Brain Blast Vol 2

With over 10 years of info stuffed into our archives, we thought it might be cool to dig up some of our favorite hidden gems. From motivational and controversial tidbits to more practical tips on building muscle and losing fat, we dug deep and uncovered some eye-popping stuff.

Enjoy!

"I Stay On"

The dangers are way overrated... Personally, I've done anabolic steroids straight for the last 28 years.

I stay on. I don't believe in periodization in training, either. I use mostly anabolics like Equipoise and Laurabolin until it's time for a competition, and then I do the harder androgens. I do not take Anadrol. I've never had any problems.

I know guys who take much more than I do, to the point where you can call it abuse, and they don't seem to have any problems, either. There's no possible way I can train the way I do without taking anabolics, but the same techniques of training apply even if you're natural.

— Louie Simmons, The Mad Monk of Powerlifting

The Answer is in the Iron

Basically, what was then is now, with little deviation, improvement or evolvement, despite the so-called superior technology and hysterical race for more and better.

The answer and the joy are in the iron, sound eating, hard work, consistency and courage. No secrets, nothing new, just be strong and do it. It's you!

— Dave Draper, The Bomber at 62

Change Your Life

It doesn't take all that much courage to change your life. I don't care if we're talking about working out religiously, changing jobs, getting out of a bad relationship, or moving to a different town. Believe me, you can't lose.

Whatever you do, provided that you stay focused, works out. The only people who lose are the ones who cash in their chips and refuse to play another hand.

It's like the Chinese allegory of the man caught in the rapids. He's managed to grab hold of a rock, but the raging waters are beating him against the rock over and over again. If he doesn't let go, he'll soon die, but he's afraid to let go because he doesn't know what dangers lie downstream.

Let go of the rock.

— TC, Let Go of the Rock

Don't Get Pulled Down

You only go around once, so you may as well make the best of your time here by living the life you really want to live.

"Well, Dave, I'd like to, but..."

But what? Do what you gotta do! There are many people out there who live "but lives," "I shoulda lives," and "I coulda lives." These people are easy to find. They're the ones we call critics: those who've become masters of the "have not" and love to spend their time telling us what we can and can't do. They make up 90% of the people I've met.

Avoid them. They love to pull you down.

— Dave Tate, The Eight Keys, Part IV

A Kick in the Head

About 70% of Swiss ball exercises are worthless. It's just one of those things where people are taking an idea too far. There's some value to it, but it's not a cure-all.

Most personal trainers and strength coaches just don't know how to get people strong. I remember talking to this one trainer who uses all these stability gizmos. I asked him why he used all that shit and he said, "I'm not good, so I have to do these weird things so people will come to see me."

I call it "entertainment training," not strength training. And any time I see that horseshit, I want to kick the personal trainer in the head with a pair of steel-toe construction boots.

— Charles Poliquin on the overuse and misuse of stability devices, Question of Strength #34

Total Reps, Not Sets

I have a target number of reps with each lift. I don't go into the gym with the idea that I'm going to perform 5x5 with 85% of my 1RM for the front squat. Instead, I go into the gym with the goal of performing 25 total reps with that load.

I don't have a target number of reps for each set because I lift based on speed. When the last rep is noticeably slower than the first, I stop the set. This keeps my force-producing capabilities up as high as possible by controlling fatigue.

So set one might stop at six reps and set three might stop at four reps. If it's a maximal strength day, the target number of reps per lift might be as low as 10. If it's a lighter load the target number might be as high as 50. Each workout uses the same target number of reps for all lifts.

Here are some basic guidelines to get you started. Remember, the following numbers are for one lift only. You shouldn't perform the following volume for two similar movements in the same workout. In other words, don't perform 25 total reps with a heavy load for the bench press and 25 reps for the incline bench press in the same workout.

Maximal Strength: 10 total reps

Strength/Hypertrophy: 20 total reps

Hypertrophy/Strength: 25 total reps

Hypertrophy/Endurance: 35 total reps

Endurance: 50 total reps

Point 4: Have a target number of total reps in mind for each lift and perform as many sets as it takes to keep your speed as high as possible.

— Chad Waterbury, See Chad Train

Your Dick in a Pickle Jar

There's a reason you pay less for some brands of protein powders and vitamins: they suck. Why are you making a decision on whether or not to consume something based solely on price?

And do not fucking start me up by saying the ingredients are the same. All cars have four wheels, a seat, an engine, and a steering wheel, but a Corvette is a little different than a Chevette.

Coal is cheap. Diamonds are expensive. Try giving your girlfriend a coal ring for your engagement and explain that it's the same thing and it's just marketing. She'll cut your dick off and put it on display in a pickle jar.

— Alwyn Cosgrove, If It's Not Cosgrove, It's Crap!

Simple, Not Easy

The secret is that there's no secret. Lift hard, lift consistently, eat tons of clean, wholesome foods and listen to your body. Most people only train hard seasonally, they prepare for summer or for a vacation, other then that, they train recreationally.

Back in the day when there was no Internet and the local YMCA's were commonplace hardcore gyms, there were a lot of big and strong guys. There was no excess of information out there to confuse them, so they did what they knew how to do, and that was to work very hard on the basics, all the time.

It's very simple, but it's not easy. Don't get these two terms mixed up.

— Zach Even-Esh, Strength and Size Roundtable, Part 1

If I Were Anti-Obesity Czar...

You might think that as a nutritionist I'd say something about long-forgotten whole fruits and vegetables. I would indeed, but this still isn't our biggest problem. I'd have to first address physical inactivity. How can people live in such a way?

I'd systematically start dismantling every "modern convenience" that fosters a weak, sedentary lifestyle. This is doubly true for things that affect kids. From motorized scooters to mind-numbing television to electric hedge trimmers to moving walkways at the airport, I'd stop this trend toward becoming mere brains toted about by machines.

Our DNA is 40,000 to 100,000 years old. It's built on survival and self-preservation, and it doesn't understand this soft, sedentary modern world of ease and surplus. Being just a little uncomfortable is the key to change.

— Dr. Lonnie Lowery, Lucky 13

3 Page Book

I used to think I knew something about nutrition. Now I just think most people eat way too much. In particular, they eat way too many carbs. Even more particular, they eat way too much bread. How's the following for my nutrition book?

Working title: Eat Less: Mike Boyle's Nutrition Bible.

Page 1- Don't eat so much and you won't get so fat.

Page 2- Avoid carbs. Particularly avoid excess carbs like bread, muffins, donuts, and bagels.

Page 3- Eat more protein.

The end.

— Mike Boyle, 15 Things I Thought I Knew

Freak of the Freaks

I'm not trying to be symmetrical. I'm trying to be a freak, you know what I'm saying? ...Bodybuilding is a terrible sport. I like it for me. I like being a freak because it makes up for the fact that I'm a little guy.

— Greg Valentino, The Most Hated Man in Bodybuilding

Gotta favorite quote from our articles or elsewhere that deserves a re-readin'? Hit "discuss" below and let us know!