, August 6, 2010
What to expect
I had to start this blog due to all of the misinformation and BS being sold, taught, along with outright lies being pushed by the Fitness Industry. I have an extensive background regarding competing, working in, and being a part of this industry.
My first blog will be coming soon!!
My first blog will be coming soon!!
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