by David Gentle
The Great, Reg Park was benching 500lbs over 50 years
ago!
Back a while, one of NO BULL's more astute
readers suggested to our Ed Mick, that it may be a good
idea to provide his readers with some sort of data or
guide lines, to enable bodybuilders to get at least some
idea of strength standards possible for those trainers
who use, out of choice, little or perhaps no, chemical
or super supplementary aids.
Mr. Big Man - Bill Kazmaier
Everyone in the gym business has experienced the
phenomena of ‘lone’ home gym lifters soon upping or even
doubling exercise poundages when they come out of the
garage or bedroom and join a real 'hard core' gymnasium.
This remarkable surge in power and potential results,
not only because it is far safer and easier to have
spotters or training buddies standing by, lifting in or
taking off weights, especially in squats or bench
presses, but also because of the open friendly rivalry
or competition and encouragement such team efforts
always bring.
Simple vocal encouragement for just one example is a
proven method of increasing power and endurance,
focusing the mind away from negative thoughts and fear
and redirecting energy into positive channels.
Many moons ago, when a dollar was a dollar, when you
could open a packet of custard powder without the fire
brigade and special forces turning up, with anti-
anthrax spray, I wrote an in depth article in the now
defunct BODYPOWER magazine, entitled "HOW STRONG ARE
YOU?" Bob Kennedy's Muscle Mag International also more
recently ran a whole series of body parts, along with
the same demanding headline, with plenty of examples of
contemporary bodybuilders workout poundage's, to be used
by your average 'gym rat'.
Both of us, in our analysis, suggested and quoted
lifts and exercise poundage's which included many known
physique champs of which it is fairly reasonable to
assume, use or used 'chemical aids' to assist recovery
or provide extra energy and muscle growth, after all
that's the whole point of such supplements.
Let us not be naive, by admitting such performance
enhances have been in general use since the late 5O's
albeit not in such massive and health threatening doses
as taken today.
Those who do take such high amounts, can ignore this
article and simply continue to set as their targets the
oft quoted, although at times almost unbelievable
poundage's listed in the USA glossies. But unless such
lifts are 'official', take some articles and their info
with a pinch of salt, or go write your 'wants list' to
Santa Clause.
This is not a debate or argument for or against
performance enhances, it is in the nature of all wanna
be champions to seek the extra edge, we are simply
suggesting that those who prefer more natural/healthier
training methods and diets, should have a far more
realistic set of goals.
People who belong to the multi various 'all round'
lifting associations, will have immediate access to
standards required for trophies and recognition awards.
Many such sets of standards evolved from original BAWLA
lists and the early days of BILL PULLUM.
The BAWLA originated back in 1911 and covered over 4O
all round lifts/exercises. Recently the A for amateur
has been realistically dropped so now it is just BWLA.
The 'Strength Set' originally consisting of the
bodybuilders favorite exercises the squat, curl and
bench press soon dropped the curl, which leant itself to
too much back bending and cheating, (God knows what the
old timers would have thought of today’s ultra arched
bench pressers and lifting suits) and substituted the
dead lift.
This lot ended up as 'Powerlifting', itself now
fragmentated into many, many associations and acronyms.
Most basic powerlifting record lists compare closely.
Such current powerlifts along with Olympic records for
all bodyweights can be studied freely at any time by
reading the latest Guinness Book of Records at your
local library.
The well established journal ‘Powerlifting USA’ has
covered most top events (including European) and is a
mine of information and training advice for those
specialists.
While it is always interesting and hopefully
inspirational to read of and compare great feats of
strength.
For example John Parrella (US pro-footballer) who
tosses up unaided 2x225lb dumbbells for sets of 5 reps
in dumbbell bench press (source Planet Muscle Vol 4 no
3), of 1000lbs squats and squatters like Clark,
Waddington, Hatfields et al, and similar bench presses
hitting the 700lbs mark, do not get discouraged and dump
your weights for bunji jumping.
This brief article is for your 'down to earth'
average 'tank top' who just wishes to know where he is
in the muscle power map and what sort of poundages to
aim for.
We have tried to include most basic exercises in our
estimates based on a lot of practical experience
(believe it or not I too trained alone and used to 'rock
up' unaided 80lb dumbbells for bench presses) and honest
analysis. So check out the chart, and wherever you are,
just aim to do better.
You already know the basic systems of using lower
reps and higher sets for building power in most muscle
groups. Nor should you, when seeking strength, train too
often, twice a week is plenty. Take time to recover, eat
well, sleep well and hey presto, power will come.
Holding On To Your Post-Cycle
Gains
By Paul
Scott Peck in his best
seller "The Road Less Traveled" opens up the first
sentence of the book with the statement that "Life is
difficult".
He goes on to say that if
we accept this fact rather than struggling against it
our lives will become easier. Paradoxical isn't
it?
His thinking and
elaboration of this becomes very interesting and
involved, but the gist of it boils down to the thought
that we should learn to flow with our life and
circumstances when we can't change them.
Instead, if we learn to
creatively adapt to our circumstances we will happier
people, and more content.
- "What has this got to
do with steroids?"
By now you may be asking
how does this relate to my steroid usage? Well, many of
us lament the lost gains, hardness, cut, vascularity, or
strength that is associated with cycling off of AS. At
the end of a cycle the gains seem to have become
permanent.
It feels like this is who
we are now as we look in the mirror and as we move the
weight in the gym. This integrity of our bodies
intensifies even more so with repeated cycles, and one
comes to feel that there is no other way of life that
can compare. And indeed there is not.
However, with the
termination of our cycle, and after a month or so we
begin to see some of the beautiful gains slip away. This
is where the philosophy of Scott Peck fits
in.
We need to learn to flow
with this phenomenon of AS supplementation and cycling.
Rigidly trying to hang on to your gains is analogous to
the person who struggles against the fact that life is
difficult.
It will only increase your
loss of self-esteem that comes from your body image. You
must learn to accept the changes and develop a new way
of training that will reward you and change your
mentality.
- "Bridging between
cycles is a pipe dream...?"
In advance of every cycle I
prepare myself mentally for the whole time period that I
am going to be on the AS as well as when I will be
coming off the AS. And I decide in advance how I will
approach the end of the cycle in terms of changing my
routine and supplementations. As one member of SE wisely
puts it "Bridging between cycles with other steroids is
a pipe dream".
If you continue to use any
AS after the completion of your cycle and after your
recovery cycle then you are not truly resting your body.
Some men who must be on maintenance doses of
testosterone or other steroids for medical purposes
would be the exception to this rule but these are the
only ones that I can think of.
Their natural test levels
will remain low no matter how long they abstain, so they
must supplement. Many of our brothers encounter this
problem due in fact to the lack of proper cycling off
the juice.
A couple of times I have
used Primobolan at doses of 100-200mg week between
cycles but I never felt as though I had a complete
recovery from the previous cycle. After awhile of doing
various recovery cycles a bodybuilder can tell when
there system is running on its own again at full
speed.
I never reached that level
of "full speed" when I tried to bridge with Primobolan.
Although very reliable literature suggests that these
doses of Primobolan don't cause much suppression of
natural testosterone, my thought is that this may be
true in men who are already operating at a normal level
rather than men who are trying to bring their levels
back up after an androgenic cycle.
The same is true of
Anavar....any dose that is going to be truly anabolic is
going to bring some suppression of the nads and not
allow a full recovery. Have I done it? Yes. And will I
do it again. Most definitely, but not very frequently
and usually only when I have definite goals in sight
where I don't want to lose too much between the
cycles.
- "...rewarding myself
in a way where I spent a little less time in the
gym..."
One of the things that I
sometimes do when coming off of a cycle is to choose a
whole new way of training for at least the next 6 weeks!
In my case recently I got into running, bicycling, and
hiking. These are things that I really enjoy and it was
like rewarding myself in a way where I spent a little
less time in the gym post cycle and more time outside
doing these other fitness, yet scenic things.
When I bicycle or run I
choose a very scenic route on a trail along a lake or
something like that. It is mind expanding and helps one
to embrace their health and the beauty of the that which
is natural.
Somehow getting back to
nature between cycles helps me to accept myself. After
all, nature and God have given me everything that I
really need, but steroids have given me a lot of things
that I really wanted and benefit from. I also continue
to train hard in the gym, but oftentimes will change my
workout to higher reps with lots of "burn"
sets.
This will help me keep the
fat off and stay as hard as possible.
Everybody is different and
you will need to learn what your body and mind best
responds to during post-cycle. Nutrition is the other
big part, I cannot tell you how many guys I have seen
who have the discipline of Ghandi when they are on their
cycle, but as soon as they come off it is like a dam of
eating urges is let loose!
They consequently "blow up"
and give up. I have not done this yet and hope that I
never do.
I have worked too hard to
get where I am.
In my last article I shared
how I had at one time been very fat. Proper usage of AS
has transformed into a very happy and healthy middle age
man and I want to stay that way. Being a star athlete
doesn't mean winning lots of medals to me.
It means doing the next
right thing in my training most of the time instead of
some of the time. Nutrition is a way of life and should
not be a "way of cycle".
It is amazing what you can
hang on to in the way of gains and definition with
proper nutrition. Personally, I have seen great bridging
results from the 50%-20%-30% formula with the sequence
of percentages being protein, carbs, and
fats.
Hence on a post-cycle of
2600-2800 calories (which is typical for me) I will take
in approximately 320gms protein; 150gms carbs; and about
90gms of fat which will be most non- saturated of
course.
I have remained very solid
and lean when using this equation. Remember, a fat gram
contains 9 calories as opposed to protein and carb grams
which contain only 4 calories per gram.
- "...when I have supply
is Human Growth Hormone"
As some newcomers may now
be realizing the word "bridging" refers to an attempt to
hold on gains between cycles with other supplementation,
and preferably with ones that are going to allow a rest
of your system. One non-nutritional supplement that I
have used and will continue to use for bridging when I
have supply is Human Growth Hormone.
For myself I have found it
to be very beneficial in mood elevation, pituitary-axis
recovery, and to some degree maintaining muscularity and
hardness.
It "tightens" me up
nice.
Typically I will use 4iu
every other day. With continued use it is also of course
a notable fat-burner with many people, although I have
never achieved the racing metabolism with it that I have
seen other bodybuilders get from its use.
I have also combined the
use of insuline with Hgh when "bridging" and have seen
my system reached a full recovery. Typically though, I
just go with the Hgh and good nutrition. I will often
throw in some Tribulus/DHEA stack for some additional
testosterone boost. That stuff works great for me on a
non-steroidal level.
- "Anabolic Steroids
make a great slave but a terrible master"
Learning to be the creative
people that we are and using this on and off our cycles
will greatly enhance your self- image and greatly
diminish your likelihood of dependency on AS. As I have
said before, "Anabolic Steroids make a great slave but a
terrible master".
Be prepared for coming off
and reward yourself for doing so. Always set your target
date and don't talk yourself out of it. Be true to
yourself and begin focusing more on others as you cycle
off. This will help keep your mind healthy and balanced.
Keeping your gains is not as important as keeping your
health.
HOW DO THEY
GET SO DAMNED BIG?
How in the world do top
body-builders get so freaky huge? Seeing behomeths like
Dorian Yates, Ian Harrison, Shaun Davis, Jean Pierre
Fux, Marcus Ruhl, and Gunter Schlierkamp in person is
absolutely mind bog-gling!! I've been training for 10
years and have been taking gear for 5 years, but I look
like a little boy next to these guys! Is it the insulin,
HGH, and IGF? I've never used anything but roids. Is it
the insulin and HGH?
That's what I've heard is
responsible for making bodybuilders of today so much
bigger than they were 10 years ago. Of course genetics
is a major factor, but come on. We've all seen early
photographs of Lee Priest, Jay Cutler, Dorian Yates, and
Paul Dillet. These guys are freaky huge, yet early
photographs of them do not show genetic potential for
extreme muscle mass! You can only train so hard and eat
so much. Perhaps it is all genetics and I just don't
want to accept the fact that mine are average or below
average. Anon!
Hi
Anon,
Remember that when you see sombody
after such a long time, you usually notice a big
difference in the main yeah? Same goes for the BIG guys.
Look at it, of course they take the gear but not
necessarily in IGF1, growth or insulin levels. First of
all they have to train, hard, regularly, consistantly,
religeously and with TOTAL faith. The gear only helps
you to grow it does not do the job for you. You have to
train hard and them some! No disrespect but I would love
to look at your training schedule, after 5 years you
must have gained something?
If not then simple, a few minor
adjustments, the right attitude and fuck it, - you WILL
grow. Even now you are thinking, "shit, he is right!".
Want to know something, - to fucking right I am. I have
trained more champs than a whores knickers are up and
down. Now get into that gym and believe in one thing -
YOU! Why worry about anyone else, you are the man! If
they get big good, why not stop worrying about how big
they are and get on with the problem of how big you
wanna be. Now get in there and do the BIZZ!
I, we, expect to hear from you with a
different attitude and stop wasting your own time. Ten
minutes worrying can be 5 or six sets more. No one said
it would be fucking easy mate. If you have kids think of
this - mine think that I am the biggest and best ANYWAY
- so I have won to start with agree? God bless - now hit
it!!!
GEAR AND SIDE
EFFECTS?
I'd like to know if you know of
any bodybuilders who have messed themselves up from
taking to much gear. Ever heard of anyone getting
prostate cancer, having a stroke or heart attack, having
liver or kidney failure, or any of the supposed
documented dangerous life threatening side effects of
gear abuse?
Concerned
User
Dear
Concerned,
Sorry concerned user, but all
these things CAN affect us unfortunately but under
certain conditions. They are mainly based around the
facts that if that person does not heed advice and just
pumps in crap after crap after, well you know, then yes,
big fucking problems will ensue. In all of my 20 plus
thousand years in this game and of ALL the steroids that
I have taken, I have had nothing much more than a bad
headache and maybe the odd 'loose willy' a couple of
times.
The reason why
GOOD steroid books are what they are is because the
AUTHORS take the time and effort to ensure that the
dosages are well and truly tested -on GOOOD GEAR!
Pumping more in that is needed is just a bonus for the
hairy assed toss pots that pump it in them for no
rea-son except for the fact that they like to boast they
take more gear than anyone else.
Fuck 'em I say.
you will not get any bad side effects if you listen to
good advice. I like the stories that come back about
Mick Hart’s ‘dosages’ being for pussies! My answer to
that is simple. Those who disagree about my stacks,
please be honest and say that you have had problems,
cannot get a horn, sweat like fuck, smell even wordse
due to the bacteria that is being pumped out of your
body and finally have zits the size of foot-balls on yer
backs due to the EXCESSIVE amounts of gear that you had
been misinformed about in the past! Sorry but true
eh!
Please feel free
to contact me if you need any further help or sec-ondly,
listen to some of the sense coming out of this mag! By
the way, should any of you have a story, pictures,
article, point of view please send it in to the NO BULL
Collection.
