Great video, Alan. Making people realize that there is a MASSIVE difference between pro-bodybuilding and NATURAL bodybuilding is what I (and many others) are trying to do with our channels. Every time I hear criticism levied against bodybuilding, it is always against the enhanced side of the coin, but for some reason, natural bodybuilding also unjustly gets added to the mix, because people (sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes malice) constantly conflate the two. The difference between natural and enhanced bodybuilding is like the difference between Heaven and Earth: one represents a fountain of youth, a way to progress both physically and mentally for as long as you live, while the other is a one way ticket to a host of physiological & psychological issues leading to an early death. If more people gave natural bodybuilding a shot, I think that their experience would be similar to yours: they'd realize that the training is actually quite fun & intense, and that it is nothing like the boring pump, chicken & rice routine promoted by pro-bodybuilder lifestyles. It looks to me like we are on the brink of entering a Golden Age of natural bodybuilding. Much work must still be put in, but as you've mentioned, people like GVS, Basement Bodybuilding & others are putting out great content that is slowly ushering us towards it. Having you, one of the OGs of UA-cam Fitness, join the movement is probably one of the greatest thing that could have happened to natural bodybuilding. I am certain that through your influence, many will find their flame for lifting reignited as well. Btw, biceps looking thick!
Natural bodybuilding is in a weird place--not seen as extreme enough to warrant attention from some, and too closely associated with the super-enhanced side to be of interest to others. I'm 48, and started the bodybuilding journey after losing a ton of fat and wanting to look good in a t-shirt. I commend all the channels that are promoting natural bodybuilding and showing people what that actually is. You and GVS have opened my eyes to what can be achieved naturally and as more people see that, I think interest will snowball!
well said. I think people should check out NattylifeYT's channel; he profiles a lot of silver-era bodybuilders who competed before steroids hit the scene. If you read the biographies of these men and women, they all lived very long and quality lives--many of them kept their physicality well into their twilight years. Compare that to the dysmorphic fallen souls who die at 40 after wasting their youth pinning bathtub tren. They live and train completely differently. Hopefully natural bodybuilding competitions displace the diseased standards by which the Olympia judges
I think it's important to remember in the early and mid 20th century bodybuilders, powerlifters and strongmen we all effectively the same people and a person would compete in one, would at least dabble in the other
I think in the pre-drug eras, it was widely accepted that getting stronger also gets you bigger (all else being equal, like comparable technique). If you look at the Silver Era bodybuilders, they often trained high volume, full body, and very close to failure. That's not so different from a lot of natural bodybuilders today. Funny, eh? Hersovyac is ridiculously jacked and aesthetic, but trains in nearly the strength range on most movements (5-6 reps!).
@@DCJayhawk57 From what I've heard, the training isn't that much different between natty and non-natty. It's more that enhanced lifters grow faster and can hold more mass. The mechanism for getting stronger is also the same. A lifter on gear has more muscle mass and therefore more potential to lift more.
@@howardblumenkopf7872Check out Leroy colbert's videos. A silver-era bodybuilder the difference is that back then they only trained 3 times a week. These days a lot of people are copying what the steroid guys are doing And wonder why it doesn't work. I can only recommend Leroy Colbert Videos (Mr yokieloverfitness) and in his time Reg Park (Arnold's role model) were Steve Reeves ,George Eifermann All training only 3 times a week.
I am 81 have been working out on and off since my teens. I have been impressed with your videos for several years, mainly because you are open to evidence. I was especially impressed with a video you did a while ago on injuries. I summarized that as "too much load to soon" which accorded well with my own painfully experience. Since I'm unlikely to be successful chasing new strength PRs, I will be very interested in what you have to say on this topic. I will stay tuned.
@@tasos1112 This has always been a hobby for me. I had to look up "jacked," which means muscular but not necessarilly ripped. I am not now and have never been ripped. Now and then people notice and comment that I seem in good shape for my age. If you are asking because you are wondering how fit you can stay if you keep it up, my experience: Work hard, be regular, avoid injuries and yakking at the gym you will be strong in your 80s. I laid off the gym two years for the pandemic, kept resonably fit with pushups, pull ups, biking and fast walking. I have been back in the gym regularly for 7 months. I weight 144, am 5' 5". My one rep max on bench is now 205. I can do 9 strict dead hang pullups, 50 strict pushups. I use 12*45 plates on our leg press (a sled) and tipically just count reps until I get to 100, using as many sets as that takes. I'm getting stronger gradually. If you avoid injury you can stay pretty strong. I am stronger in these limited modalities than perhaps 80% of the highschoolers who work out at my gym. I can't run or jump worth a damn.
The biggest takeaway I've had with bodybuilding over the past year is that it's much more intentional than originally thought. Every movement has a purpose and is never tacked on just because. Since strength is not the focus, it's easier to maintain steady intensity throughout a workout. It's nice being consistently strong week to week instead of managing fatigue by manipulating percentages.
Unless you're a psycho bodybuilder like me who still deadlifts twice a week and squats 3x a week lol. I follow a hybrid program, and even with bodybuilding acrue a ton of fatigue through taking compound movements in proximity to failure. I'm about 70/30 bodybuilding to strength training at the moment. If you're natural, I think strength should still be a primary driver. You just need to be deliberate on your rep ranges and technique. I still do some work in the 5 rep range though most comes in the 8-15. Make your movements inefficient and milk the stretched position, but otherwise, you should still be lifting explosively and trying to increase the weight on the bar or dumbbell.
@@DCJayhawk57 Agreed. Strength is always going to be part of the equation. The nuance is building specific strength for movements vs using strength more as a variable to manipulate as a result of gaining muscle. Said another way (as you mentioned) training for strength is about getting the weight from A to B in the most efficient way possible. Training for a stimulus is about getting the weight from A to B while creating the most tension on the target muscle.
Completely agree. It's refreshing because most periodization models for strength, even the concurrent ones like ES by RTS or the meta in USAPL, are meant to peak you on a certain day. You are supposed to be the strongest on your primary days and all other days are there to facilitate that. Bodybuilding, and to an extent general strength training, does not care about that. Each session is much more equal, and you expect your performance to be much more constant than with strength training. You don't have to show up on a specific day so you can be competition ready. This makes every session matter more in a sense, and each set too, because you are always going hard, on every set, and you accept that your strength will not always be peaked.
@@DCJayhawk57 is the hybrid program your mentioning one you've made, or something we can all look up? i've also followed a hybrid program for quite awhile now, and have seen great results, but it is self-made, so it's most likely not as optimal as it could be
I've slowly come to terms with my own shift, leaving rugby after a life time of playing and moving into the Highland Games as well as bodybuilding has been a huge personal transition as well. In my case, injury prevention from rugby and asymmetrical muscular and strength development from highland games has been solved by moving into body building, even if it's not for competition but for symmetry and health. It's a lot to shift your mindset and I'm glad that I have a healthy example in you to enjoy the journey with. I wish you the best and as always Train Untamed.
Started hypertrophy training to phase out of rugby. Needed a longer term goal. Something I need focus on for 12+ months at a time. I can sub legs days for explosive movements and sprinting when necessary in-season
I've been thinking about highland games now as I'm retiring from PL and SM. What caused your imbalance do you think? I'm vaguely familiar with HG movements so just curious. I'm guessing all the throwing.
@@HooDRidEWhiteY the imbalances already existed, I'm a righty so naturally my right side is a little stronger. The highland games uses single arm throws for most of their events minus a few, and when you're getting into the sport it is much more important to learn and practice the throwing forms than it is to lift heavy in the gym. I always tell people that the weights are reasonable, but being expected to throw them a sufficient distance is the unreasonable part. So I went to the park with my home made weights and drilled 2 times per week, using almost exclusively right handed throws (shotput, weight for distance with 2 different weights, hammer throw right handed, weight for height right handed). And really tried to hone my skills there. Of course I kept up on the gym side of things, and the gym kept me pretty even, but it's the size and strength you get from throwing that led to noticable imbalances within a year and a half.
@@kylepracz Thank you for the well thought out response my brother in strength! I appreciate you. I'm already a walking wreck of sports injuries and HG seems much easier on the joints than powerlifting and strongman implements. Best of luck to you in the future Sir.
Alan, you are an absolute legend. I love how you've embraced the "Noble Naturals" and are shouting out their channels, when you taught them how to squat all those years ago. I had the same misconceptions about bodybuilding, and was brought around by the same crew.
Yeah, agreed. Many of us 30 year old boomers learned how to Squat, Bench and Deadlift from Mr Thrall, glad he found this side of the internet. I've always been in to strength but getting more into size and strength these days. A 500lb deadlift isn't making my arms any bigger
Alan i don't know who brainwashed you into thinking bodybuilding is vain and is about light weights and being soft and puff and all that stuff. but i'm glad you realized it's better for long term health than other strength sports. Every sport can have vain elements, it's part of being competitive and wanting to win. in bodybuilding you need to look more muscular than other guys to win, in powerlifting and strongman you need to lift higher numbers than the others to win. i've known both. and in my country powerlifters are even more toxic than bodybuilders, they trash talk each other about techniques and numbers and it's just so dumb...
Crazy timing for this video! I used to compete in amateur strongman but unfortunately suffered a compression fracture in my thoracic spine + two squashed discs. This means squatting, deadlifting, overhead pressing, and bearing vertical load gives me a lot of pain. Given my situation I have recently gotten much more into bodybuilding after holding the same opinion of it just being "fluff exercises and men in g-strings on stage", and I must say I'm having a blast. I am still limited in my exercise selection, but it means I can really push myself with e.g. belt squats and stiff-legged deadlifts and still see progress. I think it come down to the sheer love, or maybe fear of living without, training in the gym 😅
I'm happy you've come over to the Chadside. We're happy to have you. There's no reason you can't be a strong bodybuilder. Alex Leonidas and Bald Omni Man are great examples of this. I've always been in this boat as well, I like to have strength numbers to chase at the same time as getting in volume for hypertrophy and chasing aesthetics.
5:39 Of course this is bodybuilding. You must have been brainwashed for a long time by other strength athletes who told you bb is all "fluff and puff". :) I like your hypertrophy experiment. All the best.
To be completely honest, it's not like you lacked muscular and aesthetic physique when you were focusing on strength. But I totally understand and respect your decision to pivot towards bodybuilding.
Please do a collab with AlphaDestiny! Hes done some work with Natural Hypertrophy. His approach to bodybuilding is similar to what you describe here. He’s a strength athlete but it has carried over to bodybuilding. He recently did a first BB show and placed quite well.
I have a hard time understanding how hypertrophy will make you stronger than strength training giving nutrient stays the same. Are you getting larger if you do not increase your caloric intake. How is that possible? I am not sure I understand. As usual cool video from Alan.
Hey Alan, I'm following you since you made the ATG squat video. It's always to go for hypertrophy (in off season) Ed Coen style. So, kudos to you. Also, you can get a collab with Renaissance Periodization , as I think you can gel well with Dr. Mike.
I remember the mid/late 2010s when a lot of strongmen and powerlifters shit on bodybuilders because they are just "working out to look good". Many of them ended up in Bodybuilding because they realized that they arent good and/or dedicated enough to earn a buck with powerlifting on UA-cam. Seeing some of them struggling in competitions against people they used to look down on is satisfying. Alan is a little bit smarter and more open minded. Good luck with your journey.
we all like lifting weight and improving i dont get it when people look down on body builders a lot of us are using free weights and lifting heavy i wouldnt even consider myself as a body builder neither a strength athlete i just like lifting and improving myself it keeps me level and is a contant in my life sometimes iam seeking more muscle and then i have phases where i seek more strength it think both go hand in hand
Great video. I wonder when people started ignoring that strength = muscle + neural adaptations? Greg Nuckols has nice articles about that - if you want maximum strength, you also want maximum muscle, no way around it. Note: there's also the leverages / genetic component to strength, but you can't change this, so it isn't worth focusing much on.
It's like running. Running thrice a week, 5k or even 10k is good for your health. But most of us are not gonna try a marathon or record breaking 5k times. It's just for health. Just as bodybuilding is good for health.
For my self I I'm trying to find that good balance of improving strength as well as developing a better physique. I waited wayyyy to long to start, 37 years old, but I want to be the best version of my self for me and my family.
Speaking my language. I switched: way fewer injuries, way more fun in the gym, I look a lot better, and I think practically I'm stronger than when I was powerlifting. ALSO I find that some people barely respond to strength training yet they do respond to bodybuilding. Interesting to see.
Fun of your videos from the dino times and now you have crossed the stuff that I'm enjoying a lot. Waiting for your next videos. Wish you the best and hello from Ukraine. And always remember....
I think in general some kind of a powerbiulding approach is the most universal. Most people want to look better and become more ”functional” in the sense of having more strenght in everyday situations. The difference comes only in specifics of which one cares more about. If you care more about size, you’re still doing strenght work to better your ability to produce pure force which helps you produce more stimulus in your more bodybuilding specific training. If strenght is the main pursuit, having dedicated hypertrophy work helps you build bigger muscles giving you the potentiaalia to produce more force in your strenght specific training. Most people are in the gym to better themselves, not to purely build size or a 1RM with the expense of eveything else. This is also why hyperspecific programs like Starting Strenght or your basic pro-bodybuilder workouts are going to lead most people to disapointment.
(Vin Diesel) Family Fr though. I have a daughter and I've been considering pausing my powerlifting stuff because I really enjoy bodybuilding. I like being big. I love going to failure. It's so much faster too. I can be in and out in less than an hour WITH cardio.
My issue with bodybuilding is that it focuses exclusively on the one outcome that should be incidental and forces people into psychologically unhealthy states because well, hypertrophy takes absolutely ages. Placing all your worth on muscle mass which you get at 1-3kg a year maybe means you never feel like you progress unless. Also the modern aesthetic standards of bodybuilding promote the use of steroids and the least healthy nutrition habits, they just do, plain and simple. It's bodybuilders that drop like flies in their 40s and 50, it's bodybuilders that get 16 year olds to take dbol, it's bodybuilders that give people body dysmorphia. Wanting and building muscle mass is not inherently unhealthy, what bodybuilding has become is.
I feel like any form of building muscle is like cooking a steak. You could fry it, grill it, bake/broil. Hell you could probably cook it in the sun the way it’s been so hot lately. Bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, Olympic weightlifting are all the different cooking methods and all will create different desired effects
Is it damn shame the 80s destroyed bodybuilding then the internet remade bodybuilding into a right mess See in 19th century you had Eugen Sandow bodybuilder/strongman There was somany Like him who looked like Greek statues but also very strong George Hackenschmidt who lifted very heavily also had a jacked physique You should follow golden ear bookworm He has so much on his channel about old school bodybuilding which is amazing advice
To me, it's all about training. We all have a lifetime to train . We do it because it makes us feel good. We might focus on strength, hypertrophy, endurance, speed , and flexibility, whatever floats the boat at the time . Our bodies and minds will benefit all the same .
I don't understand all that labeling, bodybuilding or powerlifting. It is mostly the same. Ok strongman has more movements. Squats for 5 reps or 8 reps is really splitting hairs when it comes to natural training for potential muscle mass and strength. Point is to stay consistent and of course stronger so it doesn't matter if its 2s, 4s, 8s or 10s. And why not all of them at some point with smart programming. We are all lifters just like we are all human beings. Alan, the reason someone can dip more than you is not because dips is for bodybuilders, but because you haven't done them. Why wouldn't a powerlifter do dips?! It will help with bench and pushing strength. All that muscle mass you have built is from heavy movements. Low reps don't make you a powerlifter, strength athlete or whatever, nor do high reps make you a bodybuilder. We just like to label ourselves so we feel special, better or different than others. Also concering injuries, that is relative. No matter how we label ourselves for training, we have to take care of our bodies. "Bodybuilding" is not safer that "powerlifting" or vice versa. Looking good is important, there is no denying it, but focusing just on looks is materialistic and not mentally healthy. Focusing on strength on movements we want with rep/set schemes we want will build a great body without being too focused on looks. There is also a different mental trap when focusing on strength and ignoring how we look and feeling special because "this is real training". Balance in everything is the key. And consistency in training 😁💪
Finding basement bodybuilding’s channel was the best thing to happen to my training. It completely changed my view on training. Almost 1.5inches on my arms in under a year, and that was after literally years of stagnation due to basically neglecting/half-assume arm isolations
The thing with the current roid epidemic - you can definitely be a better light weight strongman than many roiders if you got good genetics. Doesn't matter if they went from 60kg overhead to 180kg overhead press in 1 month. If you can naturally deadlift close to 300kg you will have an overall stronger body
Powerlifters are not stronger than bodybuilders. They are stronger at the 3 powerlifting lifts but everything else the bodybuilder would win A strict curl, a bent over row, a weighted pull up, over head press (arguably), etc... Health wise bodybuilding is better, they have stronger tissues and overall more balanced bodies. Power lifting puts emphasis on some areas and leaves other areas making you imbalanced. An elite Natural bodybuilder has elite strength historically, but today all those steroid monsters skewed our view of the sport that was supposed to be about health and performance
I agree with all of this except when you suggest that very high rep training is not gritty hard work. Please, for the love of god, please, record yourself attempting one of the ultra high rep calisthenics work outs that prison culture, or park culture work out enthusiasts do. Let's see you shoot for 1000 6 count burpees. Any of it. Then tell me it isn't gritty and does not eat your soul.
NH got you bodybuilding, but for me, Alexander Bromley got me bodybuilding. All of his talking about "base building" and so on, and how someone who trained like Arnold for a few years would have a better base for Strongman and Powerlifting than someone who did Starting Strength and Texas Method, got me to try bodybuilding - and right now I'm really enjoying it. Massive Iron (Steve Shaw) also inspired me a bit, since he talks a lot about powerbuilding and getting strong on all movements. Natural Hypertrophy, Basement Bodybuilding, Iron Culture, Renaissance Periodization, etc. are all really good too, but I keep coming back to Bromley and Massive Iron (and of course your channel!) for sound advice. I'm glad you're also hopping on the bodybuilding/hypertrophy train.
@@dogguy5405 I don't think it really matters. He's a coach and a scientist, he looks at the data and trains guys who are natties. Lots of naturals (e.g. Alex Leonidas, Jeff Nippard, Eric Trexler, Eric Helms, Omar Isuf) follow a similar way of training.
You do realize early in his career Arnold trained with 5s and long rest periods right? He was a 700lb deadlifter. Strength should really be a priority in early training because you can actually recover from it. People all to easily get tricked by this as a novice. They see an influencer touting light weight high reps and think that's what they should do. The influencers fail to mention the basic LP they did to get strong 1st. Your "light volume training" should be deadlift 405 for sets of 12, squat 365 for sets of 12, bench 275 for sets of 12, etc. Thats light volume.
@@dogguy5405 I mostly got tired of RP's tendecy to start clickbait drama with other channels and I feel like they're doing it deliberately with each other as well given how often it happens. You could almost set your watch by how quickly they respond to one another.
I take a little bit from oly lifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding, mash it all together and do what I call 'performance' lifting, great way to get variety
Honestly bodybuilding naturally like the old times is great for performance in most other sports imo. It's the "pro" body building standards that I think make people forget this, I've nothing against our pharmacologically enhanced brethren it's just not something I see myself doing.
So are you sticking with a strength focus on the lower body? I'm asking because I actually blend a strength focus on lower with a developmental focus on upper (rings, mainly) and hardly ever see anyone else trying this.
I love the respect that natural bodybuilding is regaining. Without the drugs bodybuilding has always been about hard work. All that is needed for growth is the will and a way.
For a lot of us you can only train strength for so long before the risk of injury and long recovery goes up for only minimal gain. I found I was a lot more happier and functional in life once I switched to a more balanced approach. More controlled reps, healthy body weight, and working some cardio in that doesn't suck like cycling, hiking, and paddle boating. Fitness is a journey so one style doesn't fit all, all the time.
@@farstrider79 what I had already mentioned. Cycling, hiking, and paddle boating. I don't do well with hard surface jogging so I found things that worked for me. Main thing is staying active.
@@GrumpyBearRawr 👍. I thought you were saying that those things sucked. Hiking and swimming are my main endurance activities. Haven't run in years now, cycling is fun but bothers a pinched nerve in my neck. Paddle boarding is great when I can get out there.
I couldn't agree more. I started bodybuilding because I was too skinny to begin with. However, after I build a baseline of muscle, I will include endurance work to improve my cardiovascular activity
Glad ya finally came around and started embracing this training style. You already have a strong foundation with the strongman / powerlifting realm. However as you mentioned in the end, the hypertrophy, volume, bodybuilding style will be more benefit for an individual as they get older, than an all around powerlifting style method. There are rare individuals in their '70s and '80s who can still DL / Squat . But that's not gen pop.
I don't understand contempt for other training disciplines. Just do what you choose to do and leave in peace other people to do what they choose to do. We don't need to put something else down to feel good about what we do.
I am in agreement with NH's Golden Age prediction. Considering your background, and your massive name and influence, we are at the brisk of Golden Age of Bodybuilding. And personally seeing someone who are this developed start a Bodybuilding program is exciting. This will give people valuable perspective about the limits of bodybuilding. And your progress could be a massive blow to black pilled PED munchers. Godspeed.
I agree with the "you can make gains well into your 50s" if you don't know if 3dmj check them out Alan and especially Jeff Alberts he's in his 50s and still making gains and competing
I always say natural bodybuilding done right is the healthiest sport. You're working towards your body's natural maximum capacity for muscle, you're keeping your body fat in a healthy range, you're working all of your joints in the pursuit of muscular symmetry, and you're doing cardio
Natural bodybuilding is awesome! I'm happy that it's getting more popular. Nothing against steroid athletes, I respect them a lot, but I'm not interested in steroids. I'm happy for your new path!
For most people, if they start natural bodybuilding, the issue is not going to be excessive muscle mass. I think most understand this. You're not going to become anywhere near a mass monster while natural. Look at silver age bodybuilders. That's much closer to what one could expect in terms of peak natural development.
Back to the original when we began trainning, it was just simply work out for muscle, not powerlifting, weightlifting, strongman , crossfit these fancy things.
I was already quite deeply aware of hypertrophy training and how relevant it is to any strength athlete and other athletes just as well. If you want a nice taste of bodybuilding, a japanese weightlifter Toshiki Yamamoto (also known as squat senpai) recently competed in bodybuilding because he couldn't prep for weightlifting after leg surgery. The guy who squatted 220 kg x 20 reps and whose back squat is 330 kg. Not a weak guy. Even before bodybuilding prep his physique was jaw dropping for a natural athlete.
*Huh? You described social media bozos. I just hit 170lbs from doing what they call Power-Building; the fusion between bodybuilding and powerlifting or strength sports. This means I need to eat a lot for the next few days! lol wtf!*
I’m glad you touched on how bodybuilders are strong. There’s been a false dichotomy placed on bodybuilders and strength athletes, in that bodybuilders “only train hypertrophy”. That’s simply not possible. Every successful and jacked bodybuilder I’ve ever seen is extremely strong. I’ve never seen a jacked weak person. Hypertrophy and strength are intimately connected. It’s confusing to people who want to get strong when told that if they enter bodybuilding they won’t be strong. Maybe if they just lift 5 pound dumbbells for 100 reps they won’t get strong. But doing real Bodybuilding will definitely get them strong.
Alan I'm 52 and have been training naturally for 36 years and the benefits are great. I have connected more with my training; especially, after I tore my rotator cuff over 10 years ago and had to change the way I approached my trainings. I am stronger mentally and physically, then I ever was in my 20's and 30's and 40's and have always considered myself a hybrid of both camps of strength and build, including mobility, flexibility and stability. Thank you for all that you do.
Yeah bodybuilding has this reputation of being all show, but It’s an excellent way to reach a new physical potential. That new muscle can be trained for a purpose other than show.
Fair play branching out. No harm in learning new things and it's always made sense to take the best aspects of all activities and combine them anyways. Much the same way as you're promoting cardio. If you enjoy it too then ✌️
For me it is about overall health, strength and look great. Face it, most of us don't want to look like the Michelin man nor be obese. I started lifting to overcome my health challenges. Now to lean out and build overall good physique.
25% body fat percentage is associated with the lowest rate of all-cause mortality, and that would be considered "obese." Please don't pretend you want to be skinny for "health," you want to do it for vanity.
Thanks for making this video. It will definitely be useful for new lifters, as well as those who got "lost" during the process or been lied to by most fake natties influencers. This is only the beginning of something great!
From a strong man perspective, do you think being leaner with less mass would affect your performance negatively in some events? Or do you think a leaner body with less mass could be a net benefit for strong man in general?
Bigger is better however some events require good conditioning as well. Also need to take into consideration weight classes. If you are 200lbs and there is a 198lb and 220 lb class you would probably be more competitive dropping 2 lbs and competing at 198. You would have a better PR if you went up to 205 but would be less competitive in class because everyone else is 220lb. You would want to be 215lb and up for the 220.
Natty "body building" (not competitive Open/untested Bodybuilding) is probably one of the best risk-reward & cost-benefit ratios behavior patterns/recreational activities/hobbies in life
Lets go Alan! You have been a great role model for me over the past few years - especially as I become a father myself. Someone like you may like the idea of "Powerbuilding" - check out some Jeff Nippard stuff
Wait, wait, wait, so during your powerlifting days you have never done stuff like RDLs, dips, pullups, deadlift, squat, bench variations sets of 3-8, 6-20 rep ranges? Or you're just didn't pay attention to bring them up aswell as sbd? You're talking about natural bodybuilding training like it's something out of books completely while a lot of bodybuilders have been doing this stuff alongside machine, cable, isolation movements for decades.
Great video, Alan. Making people realize that there is a MASSIVE difference between pro-bodybuilding and NATURAL bodybuilding is what I (and many others) are trying to do with our channels. Every time I hear criticism levied against bodybuilding, it is always against the enhanced side of the coin, but for some reason, natural bodybuilding also unjustly gets added to the mix, because people (sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes malice) constantly conflate the two. The difference between natural and enhanced bodybuilding is like the difference between Heaven and Earth: one represents a fountain of youth, a way to progress both physically and mentally for as long as you live, while the other is a one way ticket to a host of physiological & psychological issues leading to an early death.
If more people gave natural bodybuilding a shot, I think that their experience would be similar to yours: they'd realize that the training is actually quite fun & intense, and that it is nothing like the boring pump, chicken & rice routine promoted by pro-bodybuilder lifestyles. It looks to me like we are on the brink of entering a Golden Age of natural bodybuilding. Much work must still be put in, but as you've mentioned, people like GVS, Basement Bodybuilding & others are putting out great content that is slowly ushering us towards it. Having you, one of the OGs of UA-cam Fitness, join the movement is probably one of the greatest thing that could have happened to natural bodybuilding. I am certain that through your influence, many will find their flame for lifting reignited as well. Btw, biceps looking thick!
Checking out your channel!
This is because of you don't forget that
Natural bodybuilding is in a weird place--not seen as extreme enough to warrant attention from some, and too closely associated with the super-enhanced side to be of interest to others. I'm 48, and started the bodybuilding journey after losing a ton of fat and wanting to look good in a t-shirt. I commend all the channels that are promoting natural bodybuilding and showing people what that actually is. You and GVS have opened my eyes to what can be achieved naturally and as more people see that, I think interest will snowball!
Gros fan de ton channel mon gars, et comme celui d avant a dit, c est grace a toi qu Allan aussi mtn s applique au hypertrophy training. 💪
well said. I think people should check out NattylifeYT's channel; he profiles a lot of silver-era bodybuilders who competed before steroids hit the scene. If you read the biographies of these men and women, they all lived very long and quality lives--many of them kept their physicality well into their twilight years. Compare that to the dysmorphic fallen souls who die at 40 after wasting their youth pinning bathtub tren. They live and train completely differently. Hopefully natural bodybuilding competitions displace the diseased standards by which the Olympia judges
The natty bodybuilding community is growing 🔥🔥
its a beautiful thing to watch
Everybody starts natty...
Transparency coupled with high quality information has to have helped here.
@@derKischda but few people pursue bodybuilding naturally at the highest level
@@derKischda dont need to be unnatty when im this big already
I think it's important to remember in the early and mid 20th century bodybuilders, powerlifters and strongmen we all effectively the same people and a person would compete in one, would at least dabble in the other
Absolutely. Franco Columbu competed in the first WSM.
I think in the pre-drug eras, it was widely accepted that getting stronger also gets you bigger (all else being equal, like comparable technique). If you look at the Silver Era bodybuilders, they often trained high volume, full body, and very close to failure. That's not so different from a lot of natural bodybuilders today.
Funny, eh?
Hersovyac is ridiculously jacked and aesthetic, but trains in nearly the strength range on most movements (5-6 reps!).
@@DCJayhawk57 From what I've heard, the training isn't that much different between natty and non-natty. It's more that enhanced lifters grow faster and can hold more mass. The mechanism for getting stronger is also the same. A lifter on gear has more muscle mass and therefore more potential to lift more.
@@howardblumenkopf7872in the first WSM, _everybody_ competed!
@@howardblumenkopf7872Check out Leroy colbert's videos. A silver-era bodybuilder the difference is that back then they only trained 3 times a week. These days a lot of people are copying what the steroid guys are doing And wonder why it doesn't work. I can only recommend Leroy Colbert Videos (Mr yokieloverfitness) and in his time Reg Park (Arnold's role model) were Steve Reeves ,George Eifermann All training only 3 times a week.
Jason Bloho is going to cry when he learns this.
Never heard of her
Coath is AYLOT bigger in person
no coathc never cry 😠😠😠
Non negotiable
I am 81 have been working out on and off since my teens. I have been impressed with your videos for several years, mainly because you are open to evidence. I was especially impressed with a video you did a while ago on injuries. I summarized that as "too much load to soon" which accorded well with my own painfully experience. Since I'm unlikely to be successful chasing new strength PRs, I will be very interested in what you have to say on this topic. I will stay tuned.
are you still jacked sir
@@tasos1112 This has always been a hobby for me. I had to look up "jacked," which means muscular but not necessarilly ripped. I am not now and have never been ripped. Now and then people notice and comment that I seem in good shape for my age.
If you are asking because you are wondering how fit you can stay if you keep it up, my experience: Work hard, be regular, avoid injuries and yakking at the gym you will be strong in your 80s. I laid off the gym two years for the pandemic, kept resonably fit with pushups, pull ups, biking and fast walking. I have been back in the gym regularly for 7 months. I weight 144, am 5' 5". My one rep max on bench is now 205. I can do 9 strict dead hang pullups, 50 strict pushups. I use 12*45 plates on our leg press (a sled) and tipically just count reps until I get to 100, using as many sets as that takes. I'm getting stronger gradually. If you avoid injury you can stay pretty strong. I am stronger in these limited modalities than perhaps 80% of the highschoolers who work out at my gym. I can't run or jump worth a damn.
Were you born in 1981, or are you 81 years old this year?😮
🤟
@@propro-uv7or Born 1942, 81 this April
The biggest takeaway I've had with bodybuilding over the past year is that it's much more intentional than originally thought. Every movement has a purpose and is never tacked on just because. Since strength is not the focus, it's easier to maintain steady intensity throughout a workout. It's nice being consistently strong week to week instead of managing fatigue by manipulating percentages.
Unless you're a psycho bodybuilder like me who still deadlifts twice a week and squats 3x a week lol.
I follow a hybrid program, and even with bodybuilding acrue a ton of fatigue through taking compound movements in proximity to failure. I'm about 70/30 bodybuilding to strength training at the moment.
If you're natural, I think strength should still be a primary driver. You just need to be deliberate on your rep ranges and technique. I still do some work in the 5 rep range though most comes in the 8-15. Make your movements inefficient and milk the stretched position, but otherwise, you should still be lifting explosively and trying to increase the weight on the bar or dumbbell.
@@DCJayhawk57 Agreed. Strength is always going to be part of the equation.
The nuance is building specific strength for movements vs using strength more as a variable to manipulate as a result of gaining muscle.
Said another way (as you mentioned) training for strength is about getting the weight from A to B in the most efficient way possible. Training for a stimulus is about getting the weight from A to B while creating the most tension on the target muscle.
To be fair, it has become more intentional than it was in the golden era
Completely agree. It's refreshing because most periodization models for strength, even the concurrent ones like ES by RTS or the meta in USAPL, are meant to peak you on a certain day. You are supposed to be the strongest on your primary days and all other days are there to facilitate that. Bodybuilding, and to an extent general strength training, does not care about that. Each session is much more equal, and you expect your performance to be much more constant than with strength training. You don't have to show up on a specific day so you can be competition ready.
This makes every session matter more in a sense, and each set too, because you are always going hard, on every set, and you accept that your strength will not always be peaked.
@@DCJayhawk57 is the hybrid program your mentioning one you've made, or something we can all look up? i've also followed a hybrid program for quite awhile now, and have seen great results, but it is self-made, so it's most likely not as optimal as it could be
Now find a nice catchphrase like "elo youchoob" and you are set.
I've slowly come to terms with my own shift, leaving rugby after a life time of playing and moving into the Highland Games as well as bodybuilding has been a huge personal transition as well. In my case, injury prevention from rugby and asymmetrical muscular and strength development from highland games has been solved by moving into body building, even if it's not for competition but for symmetry and health. It's a lot to shift your mindset and I'm glad that I have a healthy example in you to enjoy the journey with. I wish you the best and as always Train Untamed.
Started hypertrophy training to phase out of rugby. Needed a longer term goal. Something I need focus on for 12+ months at a time. I can sub legs days for explosive movements and sprinting when necessary in-season
I've been thinking about highland games now as I'm retiring from PL and SM. What caused your imbalance do you think? I'm vaguely familiar with HG movements so just curious. I'm guessing all the throwing.
@@HooDRidEWhiteY the imbalances already existed, I'm a righty so naturally my right side is a little stronger. The highland games uses single arm throws for most of their events minus a few, and when you're getting into the sport it is much more important to learn and practice the throwing forms than it is to lift heavy in the gym. I always tell people that the weights are reasonable, but being expected to throw them a sufficient distance is the unreasonable part. So I went to the park with my home made weights and drilled 2 times per week, using almost exclusively right handed throws (shotput, weight for distance with 2 different weights, hammer throw right handed, weight for height right handed). And really tried to hone my skills there. Of course I kept up on the gym side of things, and the gym kept me pretty even, but it's the size and strength you get from throwing that led to noticable imbalances within a year and a half.
@@kylepracz Thank you for the well thought out response my brother in strength! I appreciate you. I'm already a walking wreck of sports injuries and HG seems much easier on the joints than powerlifting and strongman implements. Best of luck to you in the future Sir.
Dk metcalf would destroy you
Natural Hypertrophy and GVS are great channels for lifters looking to start or if you seek more knowledge
Alan, you are an absolute legend. I love how you've embraced the "Noble Naturals" and are shouting out their channels, when you taught them how to squat all those years ago. I had the same misconceptions about bodybuilding, and was brought around by the same crew.
Yeah, agreed. Many of us 30 year old boomers learned how to Squat, Bench and Deadlift from Mr Thrall, glad he found this side of the internet. I've always been in to strength but getting more into size and strength these days. A 500lb deadlift isn't making my arms any bigger
I am so excited about the future of this channel Alan, I love your open minded approach to everything
I love that natural hypertrophy both the youtube channel and the concept are getting the love they deserve lately.
Alan i don't know who brainwashed you into thinking bodybuilding is vain and is about light weights and being soft and puff and all that stuff. but i'm glad you realized it's better for long term health than other strength sports.
Every sport can have vain elements, it's part of being competitive and wanting to win. in bodybuilding you need to look more muscular than other guys to win, in powerlifting and strongman you need to lift higher numbers than the others to win. i've known both. and in my country powerlifters are even more toxic than bodybuilders, they trash talk each other about techniques and numbers and it's just so dumb...
Crazy timing for this video! I used to compete in amateur strongman but unfortunately suffered a compression fracture in my thoracic spine + two squashed discs. This means squatting, deadlifting, overhead pressing, and bearing vertical load gives me a lot of pain. Given my situation I have recently gotten much more into bodybuilding after holding the same opinion of it just being "fluff exercises and men in g-strings on stage", and I must say I'm having a blast. I am still limited in my exercise selection, but it means I can really push myself with e.g. belt squats and stiff-legged deadlifts and still see progress. I think it come down to the sheer love, or maybe fear of living without, training in the gym 😅
I'm happy you've come over to the Chadside. We're happy to have you.
There's no reason you can't be a strong bodybuilder. Alex Leonidas and Bald Omni Man are great examples of this. I've always been in this boat as well, I like to have strength numbers to chase at the same time as getting in volume for hypertrophy and chasing aesthetics.
There's no such thing as "show muscle" as far as I'm concerned.
Losing the mane was an easy 30lb weight cut, but the style would be worth going up a weight class IMO
5:39 Of course this is bodybuilding. You must have been brainwashed for a long time by other strength athletes who told you bb is all "fluff and puff". :) I like your hypertrophy experiment. All the best.
To be completely honest, it's not like you lacked muscular and aesthetic physique when you were focusing on strength. But I totally understand and respect your decision to pivot towards bodybuilding.
Please do a collab with AlphaDestiny! Hes done some work with Natural Hypertrophy. His approach to bodybuilding is similar to what you describe here. He’s a strength athlete but it has carried over to bodybuilding. He recently did a first BB show and placed quite well.
I have a hard time understanding how hypertrophy will make you stronger than strength training giving nutrient stays the same. Are you getting larger if you do not increase your caloric intake. How is that possible? I am not sure I understand. As usual cool video from Alan.
Hey Alan, I'm following you since you made the ATG squat video. It's always to go for hypertrophy (in off season) Ed Coen style. So, kudos to you. Also, you can get a collab with Renaissance Periodization , as I think you can gel well with Dr. Mike.
I remember the mid/late 2010s when a lot of strongmen and powerlifters shit on bodybuilders because they are just "working out to look good". Many of them ended up in Bodybuilding because they realized that they arent good and/or dedicated enough to earn a buck with powerlifting on UA-cam. Seeing some of them struggling in competitions against people they used to look down on is satisfying.
Alan is a little bit smarter and more open minded. Good luck with your journey.
The tides are changing people! Bodybuilding's becoming cool again. Platinum Era? Renaissance? What should we call it?
Next stop, Ruby Classic 2024 in DelRay sports center💪let's go Alan.
we all like lifting weight and improving
i dont get it when people look down on body builders
a lot of us are using free weights and lifting heavy
i wouldnt even consider myself as a body builder neither a strength athlete
i just like lifting and improving myself
it keeps me level and is a contant in my life
sometimes iam seeking more muscle and then i have phases where i seek more strength
it think both go hand in hand
Having done an arm day for the first time in my 4 years of training, it was a welcome surprise to see how fun it is to get a good arm pump.
And are you interested in pumping the muscle or actually growing it...?
@@Alexor715to some degree the pump can create growth
@@Alexor715getting a pump is a good sign that you're doing something right unless it came from supplementing
@@Alexor715Are you interested in growing the numbers on the bar or growing your muscles...?
A full workout just arms?
Great video. I wonder when people started ignoring that strength = muscle + neural adaptations? Greg Nuckols has nice articles about that - if you want maximum strength, you also want maximum muscle, no way around it.
Note: there's also the leverages / genetic component to strength, but you can't change this, so it isn't worth focusing much on.
Bodybuilding is the best base for everything, more muscle makes ANY athlete regardless of their chosen sport BETTER.
It's like running. Running thrice a week, 5k or even 10k is good for your health. But most of us are not gonna try a marathon or record breaking 5k times. It's just for health. Just as bodybuilding is good for health.
Natural Hypertrophy
Basement bodybuilding
Geoffrey Schofield
It's weird that powerlifting/strongman/CrossFit was soaring in popularity, now it's bodybuilding.
For my self I I'm trying to find that good balance of improving strength as well as developing a better physique. I waited wayyyy to long to start, 37 years old, but I want to be the best version of my self for me and my family.
Really looking forwatd to seeing the results of this grand experiment!!!
Speaking my language. I switched: way fewer injuries, way more fun in the gym, I look a lot better, and I think practically I'm stronger than when I was powerlifting. ALSO I find that some people barely respond to strength training yet they do respond to bodybuilding. Interesting to see.
Fun of your videos from the dino times and now you have crossed the stuff that I'm enjoying a lot. Waiting for your next videos. Wish you the best and hello from Ukraine. And always remember....
I think in general some kind of a powerbiulding approach is the most universal. Most people want to look better and become more ”functional” in the sense of having more strenght in everyday situations. The difference comes only in specifics of which one cares more about. If you care more about size, you’re still doing strenght work to better your ability to produce pure force which helps you produce more stimulus in your more bodybuilding specific training. If strenght is the main pursuit, having dedicated hypertrophy work helps you build bigger muscles giving you the potentiaalia to produce more force in your strenght specific training.
Most people are in the gym to better themselves, not to purely build size or a 1RM with the expense of eveything else. This is also why hyperspecific programs like Starting Strenght or your basic pro-bodybuilder workouts are going to lead most people to disapointment.
(Vin Diesel) Family
Fr though. I have a daughter and I've been considering pausing my powerlifting stuff because I really enjoy bodybuilding. I like being big. I love going to failure. It's so much faster too. I can be in and out in less than an hour WITH cardio.
I think you may find this could also reinvigorate your interests in strength training after awhile as well. Get swole!
My issue with bodybuilding is that it focuses exclusively on the one outcome that should be incidental and forces people into psychologically unhealthy states because well, hypertrophy takes absolutely ages.
Placing all your worth on muscle mass which you get at 1-3kg a year maybe means you never feel like you progress unless. Also the modern aesthetic standards of bodybuilding promote the use of steroids and the least healthy nutrition habits, they just do, plain and simple. It's bodybuilders that drop like flies in their 40s and 50, it's bodybuilders that get 16 year olds to take dbol, it's bodybuilders that give people body dysmorphia.
Wanting and building muscle mass is not inherently unhealthy, what bodybuilding has become is.
I feel like any form of building muscle is like cooking a steak.
You could fry it, grill it, bake/broil. Hell you could probably cook it in the sun the way it’s been so hot lately.
Bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, Olympic weightlifting are all the different cooking methods and all will create different desired effects
Is it damn shame the 80s destroyed bodybuilding then the internet remade bodybuilding into a right mess
See in 19th century you had Eugen Sandow
bodybuilder/strongman
There was somany Like him who looked like Greek statues but also very strong
George Hackenschmidt who lifted very heavily also had a jacked physique
You should follow golden ear bookworm
He has so much on his channel about old school bodybuilding which is amazing advice
To me, it's all about training. We all have a lifetime to train . We do it because it makes us feel good. We might focus on strength, hypertrophy, endurance, speed , and flexibility, whatever floats the boat at the time . Our bodies and minds will benefit all the same .
Amen to that brother
I don't understand all that labeling, bodybuilding or powerlifting. It is mostly the same. Ok strongman has more movements. Squats for 5 reps or 8 reps is really splitting hairs when it comes to natural training for potential muscle mass and strength. Point is to stay consistent and of course stronger so it doesn't matter if its 2s, 4s, 8s or 10s. And why not all of them at some point with smart programming. We are all lifters just like we are all human beings.
Alan, the reason someone can dip more than you is not because dips is for bodybuilders, but because you haven't done them. Why wouldn't a powerlifter do dips?! It will help with bench and pushing strength.
All that muscle mass you have built is from heavy movements. Low reps don't make you a powerlifter, strength athlete or whatever, nor do high reps make you a bodybuilder. We just like to label ourselves so we feel special, better or different than others.
Also concering injuries, that is relative. No matter how we label ourselves for training, we have to take care of our bodies. "Bodybuilding" is not safer that "powerlifting" or vice versa.
Looking good is important, there is no denying it, but focusing just on looks is materialistic and not mentally healthy. Focusing on strength on movements we want with rep/set schemes we want will build a great body without being too focused on looks.
There is also a different mental trap when focusing on strength and ignoring how we look and feeling special because "this is real training".
Balance in everything is the key.
And consistency in training 😁💪
Finding basement bodybuilding’s channel was the best thing to happen to my training. It completely changed my view on training. Almost 1.5inches on my arms in under a year, and that was after literally years of stagnation due to basically neglecting/half-assume arm isolations
The thing with the current roid epidemic - you can definitely be a better light weight strongman than many roiders if you got good genetics. Doesn't matter if they went from 60kg overhead to 180kg overhead press in 1 month. If you can naturally deadlift close to 300kg you will have an overall stronger body
if i have to pick 1 i love to this channel/you , is the fact you have no problem to admit when you are wrong , even when no one asked XD
Would be awesome if you did a colab with Chris Jones of Physiques of Greatness/Pump Chasers. Dude is an OG in UA-cam natural bodybuilding.
Powerbuilding is where it's at in the natural bodybuilding world...imo...
Powerlifters are not stronger than bodybuilders. They are stronger at the 3 powerlifting lifts but everything else the bodybuilder would win
A strict curl, a bent over row, a weighted pull up, over head press (arguably), etc...
Health wise bodybuilding is better, they have stronger tissues and overall more balanced bodies.
Power lifting puts emphasis on some areas and leaves other areas making you imbalanced.
An elite Natural bodybuilder has elite strength historically, but today all those steroid monsters skewed our view of the sport that was supposed to be about health and performance
Looking great!!! 💪🏋️♀️
The problem: none of these natural bodybuilders are "natural".
i’m excited for your gains
I'm down to see this journey. natty bb is growing lately🍃
I agree with all of this except when you suggest that very high rep training is not gritty hard work. Please, for the love of god, please, record yourself attempting one of the ultra high rep calisthenics work outs that prison culture, or park culture work out enthusiasts do. Let's see you shoot for 1000 6 count burpees. Any of it. Then tell me it isn't gritty and does not eat your soul.
Did that skull crusher bar come like that or you went to failure too many times?😂 #untamed
NH got you bodybuilding, but for me, Alexander Bromley got me bodybuilding. All of his talking about "base building" and so on, and how someone who trained like Arnold for a few years would have a better base for Strongman and Powerlifting than someone who did Starting Strength and Texas Method, got me to try bodybuilding - and right now I'm really enjoying it. Massive Iron (Steve Shaw) also inspired me a bit, since he talks a lot about powerbuilding and getting strong on all movements. Natural Hypertrophy, Basement Bodybuilding, Iron Culture, Renaissance Periodization, etc. are all really good too, but I keep coming back to Bromley and Massive Iron (and of course your channel!) for sound advice. I'm glad you're also hopping on the bodybuilding/hypertrophy train.
I don't think renaissance periodisation is good regardless of his qualifications and he's not natty
@@dogguy5405 I don't think it really matters. He's a coach and a scientist, he looks at the data and trains guys who are natties. Lots of naturals (e.g. Alex Leonidas, Jeff Nippard, Eric Trexler, Eric Helms, Omar Isuf) follow a similar way of training.
You do realize early in his career Arnold trained with 5s and long rest periods right? He was a 700lb deadlifter. Strength should really be a priority in early training because you can actually recover from it. People all to easily get tricked by this as a novice. They see an influencer touting light weight high reps and think that's what they should do. The influencers fail to mention the basic LP they did to get strong 1st. Your "light volume training" should be deadlift 405 for sets of 12, squat 365 for sets of 12, bench 275 for sets of 12, etc. Thats light volume.
@@dogguy5405 I mostly got tired of RP's tendecy to start clickbait drama with other channels and I feel like they're doing it deliberately with each other as well given how often it happens. You could almost set your watch by how quickly they respond to one another.
I take a little bit from oly lifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding, mash it all together and do what I call 'performance' lifting, great way to get variety
Honestly bodybuilding naturally like the old times is great for performance in most other sports imo. It's the "pro" body building standards that I think make people forget this, I've nothing against our pharmacologically enhanced brethren it's just not something I see myself doing.
All roads lead back to Scooby1961, he is inevitable.
You don't watch Renaissance Periodization? le gasp
I was into bodybuilding for a while.
When it came time to blow another dude I went back to training general fitness.
So are you sticking with a strength focus on the lower body? I'm asking because I actually blend a strength focus on lower with a developmental focus on upper (rings, mainly) and hardly ever see anyone else trying this.
I love the respect that natural bodybuilding is regaining. Without the drugs bodybuilding has always been about hard work. All that is needed for growth is the will and a way.
For a lot of us you can only train strength for so long before the risk of injury and long recovery goes up for only minimal gain. I found I was a lot more happier and functional in life once I switched to a more balanced approach. More controlled reps, healthy body weight, and working some cardio in that doesn't suck like cycling, hiking, and paddle boating. Fitness is a journey so one style doesn't fit all, all the time.
What cardio doesn't "suck" in your opinion?
@@farstrider79 what I had already mentioned. Cycling, hiking, and paddle boating. I don't do well with hard surface jogging so I found things that worked for me. Main thing is staying active.
@@GrumpyBearRawr 👍. I thought you were saying that those things sucked. Hiking and swimming are my main endurance activities. Haven't run in years now, cycling is fun but bothers a pinched nerve in my neck. Paddle boarding is great when I can get out there.
I couldn't agree more. I started bodybuilding because I was too skinny to begin with. However, after I build a baseline of muscle, I will include endurance work to improve my cardiovascular activity
Glad ya finally came around and started embracing this training style.
You already have a strong foundation with the strongman / powerlifting realm.
However as you mentioned in the end, the hypertrophy, volume, bodybuilding style will be more benefit for an individual as they get older, than an all around powerlifting style method.
There are rare individuals in their '70s and '80s who can still DL / Squat .
But that's not gen pop.
you should feature natural gallant bodybuilding he has great content!
Anyone know what bar he is using in the beginning? The axle diameter circle bar?
I don't understand contempt for other training disciplines. Just do what you choose to do and leave in peace other people to do what they choose to do. We don't need to put something else down to feel good about what we do.
I am in agreement with NH's Golden Age prediction. Considering your background, and your massive name and influence, we are at the brisk of Golden Age of Bodybuilding.
And personally seeing someone who are this developed start a Bodybuilding program is exciting. This will give people valuable perspective about the limits of bodybuilding. And your progress could be a massive blow to black pilled PED munchers. Godspeed.
I agree with the "you can make gains well into your 50s" if you don't know if 3dmj check them out Alan and especially Jeff Alberts he's in his 50s and still making gains and competing
I always say natural bodybuilding done right is the healthiest sport. You're working towards your body's natural maximum capacity for muscle, you're keeping your body fat in a healthy range, you're working all of your joints in the pursuit of muscular symmetry, and you're doing cardio
The Noble natties are making bodybuilding seem pretty appealing huh? Race you to 18 inch arms!
Natural bodybuilding is awesome! I'm happy that it's getting more popular. Nothing against steroid athletes, I respect them a lot, but I'm not interested in steroids.
I'm happy for your new path!
For most people, if they start natural bodybuilding, the issue is not going to be excessive muscle mass. I think most understand this. You're not going to become anywhere near a mass monster while natural. Look at silver age bodybuilders. That's much closer to what one could expect in terms of peak natural development.
Love this Alan!! How confirming to hear you share your thoughts with us! I am a 60 year old woman and STILL making gains!!! 😊
Back to the original when we began trainning, it was just simply work out for muscle, not powerlifting, weightlifting, strongman , crossfit these fancy things.
Agree, heavy high rep squats, deadlifts, pull ups, dips, bench press and military press will pack muscle and strength on you.
I was already quite deeply aware of hypertrophy training and how relevant it is to any strength athlete and other athletes just as well. If you want a nice taste of bodybuilding, a japanese weightlifter Toshiki Yamamoto (also known as squat senpai) recently competed in bodybuilding because he couldn't prep for weightlifting after leg surgery. The guy who squatted 220 kg x 20 reps and whose back squat is 330 kg. Not a weak guy. Even before bodybuilding prep his physique was jaw dropping for a natural athlete.
100% not natural
*Huh? You described social media bozos. I just hit 170lbs from doing what they call Power-Building; the fusion between bodybuilding and powerlifting or strength sports. This means I need to eat a lot for the next few days! lol wtf!*
If Alan starts doing all natty bodybuilding content it would be great
I’m glad you touched on how bodybuilders are strong. There’s been a false dichotomy placed on bodybuilders and strength athletes, in that bodybuilders “only train hypertrophy”. That’s simply not possible. Every successful and jacked bodybuilder I’ve ever seen is extremely strong. I’ve never seen a jacked weak person. Hypertrophy and strength are intimately connected. It’s confusing to people who want to get strong when told that if they enter bodybuilding they won’t be strong. Maybe if they just lift 5 pound dumbbells for 100 reps they won’t get strong. But doing real Bodybuilding will definitely get them strong.
Alan I'm 52 and have been training naturally for 36 years and the benefits are great. I have connected more with my training; especially, after I tore my rotator cuff over 10 years ago and had to change the way I approached my trainings. I am stronger mentally and physically, then I ever was in my 20's and 30's and 40's and have always considered myself a hybrid of both camps of strength and build, including mobility, flexibility and stability. Thank you for all that you do.
Every powerlifter lives long enough to become a bodybuilder, myself included ;)
Yeah bodybuilding has this reputation of being all show, but It’s an excellent way to reach a new physical potential. That new muscle can be trained for a purpose other than show.
It seems like the secret "right way to do things" is doing it multiple ways.
Fair play branching out. No harm in learning new things and it's always made sense to take the best aspects of all activities and combine them anyways. Much the same way as you're promoting cardio. If you enjoy it too then ✌️
Bodybuilding also transfers to other sports super well.
So happy to see one of the goats try out bodybuilding!
For me it is about overall health, strength and look great. Face it, most of us don't want to look like the Michelin man nor be obese. I started lifting to overcome my health challenges. Now to lean out and build overall good physique.
25% body fat percentage is associated with the lowest rate of all-cause mortality, and that would be considered "obese." Please don't pretend you want to be skinny for "health," you want to do it for vanity.
everybody wants to be jacked
Realizing bodybuilding is the pursuit of hypertrophy and not the stereotypical chicken rice and roids really helped me get back on track in the gym
Thanks for making this video. It will definitely be useful for new lifters, as well as those who got "lost" during the process or been lied to by most fake natties influencers. This is only the beginning of something great!
Shoutout to basement bodybuilding, straight to the point and gives you practical advice constantly from a combination of real experience and research
From a strong man perspective, do you think being leaner with less mass would affect your performance negatively in some events? Or do you think a leaner body with less mass could be a net benefit for strong man in general?
Bigger is better however some events require good conditioning as well. Also need to take into consideration weight classes. If you are 200lbs and there is a 198lb and 220 lb class you would probably be more competitive dropping 2 lbs and competing at 198. You would have a better PR if you went up to 205 but would be less competitive in class because everyone else is 220lb. You would want to be 215lb and up for the 220.
Natty "body building" (not competitive Open/untested Bodybuilding) is probably one of the best risk-reward & cost-benefit ratios behavior patterns/recreational activities/hobbies in life
Lets go Alan! You have been a great role model for me over the past few years - especially as I become a father myself. Someone like you may like the idea of "Powerbuilding" - check out some Jeff Nippard stuff
Lol... its 2023 and Alan JUST discovered bodybuilding... WATCH OUT!!!
what the hell does control the muscle mean? i know such a minor point but if you cannot control your muscles you have some neurological issues lol
Fighting the eccentric, being mindful of form
Bodybuilding.......are you sure this is training UNTAMEDDDD!!!??? Just kidding. Natty BB is great!
Wait, wait, wait, so during your powerlifting days you have never done stuff like RDLs, dips, pullups, deadlift, squat, bench variations sets of 3-8, 6-20 rep ranges? Or you're just didn't pay attention to bring them up aswell as sbd? You're talking about natural bodybuilding training like it's something out of books completely while a lot of bodybuilders have been doing this stuff alongside machine, cable, isolation movements for decades.
It’s time for you to meet Dr Mike Israetel