What have you learned in the last year?

[OldManLogan]

Simple question- what have you learned or realized in the last year that has had the most impact on your bodybuilding journey?

For me, two things that changed my game completely- intensity and rest periods.

Understanding what true intensity is like and what it does, I finally can see changes and real growth for the first time in forever… probably since I started exercising way back almost ten years ago when I lost my initial big weight from 280 to 190 then.

And then, also related- taking the correct time in between sets to rest. This became a key “a-ha!” moment when I started paying attention to correct form and the intensity I talked about before… I guess this is the flip side- taking enough rest time and not rushing through a workout to ensure I get the most out of every rep and every set. Enough rest to not sacrifice form and execution. To ensure that I am present in the moment with a strong mind-muscle connection, truly feeling every rep, making sure they’re all quality reps.

Anyway, I think those are the 2 things that overall have contributed to the most change this year.

What about you guys? What have you learned this year that has made the most impact to you and your development? Maybe we can learn a bit from each other.

 

[jackedsanta]

That blood work is not an option.

 

[dieselbuilder]

That I can get my wife pregnant while blasting

 

[Jefe]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

 

[Piter]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

the most important thing I learned tbh

 

[Shogun]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

Exatcly, when i drop the logbook and low volume, and focused more on squezze and conctractions and litlle higher volume i started to grow really fast and the look of the muscle and shape improved.

 

[Figue]

By taking everything as a children's game, everything began to become pure learning and enjoyment

 

[DDStrong]

That at 62, age is just a number.

I’m a long way from soylent green.

 

[OldManLogan]

the most important thing I learned tbh

I have to actively remember to do this, thank you!!!

 

[gauge22-v2]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

I started slowing the eccentrics to 2-3 seconds, slight pause at end of ROM and it is phenominal.

 

[alfresco]

You can’t hold back the hands of time. Adjust your expectations; your exercises, your volume, your intensity, your food plan and your lifestyle. Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up but know your limitations. It’s harder to regain ground than to maintain it. Be mindful of your aches and pains as they will sure as hell come back to haunt you.

 

[PissedPajamas]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

That’s funny, my gym lesson is the complete opposite. Spending too much time milking the eccentric makes me get less stimulating reps, and makes me way more tired than keeping a controlled cadence and pumping out reps with more weight. Just look at Jay, Ronnie, Dorian, Lee Priest, Dexter, Johnny Jackson, Arnold, Andrew, Hadi, Brett, Martin training etc

Nick Walker is the only one slowing things down to a halt and that’s not what got him there + the risk of injury is higher with faster reps and he doesn’t really need any extra muscle. Makes you really think about what’s being sold on IG as effective training and to who it’s being sold to. If you connect well from the first rep with an exercise, why are we doing 3-4 second eccentrics and pausing in the hole/squeezing at the top when mechanical tension is more important?

I’m just rambling, but I feel better switching things up after a year of very boring and tiring training

 

[control]

I learned that GH doesn't work if you let it fuck up your insulin sensitivity (it actually makes you look and perform worse).

 

[bigzzz]

That I can get my wife pregnant while blasting

Same!

 

[traininsane11]

To stop worrying about the whole process and trying to over analyse and find out what the most “optimal” way of doing it is because

A: if you HAVE to do that then you’re not built for this (to achieve anything overly of note)

B: If you have what it takes to achieve something great then you don’t need to do it anyway

Just do what you enjoy.
Train how you like, follow a sensible diet you enjoy and if applicable take the gear that makes you feel and progress best

99% of us can over analyse every outcome and build a mid physique and probably not enjoy it because we’re living in our heads OR just put in the level of effort you want to following the regime you enjoy and you’ll probably build a physique very close to the same level, not grow to hate the process and have a life worthwhile outside of this all or nothing fantasy we sell ourselves to often not even be the best in our local gym let alone on a stage

 

[tommyguns2]

I learned that I could lose about 25 pounds of bodyfat, while gaining a pound or two of lean mass over a period of six months at the age of 58 while only taking 20mg test prop ED, 10mg mast prop ED, and 4IUs GH ED, while maintaining a solid diet > 80% of the time. The one word that sticks with me during that time frame is CONSISTENCY.

 

[IronMan66]

That eating like the Pro BB drug pigs, will only make your gut grow... (Unless also on grams of gear).
The 10mg a day of TRT protocol, keeps me in normal high range, and not much food is needed... (maintenance calories).

 

[professionaldyel]

That eating like the Pro BB drug pigs, will only make your gut grow... (Unless also on grams of gear).
The 10mg a day of TRT protocol, keeps me in normal high range, and not much food is needed... (maintenance calories).

I love logging on here every couple of months and reading absolutely dumb shit along with the gems

 

[Aikman56]

Dropping ego and that lighter weight and concentrating on the squeeze works better than heavy.

Shoulders and back especially.

I seem to find myself “re-learning” this one every few years!

Mine was not something that I “learned“ so much as something that I stopped denying… Father time is Undefeated.

 

[alfresco]

That eating like the Pro BB drug pigs, will only make your gut grow... (Unless also on grams of gear).
The 10mg a day of TRT protocol, keeps me in normal high range, and not much food is needed... (maintenance calories).

I’m sure the professional bodybuilders on this forum will appreciate you calling them “drug pigs”.