Stretch marks and the bodybuilder. By Vic Goyaram

Stretch marks and the bodybuilder

Researched and Composed by Veeraj Goyaram

"As a kid, I had this itch that I couldn't scratch. I was fat and uncomfortable in my own skin. So I dropped 70 pounds by hitting the pavement and busting my ass. I wore out the "fatboy" nickname and wore my old skin like a loose coat. I turned to the iron, learned to push and press... Forward and up. With time, my skin grew taut - it began to pull and tear. It itched... And I scratched. Scratched my way up to where I stand today. These scars. These stretch marks. I'll have them for life. I'll wear them with pride. They are a reminder of who I was, where I came from, and where I'm going", 
IFBB Pro Evan "Ox" Centopani

Stretch marks are the battle scars. Wear them with pride

My personal story with stretch marks

Stretch marks can be a frustrating topic in bodybuilding and indeed one which can mess a lot with your mind.  I had stretch marks even before I started bodybuilding and I used to be bothered about them in my early adolescence. My stretch marks mainly run across my chest and my back and later they came on my arms too, especially on the lower biceps and forearms.

I later found that I wasn't alone as almost every bodybuilder has stretch marks. Some may have one of two on their delts-chest tie ins or biceps while others may have it all over. I got massive relief when I met pro bodybuilders (The same guys who look perfect in magazines and videos) and see that they have even more stretch marks that I do. On some it may be quite visible while on others it can blend in with the skin tone and can be seen only on close inspection or from certain angles. I have personally done a lot of research on stretch marks and spoken to numerous skin specialists and dermatologists on the topic. I will share this information with you. In this article, the causes of stretch marks will be discussed along with a discussion of the proposed treatments. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can completely reverse stretch marks and our best bet is to understand and try to prevent and minimise them.

The causes of stretch marks

Stretch marks are due to the tearing of the dermis layer of the skin (see picture below).  The dermis layer is a highly resilient layer and it gives the skin its shape. It is in a constant state of regeneration as it has cells called "fibroblasts" that produce materials called collagen and elastin which gives elasticity to the skin. When the skin stretches, the dermis layer immediately adjusts to give skin its shape. However, under certain circumstances which will be discussed below the dermis layer may not be able to keep pace with the stretching of the skin and therefore cracks, leaving behind stretch marks. In French they are called "vergetures" and in medical terms they are known as stria distensea or simply striae. Stretch marks also occur during pregnancy, in which case they are called "stria gravidarum".

The skin is made up of several layers. Stretch
marks are caused by the tearing of the dermis layer

Stretch marks are caused by rapid stretching of the skin due to rapid growth or rapid weight fluctuations especially during puberty and when gaining mass in bodybuilding. Again, some people are more susceptible to develop stretch marks than others as goes the saying "Basically, if your mom had them, you're probably going to have them".

Any other causes?

As explained above, mechanical stretching is a cause of stretch marks. Moreover, I have sometimes seen people who have neither experienced weight fluctuations nor been bodybuilding previously and this prompted me to question whether there are other causes of stretch marks. As listed in the table below there are other causes besides mechanical stretching. For example, an increased level of the glucocorticoid hormone Cortisol in the body can give rise to stretch marks. This is because Cortisol is a catabolic hormone and can break down fibroblasts, the very cells that maintain skin elasticity. People undergoing Cortisol therapy or suffering from Cushing's syndrome (overproduction of cortisol) also commonly develop stretch marks. There are also reports that excessive Marijuana consumption may also causes stretch marks.

Ref: Elsaie et al. Dermatol Surg 2009;35:563–573

Furthermore, stretch marks don't look the same on every person depending on skin colour. Stretch marks appear reddish when they first start to develop and eventually assume a silvery colouration as they mature.

Stretch marks usually start with a reddish coloration which indicates that these are newly formed.  Eventually they change into a silvery colour which looks different on various skin colours.

The regions mainly affected.

Stretch marks are most common in regions where fat is stored like the abdomen, chest, hips, buttocks, the upper arm, the underarm and the legs. In bodybuilders, stretch marks occur where growth is likely to occur very fast.  A very common region is the chest-delt tie in area which, in my opinion, is because the delts and chest grow bigger simultaneously thus stretching the skin to a greater extent. Another region is the arms and the back. Stretch marks occur very rarely on the calves. If a bodybuilder has stretch marks it will most likely be on the delts or the chest-delt tie ins.

Stretch marks commonly develop in the chest-delt
tie in region in bodybuilders

Why don't the big bodybuilders have stretch marks?

I am sure many of us may be thinking how unfair life is. We gain or lose a few kilos and the skin starts cracking while the bodybuilders we see in the videos and magazines have skins so perfect without a single stretch mark although they gain and lose massive amounts of bodyweight.

"The big bodybuilders must really be blessed because they got no strech marks", I used to think

I was wrong in thinking that the top bodybuilders don't have stretch marks because in reality MOST OF THEM DO. Their stretch marks are not likely to catch your eyes because of the tanning lotions and oil they use to pose to compete and pose for pictures. Furthermore, they benefit from specific lighting and possibly some air-brushing for photo shoots. If you see a big bodybuilder in person then it is very likely that you will see his stretch marks

Again, the chest-delt tie in region is mostly affected

Dexter has stretch marks on his chest-delt tie ins
as can be seen in this picture.

Heavy Duty training system did make the late Mike Mentzer
BIG but it also gave him stretch marks on his chest, delts,
arms and forearms. They aren't too visible because of the good
lighting for this photo shoot.

My forearms and biceps are riddled with stretch marks
but they don't appear when I flex them.

Stretch marks may also appear on the abdominal region
But tanning products go a great job to cover them
(Photo Courtesy: Kuwaitbodybuilding.com)

Furthermore, when muscles are flexed (of course depending on the muscle and the pose), the marks are less likely to appear. This may contribute to your belief that bodybuilders don't have stretch marks. I have done a little experiment above.

Prevention (and treatment?) of stretch marks

Here is the interesting part. Stretch marks cannot be reversed unfortunately. Any products claiming to reverse stretch marks are simply taking you for a ride. However, there are products that can reduce the appearance of stretch marks by promoting an even skin pigmentation in affected areas thus reducing the appearance of stretch marks. These will be discussed below. It must be noted that several modalities of treatment have been proposed but none of these have been proven scientifically but that does not mean that we must discredit these treatment options.  I have read a number of these studies and there are concerns on the experimental designs (e.g a proper control) of a number of these experiments that do not allow conclusions to be made.

Overall, stretch mark products and treatments can be classified as follows:

A. Topical therapies

This line of therapy is said to promote skin pigmentation, skin cell regeneration and skin hydration as a means to help with stretch marks. Some common examples will be reviewed in this section which will focus on the main constituents (or active ingredients) commonly found in stretch mark creams. Keep in mind that most stretch mark creams will usually contain a combination of these ingredients.

1. Tretinoin (Retinoic acid): this is a vitamin A derivative which works by improving skin cell turnover. It has been studied scientifically (using a 0.1% retinoic acid skin creams) and yielded variable but overall positive results. It must be noted that treatment must be regular and carried out for a long period of time in order to be effective. Retinoic acid is especially helpful in the early stages of stretch mark development.

Tretinoin skin creams

2. Skin hydration products

These products have been developed based on the understanding that proper hydration is essential for maintaining the integrity and barrier function of skin. However there is little conclusive scientific data for these creams. There are a few studies that have shows some effectiveness, although these must be confirmed by larger studies.

The product Trofolastin made by Novartis has been tested in one study and shown to confer some benefits in pregnant women. The plant extract of Centella asiatica found in the product was proposed to stimulate fibroblastic (skin cell) activity and exert an antagonistic effect against glucocorticoids which are catabolic hormones that also cause stretch marks.

Trofolastin is based on Centella asiatica and hydrolysed collagen

Hyaluronic acid is another compound found in many skin products including beauty and stretch mark products. If you take a look at the ingredient list of your girlfriend's skincare products chances are that you may see Hyaluronic acid listed. It is in fact an organic substance found in human skin and is very often a constituent of stretch mark creams. The Hyaluronic content stimulates fibroblast activity and collagen production to restore any inhibition and collagen loss induced by hormonal fluctuations or mechanical stretch.

Hyaluronic acid is common in skincare products

Monomethyltrisilanol Mannuronate is a skin hydratant which is present in some stretch mark creams like Simulcium G3, a favourite stretch mark cream of mine. I have personally used this cream during a mass gaining phase years ago when stretch marks were appearing like crazy. I personally made the experience and noted a rapid decrease in "new red lines" formation although I went on to gain an additional 10-12kgs.

A number of stretch mark creams are based on cocoa and shea butter.  Way before scientific studies analysed their effectiveness these have been used in several countries and there are anecdotal report that they work although scientific studies say otherwise. The use of cocoa and shea butter is very common among bodybuilders to prevent stretch marks and improve their appearance. Other products like sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and castor oil are also used as a means to keep the skin hydrated although these have not been evaluated.

Products based on cocoa butter

Summary of topical products and their suggested mode of action

B. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a procedure that uses a mechanical process to remove dead skin cells from the epidermal layer fo the skin. This procedure is painless and can be carried out by a trained skincare specialist. The principle is illustrated in the diagram below. A typical microdermabrasion system uses a stream of inert crystals of Aluminium oxide, magnesium oxide, sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate to abrade the skin using a pump and a vacuum system. Abrasium of the dead layer of the epidermis allows skin regeneration to take place. This technique is commonly employed in cosmetics to help decrease the appearance of lines, wrinkles, acne and acne scars and also to improve the skin penetration of skin care products and medications.

Microdermabrasion principle

Microdermabrasion has been evaluated as a means of treating stretch marks and looks very promising. I am unsure if this procedure is carried out in Mauritius and it may be of help to check with qualified skincare technicians or your dematologist. In scientific studies microdermabrasion has been shown to initiate dermal repair and increase procollagen levels which means good news in terms of connective tissue regeneration. Further studies are required to confirm these findings but there is hope. If it does not complete reverse stretch marks at least it can improve their appearance.

Microdermabrasion is painless, non-invasive and requires no
anaesthetic. It can be carried out by a trained skincare technician.

Other treatment options and conclusing remarks

Laser treatment are also being used to improve stretch marks by stimulating connective tissue regeneration but their effectiveness is still subject to scientific evaluation. They hold a lot of promise, however. Again, I am unsure whether laser treatment is available in Mauritius. I have included the table below for those willing to know more about laser treatment.

To conclude, I would advise to avoid gaining or losing weight too fast and rather adopt a gradual approach in order to minimise mechanical stress on the skin epidermal layer. Hormones, skin hydration or genetic factors aside I believe that rapid weight fluctuations are a major cause of stretch marks. When bulking up I would suggest to use a skin hydration cream as mentioned above containing a combination of ingredients already discussed. Apply the creams in regions where stretch marks are most likely to develop.

Secondly, if taking steroidal anti-inflammatory products like corticosteroids keep an eye on the development of stretch marks. Should they develop do not hesistate to highlight this to your doctor in order to envisage the possibility of adjusting (if possible) the dosage of hormones.

Thirdly, it may be wise to speak to a doctor, pharmacist or dermatologist before using topical creams or lotions especially those containing chemical ingredients like Retinoic acid and antagonists of corticosteroids. This is especially true if you are on certain medications (topical or systemic) whereby drug interactions may occur.

Finally, it is not the end of the world if we have stretch marks. Those who have them must learn to live with them. Those who can prevent them must do their best to prevent them. At the end of the day, a lot of people have far more serious skin complications like skin cancers that may eventually even claim their lives. Therefore, a few marks on the skin as a result of bodybuilding or weight loss is not the end of the world. 

PRESS ON.

References:

1. Mohammed L Elsaie, Leslie S Baumann and Lofty T Elsaie. Striae Distensae (Stretch Marks) and Different Modalities of Therapy: An Update. Dermatol Surg 2009;35:563–573

2. Buchanan K, Fletcher HM, Reid M. Prevention of striae gravidarum with cocoa butter cream. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2010 Jan;108(1):65-8

3. Osman H, Usta IM, Rubeiz N, Abu-Rustum R, Charara I, Nassar AH. Cocoa butter lotion for prevention of striae gravidarum: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG. 2008 Aug;115(9):1138-42.

4. Mahesh Masand. Physiological striae in adolescence: not physical abuse. Emerg Med J 2012;29:9 doi:10.1136/emermed-2011-200666

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©,2013, Veeraj Goyaram, Bodybuilding Mauritius. Any reprinting in any type of media is prohibited.

Disclaimer:

The Content on this site is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. BODYBUILDING MAURITIUS is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties.  Qualifications of author of article: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology (Department of Biosciences, University of Mauritius) and Master of Science in Medicine by research in Exercise Molecular Biology (Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town). Correspondence: vicgoyaram@gmail.com

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Creatine stability: facts and fiction. By Vic Goyaram

Creatine stability: facts and fiction

Researched and composed by Vic Goyaram

Kre-Alkalyn is marketed on the basis of the lack of stability of Creatine Monohydrate.

But is Creatine really unstable in the stomach?

Stability defined

Creatine stability can be defined as the rate at which it degrades into its degradation product Creatinine.  In a stable creatine preparation little degradation would occur. The most stable state of creatine is in the solid form. I have good news for creatine sellers because solid undissolved creatine is very stable. Even at temperatures of 40deg Celcius your tub of creatine monohydrate will not degrade. If you subject the powder to 60deg Celcius you will detect creatinine only after 44 months (1)! I witnessed the birth of liquid Creatines (e.g the GNC Creatine serum back in 2002) and knew straightaway that this formulation wouldn't last long on the shelves.

Creatine stability in solution

I am very sad to announce that Creatine is not very stable in solution. Therefore you should not mix creatine and leave the drink for a long time. The degradation of creatine in solution is dependent on the temperature and the pH. The higher the temperature and the lower (more acidic) the pH the faster the rate of degradation. If a neutral solvent is used (eg water) creatine is rather stable and here temperature will be the determining factor. The inclusion of Creatine in drinks is not a good idea and even if manufacturers bring out "novel" forms of creatine the stability won't necessarily be better, trust me. Here are some implications for the bodybuilder:

• Do not mix Creatine in acidic solutions or hot solutions
• You can dissolve Creatine in lukewarm but not hot water
• If you mix creatine in water and can't drink it, store it in the fridge.

Creatine stability in the stomach

In the stomach, the issue of pH comes into play because as you know the stomach is an acidic environment because of the secretion of gastric juice which contains Hydrochloric acid. The lower (more acidic) the pH the greater the rate of degradation of creatine into Creatinine as shown in the graph below:

Degradation of Creatine increases with increasing acidity

Under low pH Creatine degrades by the process called intramolecular cyclization. Do not worry, I am not swearing at you. It means that the high acidity changes the open structure of creatine into the ring-like structure of creatinine.  

The conversion of Creatine into the waste product Creatinine

If creatine degrades in acidic pH why bother taking it then?

The industry has taken the observation that creatine is unstable in acidic solution to come up with more expensive "novel" forms of creatine like Creatine ethyl ester (CEE) and Kre-Alkalyn (buffered creatine). These novel forms, seriously lacking scientific backing, are pushed as being superior to creatine monohydrate in terms of being able to escape the degradative effects of stomach acids, thus more easily absorbed and bioavailable to the body.

Read this carefully please: Creatine can be stabilised by increasing the acidity further. While creatine degrades at pH 3.5, it is stable at a lower pH (below 3). The pH of the stomach is generally 2 and creatine is stable in the stomach (Ref 2,3)!! At such a low pH Creatine gains a positive charge in the NH2 group to become NH3+. This positive charge prevents the transformer movie to take place, meaning it prevents the molecular cyclization process that makes your urine expensive to occur.

At extreme low (acidic) pH creatine "mops" up the acidity. In this process it gains a a positive charge which prevents it from degrading

The take-home lesson

The take home lesson is that Creatine monohydrate is very stable in the stomach unlike the industry wants you to believe. The conversion of creatine to creatinine in the stomach and GI tract is minimal regardless of transit time.  The industry played with people's belief of the stomach being acid to introduce new pH stable forms of creatine on the market. This is because for every scientist who dug into the pharmacokinetic data on creatine there exists a million people who are unaware of the truth.

Creatine ester and kre-alkalyn  to Creatine monohydrate (4, 5).

References:

1. Jäger R (2003) The use of creatine monohydrate in sports nutrition, Freising, Germany.

2. Deldicque L, Decombaz J, Zbinden Foncea H, Vuichoud J, Poortmans JR, Francaux M. Kinetics of creatine ingested as a food ingredient. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;102(2):133–143.

3. Persky AM, Brazeau GA, Hochhaus G. Pharmacokinetics of the dietary supplement creatine. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2003;42(6):557–574

4. Jager et al. Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of novel forms of creatine. Amino Acids. 2011 May; 40(5): 1369–1383

5. KRE-ALKALYN SUPPLEMENTATION DOES NOT PROMOTE GREATER CHANGES IN MUSCLE CREATINE CONTENT, BODY COMPOSITION, OR TRAINING ADAPTATIONS IN COMPARISON TO CREATINE MONOHYDRATE. Jagim et al. Poster presentation at the 2012 ISSN conference. link http://www.ergo-log.com/kre-alkalyn-vs-creapure-werkzaamheid.pdf

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©,2013, Veeraj Goyaram, Bodybuilding Mauritius. Any reprinting in any type of media is prohibited.

Disclaimer:

The Content on this site is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. BODYBUILDING MAURITIUS is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties.

The Creatine products shown are trademarks of NUCARE Nutrition and The Protein Co.
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WHEN MY MIND WANDERS

Here are some more random thoughts I jotted down during a meeting at work.


Don't look at what someone does, look at what they did.

You can't get fat off broccoli.

For strength, specificity is key.  For size, it's variety.

No raw bencher has weak triceps.

No raw squatter is quad dominant.

No raw bencher is weak off the chest.  They are just weak.

You can't outtrain a bad diet.

On long sets, count backwards in clusters of 5.  So instead of counting up to 20, count down from 5 to 1 four times.

There is no sacred cow.  Everything works, not everything works forever.

Day coming to an end and you still haven't trained?  Do tabata burpees.

When something hurts, keep it warm.  Trade in the tank top for a sweat shirt and see how good your shoulders feel.

For strength, the weight is your enemy and you crush it.  For size, it is a training partner.

Rep ranges do not equal time under tension.

Don't have a safety squat bar?  Wear a neck harness when you squat.

If you enjoy the movement, it probably isn't making you stronger.

If people could get big and strong at home, everyone would do it.

You are far more likely to get injured driving to the gym than squatting in it.

If you need a pre-workout supplement, your diet and sleep needs work.

No pre-workout supplement will ever beat a smelling salt.

If you have no issues taking some mystery powder but think ammonia is dangerous, start over.

Things you should own at home to help with your goals: GHR, pull up bar, sled.

Want to cut down on rest between sets?  Train at sub freezing temps.  It will motivate you to speed up the workout.

You don't have to understand it for it to work.

I'd rather be wrong and strong than right and weak.

For conditioning, concentric only is key.

Setting the bar on pins sucks.  Either suspend it from chains or elevate the plates.

For rows or chins, it doesn't matter what grip you use.  Train until you stall, then use another grip and start over.

For pressing, DBs are for assistance, not primary work.  For pulling, it's all assistance work anyway.

If I could only do 3 movements, it would be squat, strict press, and chins.

I have never met anyone would couldn't stand to do more rear delt work.

Strength is general, conditioning is specific.

Lets all stop lumping together mobility and flexibility.  If I am mobile, I am not stretching.  If I am stretching, I am not mobile.

If you take a "test booster" and aren't drinking water or eating well, start over.

A warm up gets you warm and ready for a workout.  It is not a workout in and of itself.  If you have a "tough warm up", you aren't interested in getting strong.

"If you can't flex it, don't isolate it"-Dave Tate

WTF does "training for aesthetics" even mean?  Didn't we use to call this getting bigger or leaner?

40 REP SQUATS: 225

Something I did last week after having a bad day at work and wanting to blow off some steam.  I was sore for about a week.  Don't try this at home.

FAST, CHEAP AND EASY: PICK 2

Everyone wants everything to be fast, easy and cheap.  It’s especially bad these days, with the internet providing us everything instantly with no effort on our part, and in many cases completely free of charge (regardless of the legality).  As a result, this mentality now permeates physical culture.  Everyone who decides they are going to go down the road of physical transformation still wants to know the fastest, easiest and cheapest was to accomplish their goals.  Advertisers have keyed in on this, promising amazing results in 6 weeks with no workout, or boosting your bench 80lbs in 8 weeks with one super secret program.  Others have decided to pirate programs like P90X or Insanity so that they can get their gym free workout with fast results at no cost.

No matter how much you pirate, it won't make you him

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that nothing impressive was ever accomplished with something fast, easy and cheap.  At best, you’re going to get 2 of the three here.  If something is fast and easy, it ain’t gonna be cheap.  If it’s fast and cheap, it ain’t gonna be easy.  And if it’s easy and cheap, it’s not going to be fast.  An unwillingness to compromise on at least one of these aspects of life leads to an inability to achieve noticeable results.  On that topic as well, it’s not simply about possessing the ability to go without one of these 3 concepts, but a WILLINGNESS to do so.  Sacrifice is one of the cornerstones of success in physical development, and if you are unwilling to make any sacrifices, you will not grow.

Want some examples of what it looks like when you’ve decided on two of these three concepts?  Lets dive in.

FAST AND EASY: PERSONAL TRAINER/COACHES

This image is never NOT funny

This is definitely the fast track to success, and very easy.  You hire someone to tell you how to lift and eat, and then you follow it without question.  There is no need for research, reading, or any real effort on your part to figure out what does and does not work.  You hire a professional and roll.  However, this isn’t cheap.  You get what you pay for, and quality training requires quality pay. 

From the nutritional standpoint, it’s also the same.  You hire a chef to make meals for you and you’re good to go.  If you’re really gung ho, you outsource your shopping too.  Your food is always ready and at no effort of your own, but you are paying a hefty sum for this service.

EASY AND CHEAP: HOME WORKOUT

You see this a lot with trainees first starting out.  They want to get in shape, but don’t want to join a gym.  They want to know about a workout they can do with just a pull up bar and a jump rope, and don’t you DARE tell them to join a gym, because they don’t have the time or the money to ever leave their house.

Don't forget about germs

Will this be easy?  Hell yeah, there is nothing to it.  Do some pull ups and jump rope.  Is it cheap?  You bet it is.  There is barely any equipment and no membership fee.  Is this going to be fast?  Not at all.  You’re going to spend a LONG time training before you see any results at all, and even then they simply will not be impressive.

From the nutritional standpoint, this is making everything from scratch.  You never buy anything pre-made, and in general look for the lowest quality cuts of meat to save money.   Additionally, with this approach you’re going to most likely spend a lot of time using a slow cooker, so there goes any delusion of speed.  That being said, you’re not going to be buying junk with this approach, and your meals are going to be very basic, mainly meat and veggies, which is a positive thing for most trainees.

CHEAP AND FAST: LOW TECH/HIGH INTENSITY

You want to get big and strong fast and not spend a lot of money on mystery sups or high tech equipment?  Go do 20 rep squats.  If you hammer the basics hard, get most of your nutrients from food and don’t mess around with a bunch of fancy shit in the gym, you will whip yourself into shape very fast and on the cheap.  But it’s not going to be easy.  At all.  Truth be told, it’s going to suck.  You will work like a dog, with limited outside assistance, no hired coach or trainer, and very little feedback.  You will make mistakes and need to learn from them on your own in order to progress, as nothing will be spelled out for you.


Nutritionally, cheap and fast is how most Americans live their lives.  Lots of pre-packaged meals and fast food.  You can eat like this, sure, but it’s definitely not going to make reaching your goals easy.

Like a high school prom date: fast and cheap, and greasy, with hot buns and pickles...I seemed to have f**ked up the analogy

These examples I have provided are not the only ones available, but still illustrate the point here.  You have to be willing to make sacrifices and compromises in order to progress and transform.  Those who seek to always take the path of least resistance will earn themselves a lackluster physique and minimal strength.  Those willing to undergo adversity and make sacrifices will have it reflected in their physical appearance.  What you sacrifice will change depending on many factors, but your willingness to make sacrifices must remain constant.  

RANDOM THOUGHTS

No explanation given, just stuff rattling around in my head.


For strength, you need one set.  For size, you need many sets.

To get rid of a lower back pump, lay down and elevate your feet above your torso.

High reps work for building a heavier bench and deadlift, but not a squat.

When it comes to the upper back, you can't go wrong with more volume.

Very little deadlifting needs to happen to build a stronger deadlift.

If you're not competing, you can't cheat.

You can't outrest soreness, but you can outwork it.

A more effective way to reset assistance work is to start the weight over again but add chains.

Stalled out on weigthed chins?  Use band assistance while upping the weight on the dip belt.

Two of the greatest plateua busters around: food and sleep.

Strength is science, size is art.

When you are getting big, there are no bad calories.  When you are losing fat, there are few good ones.

The greatest analogy I ever heard about falling off the wagon.  "When you get a flat tire, do you get out and flatten the other 3, or do you change the tire and keep on driving?"

Injuries are blessings.  You are forced to experiment and have nothing to lose.  My greatest training discoveries have always occurred as a result of injuries.

If you have to ask, you shouldn't do it.

If something is working, change nothing.  If nothing is working, change something.

When you pack yourself snacks that you hate, you will suddenly find yourself less hungry.

Trying to lose weight?  Drink a protein shake before each meal.  Trying to gain weight?  Drink it after.

Worried about bad form on high rep compound movements leading to injury?  Make it the last movement of the workout, not the first.

CREATING THE NEXT LEGEND

This is going to be a long one, so pull up a chair and grab your favorite snack.

It also doubles as a blanket

A request has been made for me to write down how I train and the lessons I have learned.  Thought it will be worth getting into my current state of events, I wanted to use this as an opportunity instead to list what I would advocate for a brand new trainee, looking to become the biggest and strongest trainee they could be.  This is about laying down the foundation for success from the get go and logically progressing from point to point.

Without further ado, here is the protocol.

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In the Beginning

A foundation in athletics is necessary before starting any sort of resistance training program.  You don’t have to be captain of the football team or all American, but just 1-3 years/seasons of being active should be enough to lay down a solid foundation in coordination, conditioning, flexibility, strength, power, mobility and tenacity.  People who play sports also tend to be able to understand the difference between soreness and injury, and have an idea of when to play through pain and when to sit things out.  These are just lessons you can’t learn academically, and without them beginners tend to spend a lot of time spinning their wheels in the weightroom killing their gains by overthinking shit and spending too much time addressing mobility.  This doesn’t need to be anything extreme, but cross golf and bowling off the list.  Stick with the basics: football, wrestling/boxing/mma, basketball, hockey, track and field, etc.

No...just no.

If it was not covered during your time in sports, perform some calisthenics to continue to prep yourself for heavy resistance training.  Dave Tate had a suggestion that someone should be able to do 100 push ups before doing a bench press, and I think it’s solid.  Include pull ups and lunges at a minimum and you’ll do yourself a favor.

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The Workout

This is the part everyone skipped to because they aren’t going to do the first two things (which is mostly why people struggle so much in lifting).

Don’t think in muscle groups, think in movement planes.  Beginners screw themselves up from reading too much Muscle and Fitness and Arnold’s Guide to Bodybuilding, and are overly concerned with hitting every muscle group or asking “what muscle does that work” when seeing Benni hit a 1015 deadlift.  As a beginner, you want to train your body how to move weight in multiple directions the best way possible.  Once it gets good at this, you can stress muscles.  Until then, know that your body can’t make a muscle NOT work if it’s needed to move a certain way.  If you are pressing, your shoulders and arms are going to get involved.  If you’re pulling, your back is going to get involved.

Here are the 4 types of movements we will deal with

Squat

Deadlift

Upper body push

Upper body pull

Here are the two planes of movement we will operate in when dealing with the upper body

Vertical

Horizontal

Ultimately, you want to have a program with one squat variation, one deadlift variation, one upper body vertical push and pull, and one upper body horizontal push and pull.  Performing an equal amount of pushing and pulling in various planes will create symmetry and balance in both your physique and strength, and the heavy squatting and deadlifting will lead to great whole body size and mass gains.

If I were to design a program for a beginner who went through the above two phases, had access to the best equipment, and was not training specifically for a strength sport, it would look like this

Day A

Barbell Squat or Safety Squat Bar Squat 

3x5

Glute ham raise 

1xAs Many As Possible (AMAP)

Parallel Bar Dips or Standing Strict press (Alternate each training day) 

3x5

1xAMAP w/50% of previous load or bodyweight w/dips if applicable

Chins

4x12-15

Tricep extensions

1x100

Day B

Barbell Squat or Safety Squat Bar Squat 

3x5

Parallel Bar Dips or Standing Strict press (Alternate each training day) 

3x5

1xAMAP w/50% of previous load or bodyweight w/dips if applicable

Deadlifts or Trap Bar lifts or Mat Pulls

1x5 or 1x15-20 (alternate each training week)

Kettlebell Swing

1-2x25-50, emphasis on explosive pop from hips (1 set on the 1x15-20 week, 2 sets on the 1x5 week)

Weighted inclined sit-ups

2x12

Band pull aparts

1x100

Day C

Barbell Squat or Safety Squat Bar Squat 3x5

Parallel Bar Dips or Standing Strict press (Alternate each training day) 3x5

1xAMAP w/50% of previous load or bodyweight w/dips if applicable

Dumbbell rows

3x12-15

1x20-30

Curls

1x20-30

Backwards sled drag 

1 long trip or 3 short ones
Note: Just do something to blow up the quads here, don't overthink it 

The reasoning behind this program design is the option of having a severe lack of technical aspects in all of the movements.  

Squats are obvious. If you want to know why they are in the routine, start over.

The safety squat bar’s design negates bar placement, is easy on the shoulders, and the squat it creates is far more brute strength than technique limited, meaning that even if the lifter falls forward, they can finish the lift.  

Glute ham raise is here to give your posterior chain some more volume without forcing you to do high rep squats (and subsequently die).

Standing strict press for the vertical press. Military press is garbage. Press the bar straight up, not in an arc around your face.

Also an inferior military press

Chins for vertical pull. Again, simple, hard to fuck up, great overall impact on physique and strength.

The parallel bar dip is a much simpler movement compared to the bench, with far less to consider when training it.  You don’t have to worry about spotters, setting up your arch, what to do with the elbows, etc, it’s just down, and then up.

Deadlifts, like squats, are an obvious choice.

The trap bar lift is again far less technical than a straight bar deadlift.  A trainee will still learn how to pick a heavy weight off the floor, but since the weight will be in line with their body rather than out in front of them, they will place less stress on their back and be able to lift heavier loads sooner.  That being said, I would only make use of this implement if the trainee is using the safety squat bar, due to the carryover of that equipment to deads.  Otherwise, go with a straight bar.

Mat pulls are the most ideal here, range of motion progressed down to the floor. If you are a true beginner, you can deadlift each week with no issue, but otherwise, this is a great way to become a strong deadlifter without burning out.

The DB row is again less technical than a barbell row, and allows the trainee to support themselves with their other hand while they row, allowing the focus to remain on the row itself rather than supporting the lower back.

Tricep extensions are just there to take care of the elbow, and because trainees HATE it when their program doesn't have direct arm work.

KB swing is a great way to train the explosive lockout of the deadlift and get a pump for the PC. Will also get your heart going, so I snuck in some conditioning.

I can't be burning calories.  I need them for my gains!

Incline weighted sit-ups are some basic core work. Again, trainees need this, and it will help you squat more.

Band pull aparts are for shoulder health. There is minimal rear delt work this day.

Curls are for elbow health, and because everyone wants them.

Backwards sled drag is a great way to hammer your quads without fatigue. It is concentric only, and will also get you in better shape in general. 

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Method to the Madness

Now to explain the method and reasoning behind the movement selection and programming.

3x5 indicates 3 straight weight sets of 5 reps.  No ramping, no tricks.  It's basic and brutal. Low reps make you strong, and the low volume will facilitate high frequency in training.

So what's with the 1 set of high reps afterward? The intent here is to use this set to promote hypertrophy and improve work capacity. Along with serving as motivation for a new trainee to "get the pump", it should also have an overall impact on strength, size and conditioning.

So why aren't the rows or chins trained at 3x5? The back seems to respond better to higher volume training. Additionally, when pressing for low reps, there is a natural limitation based on form, in that if you really fuck up your press, the weight will not move. Pulling does not have this limitation. There are multiple variety of circus act movements one can perform to try to manhandle a row or chin. This is what happens when a beginner tries to do low rep rows or chins. The high reps should prevent this from happening, while still developing a big and strong back.

The deads/TBLs/Mat pulls are only trained for 1 set at the end of the middle day.  This is because that the muscles involved in this movement are trained via the squat anyway.   One week, you will perform a heavy set of 1x5, and the next week you will perform a high rep set of 10-20 reps.  The 5 rep set will help build strength off the floor, while the higher rep set will help develop some necessary muscle in the posterior chain.
Perform the 5 rep set as a deadstop set and the high rep set as touch and go.  The extra time under tension will be helpful for muscle gain, while pulling from a dead stop will further contribute to strength gains in terms of pulling off the floor.  The intent here is more to train the movement rather than the muscle, and with 1 set, you can really go balls out, especially on those sets of 15-20

The press and the dips are alternated every time you train.  This just creates balance between horizontal and vertical pressing.

The 100 band pull aparts at the end of the middle day are simply there due to the lack of true upper body pulling.  It should help balance out the rear delts and further contribute to upper back development.

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Progression

Now on to the topic of progression from workout to workout.  One’s goal should always be to get stronger every time they train, at least as a beginner.  Start out light with a weight that you can easily hit all the prescribed rep ranges for while still having room to progress up.  Every time you train, increase the weight.  Smaller increases are preferable to larger ones, as this will prolong your gains.  Once you eventually reach the point wherein you cannot hit the prescribed reps with your weight, count how many reps total you hit in a workout.  The next time you train that movement, beat those total reps in any way possible while not going over the prescribed rep range.

EXAMPLE: For  squats, say you were working with 225lbs.  Your work sets looked like this

5

4

4

This equals a total of 13 reps.  The next time you train, get at least 14 reps in any way possible.  This could be

5

5

4

Or

5

4

5

Or any other way to do it, just get more reps, as this is how you get stronger.

This is heavy, high volume training, and will be taxing on a trainee.  It will require a deload after every 6-9 workouts.  Deloading can be accomplished in many ways, but for purposes of this program, you will accomplish it by keeping the weight the same and reduce the total number of reps to 70%.  If you had performed a full 3x5 in your previous workout, you could do this by doing 2x5 or 3x3.  If you had hit less total reps, just multiply the total by .7 and break that many reps into however many sets and reps you need without going over 5 in a set.  These workouts will be fast, but most likely still tough due to how broken down you are.  Get in and out of the gym, and heal up.  Deload for one training week (workouts A-C), and then go back to your old volume for another 6-9 workouts.      

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Stalling

There will come times in the program where you run into stalls. To be clear, a stall is defined as an inability to progress in either weight OR total reps on one or more movements from workout to workout. It does NOT mean that you feel uncomfortable moving up a weight after completing the full amount of sets and reps and decide to force yourself to stagnate, that is just poor training. Additionally, if the reason you are not progressing is due to poor sleep or nutrition, this is not a stall, but human error. All of this being said, even with all the variables controlled, eventually, you will simply be unable to progress past a certain point. When this happens, it is time to change movements.

When you pick a new movement, you want to still follow the rules set above for training. Try to pick something similar and in a full range of motion that will compliment your goals of getting stronger. Some replacement movements are as follows.

For Squat Variation:

SSB Box Squat

Box Squat

Front Squat

SSB squat or Barbell squat (whichever you didn't use before)

For Parallel bar dips:

Bench w/pause

Touch and go bench

For Chin ups:

Pull ups

Neutral Grip Chins

Any other variation of chins/pull ups

For Deadlift Variation:

Trap Bar Lift

Deadlift (conventional or sumo)

Straight legged deadlift

For Strict press:

Touch and go strict press

Push press

For Dumbbell row:

Dead stop dumbbell row

Chest supported machine row

Additionally, consider adding chains to any movement to create variety.

Please note that many of these movements are more technical than the ones previously advocated for a beginner. It is the hope that at this point in your training, you have become more coordinated and able to pick up more complex training movements. Be realistic when picking an alternative, it still needs to be something you can load up to be heavy and challenging. If you throw in too many variations to create a new movement (unbalanced, against chains and bands, on an incline) you may end up greatly reducing the bar weight beyond anything possibly beneficial.

Start training your new movements like you did the old ones, but starting off light and building back up again. Once this stalls, return to your previous movements, starting low and building up. You should find that your time invested in alternative movements will strengthen you at different angles than previously accomplished, resulting in being able to push past previous plateaus. 

Once you find that this strategy no longer works, and all other variables are under control, it is time to consider undergoing a phase of higher volume/weak point training. Something like Joe DeFranco's Westside Barbell for Skinny Bastards III (http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/65-westside-for-skinny-bastards-part3.html) works great here, or any similar approach where the goal is to target weaknesses while still developing whole body strength. Keep in mind, the goal here is to correct weaknesses, not pick a bunch of pet lifts that you enjoy or are good at so you can stroke your ego. Pick what you suck at, hit it hard, eat a ton and grow. The strength and mass you gain from this phase will pay off when you transition back to more abbreviated training.

Upon your return to abbreviated training, start low on weight again, and aim to get your working set weight up to around your 1-3rms from your time on WS4SB. If you are able to get to this point, you will have a great foundation in strength and size, and will be able to tackle any goal you have.