ARTICLE: Do You Train Hard?

[Aaron Singerman]

TrainHard.jpg

What does it mean to train hard? Branch Warren thinks he trains hard—screaming “yeah mother fucker” and throwing down old rusted weights in Metro Flex has to count for something. What about those CrossFit douche bags? Ever try doing 8 ass-to-the-ground front squats, followed up by 10 pull-ups, no, wait, kip-ups, or was it a muscle-up—then run a 400-meter sprint around the track and immediately down a gallon of whole milk? It makes me want to puke just thinking about it. They must be training hard.


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[scottg]

I liked this one!

[KTTraining]

Good article . Training while on a legit 16 week contest diet is tough to beat .. ya gotta love it to do it .

[pd]

Good article Matt! In the last week or so I've heard two different interviews with Bill Pearl and both times he talked about training smart. His whole thing is "leaving a little in the tank" for the next workout. The longer I do this the more I realize how true this is.
Is your whole reason for doing this strength and quality of life or strictly cosmetic and vanity? As I get older it's definitely the former. Pearl is in his 80s and looks and sounds fantastic. I think I'll stick with "smarter training" Marathon/Sprint... you know the quote.

[Matt Meinrod]

Is your whole reason for doing this strength and quality of life or strictly cosmetic and vanity? As I get older it's definitely the former. Pearl is in his 80s and looks and sounds fantastic. I think I'll stick with "smarter training" Marathon/Sprint... you know the quote.

Both, I need a goal to push myself towards, but I also know you reach a point where you can't be foolish in the gym if you want to make it last forever.

[rodneyl]

Another great article. Thanks Matt and RXMuscle.

[Matt Meinrod]

Unbelievable Dianna Dahlgren preps with 600cals and 3hrs of cardio. So much for thinking these girls walk around this hot and perfect 365. Dianna-Dahlgren-4th-Place (19).jpg

[guruhonza]

That blonde girl in red bikini is my favourite woman in bodybuilding Just finished last Muscle girls inc. and I had to smile all the time.
Great article, thanks for it and keep'em coming

[Prince]

Dianna-Dahlgren-4th-Place (19).jpg

the best part of the article!

[Gym God]

Great article Matt. Question for you (no right or wrong answer), what majority do you believe trains harder - men and women. Personally, seeing what my wife did last year and then this year with Eric DiLauro, I say females... for the most part.

[Paranoid Android]

Really enjoyed the article...I have always been one of those guys that trains all out just for the enjoyment of beating myself into the ground. Over the past 20 years I haven't gone more than a week without training. I've always done high intensity, high volume Reg Park type routines.

I've recently come to the realization that it doesn't make sense for me to do that anymore. I don't have the genetics to be a great body builder nor the strength to be a great power lifter or strongman. I found myself barely able to walk up the stairs at work because my knees were so shot the other week. So I asked myself, "Why are you squatting and dead lifting 500+ lbs. if you look and feel like shit?"

I'm trying to get comfortable with the idea of toning things down and training smarter. I remember Bill Phillips had stated years ago that not everyone can look like Arnold but that everyone can have their own best body. I'm trying to figure out the right path to get to that place for me again. I suppose the struggle is that I always believed I could out train my genetics and have a great physique when in reality I should have been striving to find MY best physique.

[Matt Meinrod]

Great article Matt. Question for you (no right or wrong answer), what majority do you believe trains harder - men and women. Personally, seeing what my wife did last year and then this year with Eric DiLauro, I say females... for the most part.

My observations from time in the gym and training both men and women, it's a split decision

Women can brutalize their legs much more than men. I don't know the body chemistry behind this, but I have seen women absolutely destroy their lower bodies and then go spend 60 minutes on the Step Mill like it's no problem. VERY rarely have I seen a man put themselves through torturous workouts like that. Plus I have observed women can train at a feverish pace on legs, whereas men need much more time between sets.

On the other hand, women don't train nearly as hard as men on their upper bodies. Just once I want to see a women touch her chest on a bench press or slightly deviate their form on an exercise. Plus I feel the majority of female lifters are afraid to train heavy enough on their upper halves.

Now, these are observations from the above average female lifter, not a top level NPC/IFBB pro, but rather men and women at your local gym with phenomenal physiques.

[Gym God]

My observations from time in the gym and training both men and women, it's a split decision

Women can brutalize their legs much more than men. I don't know the body chemistry behind this, but I have seen women absolutely destroy their lower bodies and then go spend 60 minutes on the Step Mill like it's no problem. VERY rarely have I seen a man put themselves through torturous workouts like that. Plus I have observed women can train at a feverish pace on legs, whereas men need much more time between sets.

On the other hand, women don't train nearly as hard as men on their upper bodies. Just once I want to see a women touch her chest on a bench press or slightly deviate their form on an exercise. Plus I feel the majority of female lifters are afraid to train heavy enough on their upper halves.

Now, these are observations from the above average female lifter, not a top level NPC/IFBB pro, but rather men and women at your local gym with phenomenal physiques.

Well said, thanks!

[M4BTEAM]

Enjoyed reading the article. Lots of very good points!

[GDavis]

Great read Matt! Keep it up.