Joe
11-15-2008, 02:17 PM
Ok, I am constantly changing things in my routine and throwing out what works and what doesn't. I even fluctuate on how many days a week I workout which is 3 or 4. I will say this:
I started lifting weights seriously when I was 14 years old (2001) at 140 lbs at 5'8'' I had the worst routine ever, I think it was upper body only every other day and some lower in there when I felt like that. Albeit a shitty routine, I stayed consistent for 3 years only taking time off for injury or when I was sick. The consistency alone got me to 170 lbs and lean.
My 170 lb pictures can still be found on Worldclassbodybuilding.com which is where I started reading IA's articles as well as Dante's(DC). All of 2004 was spent making my routine more sound and getting away from the typical 3 sets of 10 for every exercise, working on squatting and deadlifting and not doing the typical Italian workout having 4 upper body days a week and only 1 lower day a week. My diet was also getting better focusing on getting in mass protein and I graduated high school weighing at 185 lbs at 5'8'' and still lean.
In 2005 Wes probably had 100 articles on getting stronger to get bigger which was my goal when I was 14. I focused on it so much and enjoyed getting PRs on huge lifts I decided I wanted to train like a power lifter. I started reading Westside Barbell articles and how Westside trains. I learned a ton from reading those articles and what Louie had to say made a lot of sense. I continued to stay consistent on lifting heavy and eating mass protein and I think I weighed around 193 lbs at this point. Training was going well and I was hitting PRs.
In 2006 I started using gradual progressive overload. I made progress at first but after awhile I didn't. I also got burned out by doing the same lift over and over again. I got injured really bad and couldnt squat or DL for a long time. I weighed around 200 lbs, but not being able to squat or DL for awhile killed my gains. This was one step backward in my training career.
I chased my tail for a long time and it wasn't until the middle of 2007 I started training w/ the conjugate method again. I can't believe it took me that long, but lesson learned. I got back to more frequency, waived volume and rotating exercises. I got back to what was working for me before and gains continued.
In 2008 a dream of mine came true and I was able to train at Westside Barbell for a summer. I could write a book on how much I learned from Louie but I would like to add I learned a lot about the mental aspects of the game.
A lot of people in the fitness world have huge yet very fragile egos. There's people who look down on others for not being into fitness/lifting as much as they are, can't go two seconds without flexing in a mirror, and when they talk it is usually all about them. Well let me tell you if you're not a WR holder or Mr. Olympia there are always much bigger, badder and better people out there than you are. But if you walk around like you are the biggest and baddest your ego will stop you from actually being it.
Currently I'm around 205-210 lbs and lean at 5'8''. I don't have the most impressive physique or #s but I managed to get 70 lbs on my 140 lb body and a lot stronger over the years. However, a lot of the people reading this can learn some of the lessons I have through the years and help them make the transition from beginner to more advanced.
In closing, there's a lot of good training and dieting methods out there. Pick one, use it, tailor it to yourself, STAY CONSISTENT, and leave your ego at the door.
I started lifting weights seriously when I was 14 years old (2001) at 140 lbs at 5'8'' I had the worst routine ever, I think it was upper body only every other day and some lower in there when I felt like that. Albeit a shitty routine, I stayed consistent for 3 years only taking time off for injury or when I was sick. The consistency alone got me to 170 lbs and lean.
My 170 lb pictures can still be found on Worldclassbodybuilding.com which is where I started reading IA's articles as well as Dante's(DC). All of 2004 was spent making my routine more sound and getting away from the typical 3 sets of 10 for every exercise, working on squatting and deadlifting and not doing the typical Italian workout having 4 upper body days a week and only 1 lower day a week. My diet was also getting better focusing on getting in mass protein and I graduated high school weighing at 185 lbs at 5'8'' and still lean.
In 2005 Wes probably had 100 articles on getting stronger to get bigger which was my goal when I was 14. I focused on it so much and enjoyed getting PRs on huge lifts I decided I wanted to train like a power lifter. I started reading Westside Barbell articles and how Westside trains. I learned a ton from reading those articles and what Louie had to say made a lot of sense. I continued to stay consistent on lifting heavy and eating mass protein and I think I weighed around 193 lbs at this point. Training was going well and I was hitting PRs.
In 2006 I started using gradual progressive overload. I made progress at first but after awhile I didn't. I also got burned out by doing the same lift over and over again. I got injured really bad and couldnt squat or DL for a long time. I weighed around 200 lbs, but not being able to squat or DL for awhile killed my gains. This was one step backward in my training career.
I chased my tail for a long time and it wasn't until the middle of 2007 I started training w/ the conjugate method again. I can't believe it took me that long, but lesson learned. I got back to more frequency, waived volume and rotating exercises. I got back to what was working for me before and gains continued.
In 2008 a dream of mine came true and I was able to train at Westside Barbell for a summer. I could write a book on how much I learned from Louie but I would like to add I learned a lot about the mental aspects of the game.
A lot of people in the fitness world have huge yet very fragile egos. There's people who look down on others for not being into fitness/lifting as much as they are, can't go two seconds without flexing in a mirror, and when they talk it is usually all about them. Well let me tell you if you're not a WR holder or Mr. Olympia there are always much bigger, badder and better people out there than you are. But if you walk around like you are the biggest and baddest your ego will stop you from actually being it.
Currently I'm around 205-210 lbs and lean at 5'8''. I don't have the most impressive physique or #s but I managed to get 70 lbs on my 140 lb body and a lot stronger over the years. However, a lot of the people reading this can learn some of the lessons I have through the years and help them make the transition from beginner to more advanced.
In closing, there's a lot of good training and dieting methods out there. Pick one, use it, tailor it to yourself, STAY CONSISTENT, and leave your ego at the door.