I often get asked “what do I take” to get big and/or muscular and I respond nothing really, bananas maybe? I’ve been doing free-weights since I was a kid, then got into distance running back in 2007 and got hooked. I was sorta’ big back then but not as muscular since I primarily just ran, averaging 35kms a week just to stay in running form. Unfortunately back in 2015 my body finally broke after running for several years with nagging injuries I didn’t address properly: a torn hamstring, IT Band problems, knee pain, then finally lower back problems to name a few. It got so bad that I couldn’t even bend over to tie my shoes anymore much less run.
in 2016 I decided to start power lifting to fix my posture and to get strong over-all, then I got hooked then the rest is history! I bought my own barbell and plates and started taking it more seriously. This is where I gained a lot of muscle over the course of a year. I am new to the strength game so I guess you can attribute my growth to newbie-gains. Though majority of people are to jaded to believe my answer when they ask me, which is sad really.
I do not do any isolation movements, I focus on the big 4 movements:
- Squat
- Bench-Press
- Deadlift
- Overhead Press
…and accessory movements to reinforce those primary movements:
- weight pull-ups
- weighted dips
- dumbbell rows
- Bulgarian Split Squats
- lunges
- and other movements to many to mention
My goal is to be as strong as I can at my walking weight of 70-73kg and not on size or aesthetics. A long term goal would be to be proficient in Olympic lifts and probably compete down the line. I do not go to any commercial gyms, I never paid for commercial gym memberships really, though I do visit commercial gyms when they have free trials… yes, I am a cheapskate.
I use YouTube as my primary source for research and coaching. I follow these people and owe most of my gains to them: shout out to Scooby, I’ve been freezing my bananas for over a decade now 🙂
Long story short, I guess I am lucky in terms of genes which I probably got from my Ampa (Grand Father). I really don’t have to do those curls or crunches to get ripped. Haters gonna hate, but if anything I do hope I inspire other people in any way, shape or form.