What it takes to grow muscle

[esplendido]

I've been in gyms of all kinds since 1973. Hardcore gyms, yuppie gyms, private gyms, gyms of all kinds. I've seen the same 3 people in every gym. The first one is there just to make themselves feel good that they do more than reps on the T.V. remote. You've seen them....hitting every station on the machines doing high reps with little weight. They either work every bodypart at once or one bodypart with everything.

Then you have the gym rat....usually a very muscular man or woman who works efficiently, quietly, and is usually annoyed with anyone else getting in their way. They are the competitive bodybuilder, powerlifter, olympic lifter, or an ex-one-of-those.

Finally, you have the wannabe. This guy (usually always guys) who is in the gym for hours, trying every routine published in Flex, MD, IronMan, etc. They are there year after year and never, EVER change. They look exactly the same as they did a year ago. They ask endless questions about how you do this or shape that or take this, etc. And they complain that even though they are using proper form and push the limits, they can't seem to grow....or grow a particular bodypart.

Let me say, without reservation, that I could spend 1 hour with that person and show them how to accomplish their goal(s). And if they would follow that advice, they would grow.

You cannot tell this person how to do something, as we do on this website. You have to prove to that person that what they've been doing is not working by showing them exactly how to do it.

I have requently shown a client that they really are NOT pushing it to the limit on an exercise. I have to dial some of them back with the amount of reps/sets they do and convince them that less IS more. And yes, you have to EAT to lose weight.

I could go on, but let me end it this way; unless you are already an elite pro bodybuilder who has reached their potential for muscular size/strength, you can grow. It only takes a few tweaks and the eye of someone who knows to help you reach your goals. It's not rocket science and it's not the drugs. It's about being a good student.

[Boeuf]

Great post Esplendido.

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Great post. Oh so true. I will add that the key is Intensity. In training, dieting, supplementation, even recuuperation. The more intensely you push these things, the greater your progress. I see it in the gym, no matter what your psrticular style of training is, the people who are working the hardest are the ones progressing. Many are happy to sit back and do a fairly easy 4 sets of 10 or something, and then wonder why I'm bigger and stronger than they are.. Shakes head...

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Ahmen brother...

I was close to hurling 3 times this morning. My wife is right..."Bill, you are freakin nutts".

Bury me BIG,

Baldie

[AnglicanBeachParty]

I used to be the 3rd guy.

Now I'm the 2nd guy.

[gman]

I try to be the 2nd guy, but give up to easy when the results don't come quickly.

I am a recovering idiot, and a founding member of idiots anonymous.

[HeavyDutyGuy]

I try to be the 2nd guy, but give up to easy when the results don't come quickly.

I am a recovering idiot, and a founding member of idiots anonymous.

Results nerver come quickly unless your name is Arnold or Flex etc. The truth is, muscle growth is a slow process and literally must be forced. The body doesn't want to add so much metabolically expensive tissue unless it has to do it. You have to make it do it. Not an easy task. Fat loss is different. Enough of a calorie deficit and you will lose, over time. All of the above assumes someone in fairly good health and normal hormonal levels. Those need to be optimal or progress will be suboptimal at best.

[gman]

problem is hdg, I need to do the fat loss first, and find it extremely slow compared to others, makes me give up too soon! See people on here drop 25 lbs in 8 weeks, and I get jealous that I lose 8 in the same period, and seeing as how I need to lose at least 45, my patience wears thin.

I know, don't compare to others....I am learning that slowly.

[HeavyDutyGuy]

problem is hdg, I need to do the fat loss first, and find it extremely slow compared to others, makes me give up too soon! See people on here drop 25 lbs in 8 weeks, and I get jealous that I lose 8 in the same period, and seeing as how I need to lose at least 45, my patience wears thin.

I know, don't compare to others....I am learning that slowly.

25 lbs in 8 weeks? Not unless some is water or even muscle. 3 lbs a week would be the max assuming you did everything right and no backsliding, 2 lbs is more in line with reality, and maybe for you its 1. So what? Its progress. 1 lb a week is 52 lbs in a year, which would probably turn you into amnother Clarence Bass. See where I'm going with this?

[gman]

yes, I do...and I am learning that slow is better anyway! I have to look at the positive, being a slow fat loser probably means I won't lose as much muscle either!

[APOSTLE]

Trying to work my way into being guy #2 but like gman has said, it is frustrating trying to lose the fat and hopefully put on even an ounce or two of muscle. But I am 100% better today than a year ago so I just take it one day at a time.

[gman]

Good for you LD5, awesome that you have come so far in one year!

I am going to switch to the hardcore gym that I tried out the other night. Not many bodybuilders there, if any, but some serious-ass weight lifting dudes who will push my ass...I know I am only scratching the surface of what I am able to do.

[APOSTLE]

Good for you LD5, awesome that you have come so far in one year!

I am going to switch to the hardcore gym that I tried out the other night. Not many bodybuilders there, if any, but some serious-ass weight lifting dudes who will push my ass...I know I am only scratching the surface of what I am able to do.

Thanks gman, I am down about 30-35 pounds in the last 9 or 10 months but still have a LONG way to go. But my diet is better in check and my workouts get better every week.

Enviorment can make a huge difference in gyms. I just switched from a preppie 24 Hour Fitness to a local Gold's and it has been great. I hope the new place works out for you as well.

[blu2xtreme]

I wasn't even good enough to be any of those guys/girls
Then one day I woke and said damn I'm in my 40's - it's now or never
Kicked it in gear and never looked back
I read , listen and learn - it amazing what you can accomplish at any age.

[MichaelWayne]

Help us Obi Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope....

In you're own words, "Let me say, without reservation, that I could spend 1 hour with that person and show them how to accomplish their goal"

Well, back that shit up and write a page or two a day telling us what you've learned with you're valuable MASTERS (no pun intended) in Bodybuilding!

We are all ears boss.

[esplendido]

Help us Obi Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope....

In you're own words, "Let me say, without reservation, that I could spend 1 hour with that person and show them how to accomplish their goal"

Well, back that shit up and write a page or two a day telling us what you've learned with you're valuable MASTERS (no pun intended) in Bodybuilding!

We are all ears boss.

Seeing that you've leaped before you looked, try reading any a number of dozens of threads in this forum for what you contritely refer to as my "valuable MASTERS in bodybuilding", or ask the many bbers I've trained or guided in training/diet to success.

But then again, I don't need to defend myself to a master asshole!

[bodyhard]

Good fucking post Esp.

I've been training since 1981, been to all kinds of gyms and seen all kinds of shit. You have hit the nail right on the head!

But in all the years there was never bodybuilding forums and now we have those and what is worst than all the wannabees and the fucking morons who go to the gym and don't have a fucking clue are the people who post on forums and are only book smart/google smart but don't walk the walk themselves. :mad:

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Bodyhard...your post is why I love you like a son....pure Brooklyn poetry.


Baldie

[bodyhard]

Bodyhard...your post is why I love you like a son....pure Brooklyn poetry.


Baldie

Baldie, I have mad respect for you, just met you once, but you command respect and this is coming from a straight up Bronx boy from the Hood, I don't give respect out that easily.


Big Ups from the Boogie Down Bronx!

[D_T]

I am an easy gainer and hard hard hard loser. I'm 5'8, 255 and probably 17% BF. I started 500mg enanthate 7 weeks ago, I'm up to 267 and I was eating to maintain! I was really hoping to get to 245. I have no doubt that if I doubled my dose and actually ate to bulk I'd be 300 lbs in 3 months.

[gman]

I have gained 25 lbs in 6 weeks before, not muscle unfortunately

[AnglicanBeachParty]

problem is hdg, I need to do the fat loss first, and find it extremely slow compared to others, makes me give up too soon! See people on here drop 25 lbs in 8 weeks, and I get jealous that I lose 8 in the same period, and seeing as how I need to lose at least 45, my patience wears thin.

I know, don't compare to others....I am learning that slowly.

For my 2008 contest, I lost a steady 1.5 pounds a week, and that was with a boat load of cardio.

Jan 6, 2008, I weighed 194 pounds.

July 19, 2009, I weighed 152 pounds.

So 42 pound in 28 weeks.

I'm sure I would have sacrificed muscle to have gone down any faster.

[zubbeyboy]

[COLOR=green]esplendido[/COLO"]RX Muscle Forums - View Profile: esplendido@@AMEPARAM@@View Profile: esplendido</title>@@AMEPARAM@@esplendido

BRAVO!!!
Awesome post.

[Oldsuperman]

NICE post! I don't mind helping peeps as long as they stay outa my way till I'm done training. If you wanna talk to me, come talk to me while I'm doing cardio! Helps pass the time, otherwise..... don't talk to me.... don't bug me.... don't ask me for a spot.... and don't ask to work in my station. Yea... I'm the ass hole in the gym.

The main thing about the wanna bee's are they want the magic pill :p The one exercise that will make em grow:lift:, and they think you have the secret because you're big! :secret:

There is no secret! :no:

Just a lot of hard work and a healthy dose of good genetics.