STORYTIME WITH LATS.. PART1

[LATS]

ok.. it has arrived.. i apologise for being late.. i appreciate the e mails and pm asking me though when it would be up.. good to know you all appreciate the storys..

this is a part interview and part story as i have to combine the two to make it work.. nothing is changed though with the context .. there is sometimes a language barrier and i do my best to bring out with the way we would understand.. this a combined phone call (my wife loved the phone bill lol), e mails and im's over a few months..

the gentleman in question is a competitor of great reknown in his region.. he is know for his very grainy contest shape.. he is very thick for his bodyweight and has very unique shape to his muscle.. he most of the time takes a top 3 place and / or higher.. he has been competing for more years than many can phathom.. he is middle eastern and competes regular in the ifbb world championships among other shows (a very highly acclaimed show).. the show is drug tested and we can not touch on the subject of getting by the test much but, he is forthright with everything i bring up.. my questions are in bold print.. his answer in small print.. so lets go!!

FIRST OFF.. I AM HAPPY THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH US AT PROFESSIONAL MUSCLE AND SHARE SOME EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE HONEST AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE..

thank you.. i am happy to do it.. i have been to the board after you told me and like it much..

NOW I MET YOU AT A EURO BOARD THAT I FREQUENT.. BUT, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU DONT SHARE MUCH ON THOSE BOARDS.. WHY IS THAT?

well... i guess it is because many of my competitiors are also on that particular board.. so i go there to.. well.. spy i guess lol..

NOW.. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD BODYBUILDING IS HUGE AND GROWING IN LEAP AND BOUNDS IN THAT SECTION OF THE WORLD..

yes.. it is tremendous.. bodybuilding is very popular..

NOW, YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT MANY OF THE TOP COMPETITORS DO NOT HAVE TO WORK IN YOUR AREA BECAUSE OF THE SPONSORS.. HOW IS THAT SO?

as we said before.. it is very popular.. there is much money in this region.. and many fans with great money.. so they sponsor us along with getting us other sponsors in the industry.. so we are able to train and represent our countries.. that is why you see so many competing for so long.. it is their means to support their families.. they also like the attention..lol

I HAVE SEEN MANY WEB SITES AND PHOTYOS OF THE VARIOUS GYMS IN THAT SECTION OF THE WORLD .. THEY SEEM VERY WELL EQUIPPED... IS THAT TRUE ALL THE WAY AROUND?

yes..we have great gyms and fitness centers.. as i said, there is great money here and many are investing in gym and fitness..

ARE THEY MAINLY FITNESS- TYPE GYMS OR IS THERE ANY DEDICATED TO THE BODYBUILDERS..?

they do both.. although there are many dedicated to the bodybuilders.. but, even the fitness-type centers are greatly equipped and have very heavy weights and dumbells.. we have all the manufactures you do and some you dont i imagine.. we have pannatta sport, cybex, nautilus, hammer strength, and gym80.. so we are not at a disadvantage in that area..

SPEAKING OF THE GYMS.. YOU LIKE TO SPEND MUCH TIME IN THE GYM..
TELL THE READERS ABOUT YOUR TRAINING..

well.. i llove the gym.. love to spend time training..

WELL.. WHAT I MEAN IS WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING LIKE?

i am sorry.. i train with much volume and very fast.. i like much sets and reps and training non stop.. two times a day... is that what you mean?

KIND OF.. WHAT I MEAN IS HOW MANY SETS A BODY PART ARE WE LOOKING AT..?

well.. chest and the bigger bodyparts like back and legs will get 20- 25 sets.. shoulders and arms will get 15 or a little less.. but, rarely..

HOW DO YOU AVOID OVERTRAINING? THAT IS ALOT A STRESS ON ONES BODY..

i train 5 days a week.. so i have two days rest.. i get to sleep between workouts and eat very healthy foods..

BUT, THAT IS STILL ALOT OF STRESS.. HOW LONG DO THE WORKOUT LAST..?

it depends... i have a method for my training.. i use my watch.. about 1 hour and 30 minutes..

THAT IS KINDA WHAT I WAS GETTING AT .. GIVE US A CHEST WORKOUT AND REST TIMES ..

i see.. i start with dumbell press on a flat bench.. i do 5 or 6 sets and start at 15 repetitions then rest 3 minutes between sets.. i do this to handle more weight.. i work down to about 6 reps.. but, i strictly follow the 3 minute rest.. then i go to incline smith machine.. i do 5 sets there also and workout in the 8 to 10 repetition ranges.. i rest two minutes there strictly.. i will then go to a machine that is like a flat fly made by panatta sport.. i do 4 to 5 sets there at 10-12 repetition with one minute rest... i finish with dips using just my bodyweight for two sets.. for as many as i can get..

NOW ARE YOU GOING TO FAILURE? YOU KNOW.. WHERE YA CAN FINISH ANOTHER REP?

no.. no.. i stop a repetition short or two maybe.. doing that is crazy.. it is very unhealthy and to hard on the body.. that is why i am still training and competing and many who train that way are now watching me on stage..

SO YOU RELY MORE ON VOLUME FOR YOUR GROWTH AND NOT SHORT INTENSE WORKOUTS..

i do long intense workouts.. they are much more productive...

BUT, YOU ARE ABLE TO REST AND RECUPERATE.. MOST NEED SHORTER SESSIONS TO NOT OVERTRAIN SO..

(he interrupts).. then cut the sets down and dont train to failure.. easy..

NOT THAT I AGREE WITH YA BUT, MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE LAST MONTH HAD A ARITCLE ON RISE OF KIDNEY FAILURE AMONG ATHLETES AND STATED THAT GOING TO FAILURE MIGHT BE THE CULPRIT..

it is not healthy on ones system.. i would like to read that article..

ILL SEND IT TO YA.. NOW , TALKING ABOUT TRAINING.. I SAW THE VIDEO YOU SENT ME AND YOU TRAIN WITH PRETTY SLOW REPETITIONS.. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO ACHIEVE? MOST BELIEVE THAT EXPLOSIVE MOVEMENTS ARE THE WAY TO GROWTH..

explosive movements will limit mosts peoples training time.. this produces injuries to the tendons and joints.. my training is very smooth and easier on the joints.. i have never had any injuries all of my time training.. (IN SEEING HIS VIDEO HE DOES ABOUT A TWO SECOND POSITIVE AND A THREE TO FOUR SECOND NEGATIVE)..

SPEAKING OF AVOIDING INJURY, DO YOU USE MACHINE MUCH OR ARE YOU A FREE WEIGHT KIND OF GUY.. WHICH DO YOU PREFER..?

i use what feel good.. i use more free weights then machines but, i will use anything if it feels good in my muscle.. there are some periods that i just am feeling a bit lazy.. then i will use the machines more.. but, that is rare..

YOU ARE KNOWN FOR YOU QUADS AND HAMS.. CAN YA GIVE US A BIT OF INFO ON WHAT YOU DO?..

i dont do anything much different than you or your members.. my legs just grow well.. but, what i do is this :
5 to 6 sets of squats .. starting at 15 reps down to 8.. 5 minute rest (HE GOES NO HIGHER THAN 365 POUNDS ON SQUATS.. HE DOES THESE ALSO VERY SLOW AND DOES NOT LOCK OUT.. HE FEELS THAT THE STRESS IS BETTER ON THE QUADS AND DOES NOT HURT HIS KNEES..)

4 to 5 sets of hacks (HE USES THE HACK VERSION WHICH PLACES THE BODY IN THE SITTING POSITION) 3 minute rest.. 10 to 12 reps..

one leg leg press- 3 to 4 sets starting at 20 reps.. constantly switching legs and no rest between sets until he needs it..

seated leg curl 4 to 5 sets 12 to 6 reps... 3 minutes rest..

weighted hyper extension 3 to 4 sets 20 to 8 reps.. 1 minute rest..

NOW LETS TOUCH ON THE ANABOLIC ISSUE IN YOUR REGION AND YOUR FEELINGS ON WHAT WORKS....

(PART 2 COMES TOMMORROW WITH ALL THE JUICEY STUFF..)

 

[machola]

good read thanks. its good to hear a different perspective and a new workout. so if i read correctly that is 2x 1 1/2 hr workouts for a total of 3 hrs day. is this right?

 

[marshallmadman]

I think he makes a lot of valid arguments.

 

[7_Deadly_Sins]

Good one lats, is the aritcle you're refering to online any where, I'd like to read it.

 

[BrooklynBB]

Finally! THANK YOU!

Thanks LATS! I love reading your stories and interviews! Please post more!

 

[petedw]

Loving the info LATS, very much appreciated.

You just had to make us wait for the second part though didn't ya! lol

 

[notsobig32]

Awesome info LATS. Being new here this is my first ever storytime and i gotta say that i absolutely love it.

Thanks again.

 

[hawkmoon]

Good stuff. Thanks for taking the time to write this for all of us.

 

[Moen]

Good stuff lats!

 

[MattyFSU]

GOOD READ!!!!!!!!

Thanks LATS.....cant wait to read part 2!!!!

GOD i love story time!!!!!!!

 

[petedw]

Where's part 2?

I can't wait to read this part!

 

[Big Bapper]

I love these threads

Thank you once again for a insight to what is going on in our sport. Looking forward to part two already.

 

[petedw]

Bump!

I'm gonna have to bump this in the hope that the legend that is LATS will be producing part 2 for us in the near future!

 

[LEX]

I love story time with LATS , thanks bro and I am excited to read the rest.

 

[BrooklynBB]

(PART 2 COMES TOMMORROW WITH ALL THE JUICEY STUFF..)

LATS!!! You big tease! Hope you're feeling well enough to write part 2 because this was really good.

 

[marilyn]

LATS..

I have to say, I enjoyed reading this as well, and will look for past stories, and await for the next.....very cool.

 

[jmcbride]

great read cant wait til next time thanks

 

[tr]

bump for part2

 

[Magnum]

Just now read this. Who ever this guy is he is a very smart guy and knows how to train correctly. I know my CK levels can get pretty high after training, but constant training to failure can shoot them up in the thousands. I also believe that constant training to failure can sometimes lead to adrenal fatigue. I have been thinking about posting something along these lines about the difference between volume training and training to failure and beyond failure. There is a huge difference between the two as far as the demands as far as stress that it puts on your whole body, not just your muscles.

 

[get it in ya]

cant wait for part 2. great read