Sharing my experience with bodybuilding.

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

I recently opened a topic in another section of this forum, where people have been surprisingly helpful. A lot of people sent me PMs and spent quite a lot of time on trying to help me.

I would like to do something back. I am not certain if I can help someone with this thread, but I noticed quite a lot of people out here are interested in bodybuilding/fitness. I am a competitive bodybuilder. I have been 2nd on the Belgian bodybuilding championship 4 years ago. I won two other, less important competitions.

If anyone has any question at all, or would like to know my experience about anything that is bodybuilding related, I'm very willing to share this knowledge. I grew up in a family of bodybuilders and it is my lifetime passion.

Not sure if there is any interest, in this case, I just wasted three valuable minutes of my life...

[BigO AdministratorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close BigO]

Congrats bro, pretty awsome.

[CaptainJohnson Retired ModeratorSenior MemberPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close CaptainJohnson]

Well, I suppose I'll start

What's your opinion of interval training vs. continuous training?

Also, what do you think about the usefulness of low-intensity interval training vs. high-intensity interval training and the best ways to utilize them?

Thanks,
CJ

[Rekcirbdlog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rekcirbdlog]

What, in your considered opinion, is the upper end of genetic limitations on lean natural muscle mass? 200lbs.? Do you use steroids? If I wanted to experiment with them, what is the best way to get them safely? Best place to get advice on it? I live in Canada.

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

Well, I suppose I'll start

What's your opinion of interval training vs. continuous training?

One thing I forgot to mention. I'm not a native English speaker, so I might get confused about some English terms. I presume you are talking about cardio workouts?

First of all, I have to mention that I'm not a huge fan of cardio. At least, not as much as other bodybuilders are. When I try to get as lean as I possibly can, I do a maximum of two cardio sessions a week. Although I agree cardio is a very efficient way to burn fat, my experience has shown that I tend to lose muscle mass faster when I do too much cardio. I like to increase the number of workouts I do, rather than add cardio. To avoid overtraining, I take a deload week before starting this period.

When I do cardio, it is always be interval. I believe there is no superior methode, except for the fact that interval training is much shorter than a normal cardio session. I also like to work hard during my cardio, I personally think normal cardio is rather boring.

Also, what do you think about the usefulness of low-intensity interval training vs. high-intensity interval training and the best ways to utilize them?

Thanks,
CJ

I presume you are, again, refering to cardio interval training? I see no point in doing low-intensity workouts of any kind, to be honest (except for a deload week and injury related workouts). I feel like for the last 10-15 years, a lot of people say you have to be careful to overtrain. Although I agree, it shouldn't be exagerated like this. Things like low-intensity training and periods of more than two weeks of deloading is pretty ridiculous.

I hope this answered your question. If I misunderstood it, I apologize. My English isn't that good, but I'm working on it.

What, in your considered opinion, is the upper end of genetic limitations on lean natural muscle mass? 200lbs.?

There is no answer to this question. It depends on a lot of things. Although there is certainly a genetic limit, a lot of people use this genetic limit as an excuse to start using steroids. I frequently hear "kids" talking about how they reached their genetic limit after 2-3 years and need steroids now. This is bullshit. The genetic limit is different for everyone, but you will definitely need at least 10-15 years to reach it. A lot depends on how lucky you are with genetics. Some people gain very easy, others need years to gain some mass. Still, very few reach their genetic limit, either because they start using steroids, or because they aren't dedicated enough.

A lot of people mistake a plateau for their genetic limit.

Do you use steroids? If I wanted to experiment with them, what is the best way to get them safely? Best place to get advice on it? I live in Canada.

There is no "best way" to get steroids. I would advice against getting them anywhere at all online. Best thing you can do is find someone in your gym who has supplied others.

I would advice you to read some books about steroids before starting to use them. Anabolics 201*, steroids 101, etc... you can find a lot of information online, but be very careful whom you take advice from. Be sure you know about the risks - both short and long term. A lot of people tend to think that side effects of steroids are all temporarely. This is definitely not true.

Keep in mind that once you start using them, you will most likely continue to do so. Very few have the willpower to go back to natural bodybuilding after using steroids. I'm not judging people who use them, nor do I advice you to start using them. Just be sure you know what you start with.

[Rekcirbdlog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rekcirbdlog]

Excellent, thanks!

I was wondering about genetic limits because I began strength training (Starting Strength), not bodybuilding, vigorously, about 6 months ago, and according to a few bf% tests I've taken on supposedly the latest tech. (not calipers...) I was at 220lbs at 19%bf, i.e. 188lbs of lean mass. Then I read, in a variety of forums online, that, "Anyone above 200lbs of lean mass is roiding for sure, or a 1/1000000 genetic freak," and comments of that nature, and didn't understand how I could be so close so quickly. I'm 5' 10" with wide hips, big bones, broad shoulders and huge legs (can highbar full squat 400lbs). I will just keep doing what I'm doing.

Not interested in roids, just wondering.

I've heard getting quite lean is best before putting on muscle, is this true? Should I lean up a bit?

[Rekcirbdlog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rekcirbdlog]

What?s My Genetic Muscular Potential? | BodyRecomposition - The Home of Lyle McDonald

Oh dang should have read the article before posting. Water weight shows up as lean body mass? Wow. Puzzle solved!

[MrBigDick Retired ModeratorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close MrBigDick]

Doesn't the use of steroids make your balls atrophy???

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

What?s My Genetic Muscular Potential? | BodyRecomposition - The Home of Lyle McDonald

Oh dang should have read the article before posting. Water weight shows up as lean body mass? Wow. Puzzle solved!

Glad you figured that out yourself. Max rep calculators, max genetic gain calculators, daily kcal need calculators, etc... they are all bullshit.

Doesn't the use of steroids make your balls atrophy???

For some people, it does. This depends on how you react on the use of steroids and on what you use. Contrary to popular believe, however, steroids generally do not make your penis smaller. Some steroids do have an effect on your unit. For example, deca-durabolin (nandrolon) is a steroid that might give you problems with getting a full erection. Some steroids might increase your erections. Winstrol is one of these. Some people even report a small gain in length from using winstrol, but I'm not sure if I believe that. It's most likely temporarily, because your penis shows much more veins (like the rest of your body).

Excellent, thanks!

I was wondering about genetic limits because I began strength training (Starting Strength), not bodybuilding, vigorously, about 6 months ago, and according to a few bf% tests I've taken on supposedly the latest tech. (not calipers...) I was at 220lbs at 19%bf, i.e. 188lbs of lean mass. Then I read, in a variety of forums online, that, "Anyone above 200lbs of lean mass is roiding for sure, or a 1/1000000 genetic freak," and comments of that nature, and didn't understand how I could be so close so quickly. I'm 5' 10" with wide hips, big bones, broad shoulders and huge legs (can highbar full squat 400lbs). I will just keep doing what I'm doing.

Not interested in roids, just wondering.

I've heard getting quite lean is best before putting on muscle, is this true? Should I lean up a bit?

You should get a proper fat percentage test first. I once compared results on four different methodes. A scale told me I had 11.8%. A scam-off machine we have in the gym told me I had 9%. A caliper told me I had 6.4% and an underwater messurment (I went to a hopistal for this!! I did it because I wanted to see how accurate a caliper really is) told me I had 5.7%.

Caliper was 0.7 percent wrong, which is quite good, considering the fact a caliper costs less than 25 bucks. Please note that a very skilled person measured this. Caliper can be a very good way to measure your fat, IF someone with skill does it. It is completely worthless if you do it yourself, or someone who doesn't know what he's doing does it.

About getting lean before bulking: this depends on your goals.

[mymamaroks Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mymamaroks]

What, in your considered opinion, is the upper end of genetic limitations on lean natural muscle mass? 200lbs.? Do you use steroids? If I wanted to experiment with them, what is the best way to get them safely? Best place to get advice on it? I live in Canada.

Steroids is only short-term effects. You should look for other products that provide long term success

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

Steroids is only short-term effects.

Why would that be?

You should look for other products that provide long term success

Like which?

[alan020 Member of the Month Jan 13 Find all posts View Profile Close alan020]

Do you think the benefits from using steroids outweigh the risk that they pose to your health? I think anyone who uses them really does not understand how bad they are for your body! Not saying you shouldn't its just I would never touch them, I would rather be skinny and not take steroids, then to be a steroid user and muscular

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

Do you think the benefits from using steroids outweigh the risk that they pose to your health?

No. Not even close.

I think anyone who uses them really does not understand how bad they are for your body! Not saying you shouldn't its just I would never touch them, I would rather be skinny and not take steroids, then to be a steroid user and muscular

I can't agree with you more. The dangers of steroids (AND prohormones) are greatly underestimated.

[alan020 Member of the Month Jan 13 Find all posts View Profile Close alan020]

Good,I hate some bodybuilders who pretty much endorse steroid use as a quick fix, and are ignorant to the side effects. Even the chemical PE section of this site, has some really unsafe practices in my opinion. I just started going back doing weights, I am relatively light weight I am 6 foot and 175 lbs, but to be honest I have nor never will have an intention of doing steroids to increase that. Same with PE, I will never use HGH or anything like that to help with my gains.

Glad to see you got sense when it comes to all that too

[derocker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close derocker]

I agree. The reason why these things happen, is because of dickheads who use them and just lie about the side effects. Especially (ex) pro's. They often even get paid to do this. There is only a handful of bodybuilders who is honest about the side effects.

I believe steroids should be legal. The reason why I think this is because there would be a lot more trustworthy information out there. If you could buy it in a pharmacy, he/she would give you some valid advice about it and you can choose whether or not you want to buy it. Quality would also be guaranteed. You could talk about it with your doctor without having to worry and he could help you much better.