Geat God Damn Stronger!!

Tom Platz " The Golden Eagle" Was once reported to have squatted 315 x 50 in a session

Quick note, this little article was inspired by a post I seen in the beginner section of a well known internet site. Since I had made it my policy is not to comment on any post outside of the forum I was posting in on regular bases. So, I didn’t bother to reply on it. So this is the reply I would have like to have posted if I had. Besides, all the so called experts added their two cents worth and ive already have stated my opinion regarding internet message experts several post ago.


"I don't want to get stronger, I just want to get bigger. ", and this was the remark in the post that raised my eyebrow... Its often amuses me when you tell someone to get stronger they reply with. "I just want to get big I don't want to get strong." I am always left thinking what the Hell. When did gaining size become exclusive from gaining strength? Honestly, people are for some reason assuming when you mention getting stronger a person is referring to developing maximal strength. Of course over time developing maximum size and maximum strength do become separate things. Which require slightly different approaches, from my experience that isn't the case for beginners. Regardless even for advance lifters strength and size are interlinked regardless what certain people believe.


I'm not going to bore you with the going into great details regarding the mechanics of muscle growth. Nor bore you with discussion muscle fiber type’s .Since most reading this, hopefully has a general understanding of the process. Basically you apply a specific stress on your muscular system. Which force the body in an act of self defense to increase the size of one’s muscle fibers.


Now Ill be the first to admit that Training exclusively for a 1Rm max using low reps isn't the most efficient way to develop maximal size.  But even then for the majority it still holds value. It has been pretty well established that in the long run using more of a moderated to higher rep range. Which can range from 6 up to twenty depending on the individual response . The increase in rep range will  allows for longer time under tension added with a little more volume. This to a certain degree allows for more muscle fiber recruitment more so then lower rep approach. Of course when I state this people tend to assume that this means using light weight along with more sets then I care to say. This couldn't be further from the truth. I like to use this analogy. If you take someone that is underdeveloped who can bench only 85 pounds for 10 reps. if this person would stick with it and works hard finally gets to the point where he can perform 315 pounds for 10 reps. Would that person bigger? Would they have developed a significant amount of muscle mass compared to what the use to have? Well yes DUH.


I know someone out there is going to point out and say something stupidly to me like. Well IFBB pro [insert name] doesn't worry about being strong. The reason for this is, they don't have to worry. Understand between the Test, HGH, and insulin and Anti catabolic compounds. Theoretically they could use a 10lbs dumbbell and stimulate muscle gain. First I really don't care what the current crop of Pro bodybuilder has to say about training. Unless, of course it’s advising about the actual dosage are for whatever compound they might be using. Besides,, in my view there nothing less inspiring then seeing some three hundred pound mass monster, using fifty pounds on a push down. On top of that I defiantly do not care what the fan boys whom live and die by what their idols preach. Bottom line, you're not an IFBB pro then like 99% of the people in the world. The ugly truth is that you or any beginner has nothing in common what so ever with these mass monsters. Guess what. More than likely you're going to have to actual concern yourself with trying to move progressively heavier loads. That is if you actually want to reach your own size potential. Now you might not agree with what I'm saying, which is fine with me; feel free on working on your pump and putting your mind in your muscles.



You might ask, "How do I get strong? ", "Seriously?" First off I will say it sure doesn't involve cable cross over’s and worrying about your upper pectoral development along with spending 90% of your time doing Triceps kick backs.. You're going to have to Push, Press and squats or some close variation of them along with a few movements such as dips, chins. .That should be the Meat and potatoes of almost anyone’s routine if their focus is to actual develop any size or strength. Why you ask? Because large compound movements will give you more bang for the buck. This allows people  to move more weight and in return forces your body to recruit more muscle fibers to accomplish the job you ask of ones body. On top of this compound movements when worked hard with enough intensity will stimulate the body to grow more so then isolation movements.

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average gym member

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Tad Arcidi first man to bench over 700 in competetion

Unfortunately, most of your average gym rats avoid most compound movements, except for the bench press. The majority spend their time focusing on curls and isolated movements. Now people can gain some muscle size doing this, Individuals whom do ,,are normally are beginners who honestly will make gains regardless of what ever approach the use. Sooner or latter these same individual progress will stall and they end up frustrated. Look around at your local gym, you will see a beginner whom makes good progress with zero regards about getting stronger. Eventually they will   hit a wall and start noticing a decline in their progress. They will start to over analysis things and then try every routine they can find and still not make gain. I’ve seen these people at the Local YMCA I belong to, whom have been trying but haven’t improves at all in the spans of a year. When in my opinion if that person would focus on just getting a little stronger would probably reboot their gains.



They seem to understand

   Part of the reason people seem to shy away from basic movements and focusing on getting stronger. For one Basic movements that allow a individual to move heavy weight relative to  the individual, is hard work.. Now of days people make excuses not to do them. Look at one of the most productive exercises most people could do the Squat. But people find excuses not to do them. I might hurt my back or my knee and their dangerous. I’m not going to bullshit and lie about it..getting stronger is hard and it isn’t easy. The last thing your body wants to do is adapt it would much prefer to stay the same and not expend the energy.  But the bottom line is most people are just too lazy and don’t have the grit to actual do them with enough intensity to get results.



Now for you that are interested, you might ask what kind of program I should use. You’re going to use a simple program which will allow you to move more weight in some progressive fashion over time. While also stressing how important compound movements are. There is no reason a program should be super complex…Majority of people don’t need to have one so complex that they need to have a PHD to run it.

I'm going to be blunt here. If the program you might be using doesn't allow you to increase your actual max or increase the weight you are using for whatever rep range called for; over a reasonable period of time. Then the program is worthless. A person might want to consider rethinking what they are doing. Don't believe me? As I pointed out above, Look at your average gym member, the Majority will keep doing the same thing over and over again never trying to actually increase there poundage’s. With the majority of these poor bastards not improving, one damn bit after years of doing the same thing.