This thread is a great idea. I'd wanted to post early on (probably not best demographic for this site) but was crazy busy. Not my best but will at least get something down.
1. How did you start training and what age? Stats then.
Started 13 years old though did mess around with a bench setup at home from 11-12. At 12-13 I was 6'2" and 185lbs (grew fast).
2. What was your training routine at your peak and your stats?
Was never a BBer. I lifted for sports and athleticism. Gravitated toward Olympic lifting and powerlifting. I sucked at lifting sports being a tall guy (and not willing to weight 300-350 just to be decent). Loved it though. I was also blessed/cursed to know a lot of guys who were truly good in PL/OL including world record holders, Jr world champion, Pan Am games winner, guys who'd been to Olympics (went to watch Atlanta games in 1996), old school York guy who trained with Paul Anderson and a few other notables etc...what I really liked was the process of improvement and programming. Studied, spoke to etc guys who were top OL, Pl and D1 strength coaches. I did know a few BBers including one of the big mass monsters of the 1990s era which I guess is notable. Obviously I knew a whole bunch of fuckin a's and gym bros lol. Who knows maybe I was one as I didn't have the trophies a lot of the guys I knew had. That said if winning is fun and enjoying it, I'm in contention
I guess my best training was 1990s. Lots of squats and pulls and overhead. I think my best all around weight (not purely a lifting thing) is 245 at 6'3". Been up to 275 a few times and I slow down. Still explosive but not as agile on my feet. Certainly a better lifter though.
3. What would you differently, if anything?
Getting good info in the late 80s and early 90s was really hard. This was a time when few if anyone in non athletic gyms squatted or pulled and the big exercise for most bodybuilders was incline Smith presses (not a fucking joke). Anyway I was really lucky to be able to find/lift and train with such high caliber guys. I had all the passion but talent for lifting - meh - I was lucky to be in the same room. I show up, work as hard as anyone, bring my best, etc so a decent training partner.
What I'd do differently...just about everything if I could take my knowledge back. Shit more attention to macros, lower carbs - I always hit protein targets. I'm probably the only guy who can say he didn't run enough drugs for long enough (not a joke but then again in strength sports I wasn't a competitor so I was always conservative). I would eat, squat and pull like a single minded beast. It wouldn't have got me on a platform or at the level of my friends but the question was asked and put me in an 18-28 year old body again (no kids/work/etc)and let me tear at it.
4. How do you train now, and why that method.
I'm older now bordering on 50s. MacGyver duct tape stage of lifting. Mind is willing but trying to hold body together. Still heavily Barbell. I'd love to do ols again and have killer bumpers just collecting dust. Pisses me off. Need to get a bit healthier. Been bringing weight down for a while and now easily in my desired range. Nursing 2 injuries currently and mri in a week or so (nothing major but something).
I train like I always have. Pump means nothing to me and is incidental. I move weight through fundamental planes of motion and train that progressively to make myself better. I train to keep myself solid/capable and make myself feel good both physically and mentally. It's foundational and a part of me. I never quit and will always find a way.
1. How did you start training and what age? Stats then.
Started 13 years old though did mess around with a bench setup at home from 11-12. At 12-13 I was 6'2" and 185lbs (grew fast).
2. What was your training routine at your peak and your stats?
Was never a BBer. I lifted for sports and athleticism. Gravitated toward Olympic lifting and powerlifting. I sucked at lifting sports being a tall guy (and not willing to weight 300-350 just to be decent). Loved it though. I was also blessed/cursed to know a lot of guys who were truly good in PL/OL including world record holders, Jr world champion, Pan Am games winner, guys who'd been to Olympics (went to watch Atlanta games in 1996), old school York guy who trained with Paul Anderson and a few other notables etc...what I really liked was the process of improvement and programming. Studied, spoke to etc guys who were top OL, Pl and D1 strength coaches. I did know a few BBers including one of the big mass monsters of the 1990s era which I guess is notable. Obviously I knew a whole bunch of fuckin a's and gym bros lol. Who knows maybe I was one as I didn't have the trophies a lot of the guys I knew had. That said if winning is fun and enjoying it, I'm in contention
I guess my best training was 1990s. Lots of squats and pulls and overhead. I think my best all around weight (not purely a lifting thing) is 245 at 6'3". Been up to 275 a few times and I slow down. Still explosive but not as agile on my feet. Certainly a better lifter though.
3. What would you differently, if anything?
Getting good info in the late 80s and early 90s was really hard. This was a time when few if anyone in non athletic gyms squatted or pulled and the big exercise for most bodybuilders was incline Smith presses (not a fucking joke). Anyway I was really lucky to be able to find/lift and train with such high caliber guys. I had all the passion but talent for lifting - meh - I was lucky to be in the same room. I show up, work as hard as anyone, bring my best, etc so a decent training partner.
What I'd do differently...just about everything if I could take my knowledge back. Shit more attention to macros, lower carbs - I always hit protein targets. I'm probably the only guy who can say he didn't run enough drugs for long enough (not a joke but then again in strength sports I wasn't a competitor so I was always conservative). I would eat, squat and pull like a single minded beast. It wouldn't have got me on a platform or at the level of my friends but the question was asked and put me in an 18-28 year old body again (no kids/work/etc)and let me tear at it.
4. How do you train now, and why that method.
I'm older now bordering on 50s. MacGyver duct tape stage of lifting. Mind is willing but trying to hold body together. Still heavily Barbell. I'd love to do ols again and have killer bumpers just collecting dust. Pisses me off. Need to get a bit healthier. Been bringing weight down for a while and now easily in my desired range. Nursing 2 injuries currently and mri in a week or so (nothing major but something).
I train like I always have. Pump means nothing to me and is incidental. I move weight through fundamental planes of motion and train that progressively to make myself better. I train to keep myself solid/capable and make myself feel good both physically and mentally. It's foundational and a part of me. I never quit and will always find a way.