Amid the murky world of the internet the likely truth is that keeping it simple is the fastest route to success
SOCIAL MEDIA is awash with so-called experts and thinly veiled attacks when it comes to bodybuilding.
You will see a constant steam of videos yelling, 'this is the best way to train shoulders', 'the secret to big triceps', 'eat this way to get big' and even 'some people who have never been big shouldn't be telling you how to get big'. This list goes on.
I'm no expert either, but then I don't tell people how they should be bodybuilding. I can show them the things I do that work best for me, but that is it. I'm told people love to see training videos, so I'm currently making the transition from introverted, head-down, training mode, to wincing each time the mobile phone comes out to capture a set.
But in the end, training should be pretty simple; adopting the methods that have stood the test of time, the things that have worked for countless bodybuilders over different eras.
All these new-fangled exercises that crop up – 'try this to target your lats' – have many gym goers in a frenzy, all too ready to ditch the tried and tested for something they believe might turn them into the next Greek god. There is a theory that training is not even the most important factor in bodybuilding. Look around the gym and most people are doing the same exercises. But not everyone looks like a bodybuilder – and that is because not everyone is willing to put in the time to focus on nutrition.
So the secret, if you want to call it that, is something no one wants to hear: get your nutrition on point, follow it consistently and train as hard and as intense as you can. For years. The number of years depends on your goal. Want to be an IFBB Pro, then you are likely looking at the best part of a decade of this consistency.
Maybe I am stuck in the dark ages or maybe I am intellectually challenged because I also cannot follow the reams of social media posts that describe 'blocks' of training or 'band work' and such like, 'blood flow', 'activation work'. Again, as I said above, the list goes on.
Lee Priest (above) might be blunt and direct in his approach but as vulgar as it might sound to some, his advice was pretty much correct: "Just fucking train."
Another piece of advice which resonated came from John Romano, who said: "Don't lift weights, work the muscle."
When Eddie Abbew (above) is not swearing, he likes to have a dig at people "writing things down" during training. I keep a training diary. I could probably train without one and have done in the past. But I use one for the simple purpose of having at least one way of recording progress. It may not be linear, but I don't like moving to an exercise and thinking, 'I can't remember what weight or reps I did last week'.
Who is wrong and who is right here? No one. It's just that if something works for you, use it, if it doesn't, ditch it. I just don't take the piss out of people who don't "write things down". Why would I?
And I don't like people forcing their ideals on others. Some people have asked me in the past what the best exercise for rear delts. I can tell you what I use to train them and what works for me, but my advice would be to try it and if if doesn't work, find something else. There is not a one size fits all.
Right now I am 15 weeks out from the NABBA Britain, with prep scheduled to begin in about three weeks. I am training with a very promising bodybuilder called Nathan Taylor, who is looking to step on stage for the first time either later this year or early next.
Here are some video highlights of an arm workout from last week. I'm sure some will question form, or choice of exercise or whatever, but this is what works for us right now.
Full details of our workouts are on the forum, which is currently on frontdouble's premium model for £2.99 a month – cheaper than the price of the old bodybuilding magazines – and which includes video interviews with various non-IFBB bodybuilders. It would be great to have you on board. But if not, that is fine too. I'm not forcing any ideals...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n0L66lr8Ek
Amid the murky world of the internet the likely truth is that keeping it simple is the fastest route to success
SOCIAL MEDIA is awash with so-called experts and thinly veiled attacks when it comes to bodybuilding.
You will see a constant steam of videos yelling, 'this is the best way to train shoulders', 'the secret to big triceps', 'eat this way to get big' and even 'some people who have never been big shouldn't be telling you how to get big'. This list goes on.
I'm no expert either, but then I don't tell people how they should be bodybuilding. I can show them the things I do that work best for me, but that is it. I'm told people love to see training videos, so I'm currently making the transition from introverted, head-down, training mode, to wincing each time the mobile phone comes out to capture a set.
But in the end, training should be pretty simple; adopting the methods that have stood the test of time, the things that have worked for countless bodybuilders over different eras.
All these new-fangled exercises that crop up – 'try this to target your lats' – have many gym goers in a frenzy, all too ready to ditch the tried and tested for something they believe might turn them into the next Greek god. There is a theory that training is not even the most important factor in bodybuilding. Look around the gym and most people are doing the same exercises. But not everyone looks like a bodybuilder – and that is because not everyone is willing to put in the time to focus on nutrition.
So the secret, if you want to call it that, is something no one wants to hear: get your nutrition on point, follow it consistently and train as hard and as intense as you can. For years. The number of years depends on your goal. Want to be an IFBB Pro, then you are likely looking at the best part of a decade of this consistency.
Maybe I am stuck in the dark ages or maybe I am intellectually challenged because I also cannot follow the reams of social media posts that describe 'blocks' of training or 'band work' and such like, 'blood flow', 'activation work'. Again, as I said above, the list goes on.
Lee Priest (above) might be blunt and direct in his approach but as vulgar as it might sound to some, his advice was pretty much correct: "Just fucking train."
Another piece of advice which resonated came from John Romano, who said: "Don't lift weights, work the muscle."
When Eddie Abbew (above) is not swearing, he likes to have a dig at people "writing things down" during training. I keep a training diary. I could probably train without one and have done in the past. But I use one for the simple purpose of having at least one way of recording progress. It may not be linear, but I don't like moving to an exercise and thinking, 'I can't remember what weight or reps I did last week'.
Who is wrong and who is right here? No one. It's just that if something works for you, use it, if it doesn't, ditch it. I just don't take the piss out of people who don't "write things down". Why would I?
And I don't like people forcing their ideals on others. Some people have asked me in the past what the best exercise for rear delts. I can tell you what I use to train them and what works for me, but my advice would be to try it and if if doesn't work, find something else. There is not a one size fits all.
Right now I am 15 weeks out from the NABBA Britain, with prep scheduled to begin in about three weeks. I am training with a very promising bodybuilder called Nathan Taylor, who is looking to step on stage for the first time either later this year or early next.
Here are some video highlights of an arm workout from last week. I'm sure some will question form, or choice of exercise or whatever, but this is what works for us right now.
Full details of our workouts are on the forum, which is currently on frontdouble's premium model for £2.99 a month – cheaper than the price of the old bodybuilding magazines – and which includes video interviews with various non-IFBB bodybuilders. It would be great to have you on board. But if not, that is fine too. I'm not forcing any ideals...
Frontdouble.com is a new online bodybuilding magazine. We are always interested in contributions. If you would like to share your bodybuilding journey, either through writing about your training or offering nutrition tips, or showing some of your videos, then please send an email to the editor here: info@frontdouble.com
