I love this,....

[Merrida]

I have a client who I adore. He is a picture of perfection, lean, muscular, and just well you know,....like really nice all the way around. Interestingly while he gets along with very few trainers (he doesn't trust them), we've bonded nicely.

This man has a body most would die for.

Here's the part that I get off on.

Want to know what we use for weights? Here's a clue:

Pushups body weight only, burpees, dips, bodyweight only, OHP with 15 pounds, lateral delt raises with 5lbs, squats with 40lbs, DL's with 70lbs, assisted pullups, all abdominal work with bodyweight only, triceps at 50, biceps at 70.

Most of you guys will probably look at those weights and think, peshaw, eh?

Heck, sure I can do more weight, so can most females and males.

But he is my poster child about how it does not take heavy weights to build an exquisitely fine physical specimen. For the record he is incredibly fit. He goes on 100 mile bike rides for charity, he plays tennis 4 times a week, and I have him doing HIIT cardio 2 x week.

Look again at those weights, and try to picture a man with 7% BF and incredibly proportioned. When I touch him, and I do, you cannot even feel fat on him, anywhere.

I like this man as an example when people feel convinced that progressive overload or high weights and hours in the gym are the only way to build a very muscular, hard, shapely, large physique.

Coolio, huh?

I watch these guys (and gals) lifting massive weights with no where near his build).

I know guys, genetics. As Todd would say, genetics, schnetics. This guy is ripped, shredded, and bulked. Nice combo. We don't need to kill ourselves to look like we could be on the cover of Men's Health. And he could, easily.

.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Merrida

I have a client who I adore. He is a picture of perfection, lean, muscular, and just well you know,....like really nice all the way around. Interestingly while he gets along with very few trainers (he doesn't trust them), we've bonded nicely.

This man has a body most would die for.

Here's the part that I get off on.

Want to know what we use for weights? Here's a clue:

Pushups body weight only, burpees, dips, bodyweight only, OHP with 15 pounds, lateral delt raises with 5lbs, squats with 40lbs, DL's with 70lbs, assisted pullups, all abdominal work with bodyweight only, triceps at 50, biceps at 70.

Most of you guys will probably look at those weights and think, peshaw, eh?

Heck, sure I can do more weight, so can most females and males.

But he is my poster child about how it does not take heavy weights to build an exquisitely fine physical specimen. For the record he is incredibly fit. He goes on 100 mile bike rides for charity, he plays tennis 4 times a week, and I have him doing HIIT cardio 2 x week.

Look again at those weights, and try to picture a man with 7% BF and incredibly proportioned. When I touch him, and I do, you cannot even feel fat on him, anywhere.

I like this man as an example when people feel convinced that progressive overload or high weights and hours in the gym are the only way to build a very muscular, hard, shapely, large physique.

Coolio, huh?

I watch these guys (and gals) lifting massive weights with no where near his build).

I know guys, genetics. As Todd would say, genetics, schnetics. This guy is ripped, shredded, and bulked. Nice combo. We don't need to kill ourselves to look like we could be on the cover of Men's Health. And he could, easily.

.

http://youtube.com/user/vicsnatural is it this guy???

[pseudonym]

v. interesting Merrida.

I am dubious about the concept of somebody paying for A: a gym membership and B: a trainer and doing the aforementioned suite of exercises ... why pay to use a set of 5lb Db's (10 bucks from most fitness shops around here)? and why have a trainer waste their time watching you rep less than an Oly Bar? (if he's as 'buff' as it seems no matter how shyte his form is with that sort of weight he's not going to hurt himself).

That said; I'm sure some of my reservation stems from the fact I would hate to think I have been lifting heavy stuff for so long trying to add weight when a few light reps with the womens bar would have sufficed.

Despite being initially sceptical I've been thinking about this idea a bit and think there may be something to it... kinda.

In my own experience, since starting Crossfit I've done predominantly low weight high-rep (v. intense) conditioning exercises. Lots of pushups, air squats, box jumps Burpees etc... as well. I've gaind about 3 kg BW (a touch of fat amongst it truth be told) and I maxed on my 3 rep Squat at almost 10kg over my previous single PR just last week.

Since September last year I have squatted heavy probably 6 times, same same for deadlift and even less for my presses, yet I am getting stronger and adding mass to my frame.

To caveat this none of the work involved with Crossfit incorporates lateral raises with 5lb (think 45 reps of a 20kg thruster instead) and I get the sense that this fellow does not work particularly hard with these light weights (have I read wrong?) - this would be a significant difference.

Long and short of it: I am becoming aware from my own training experience that reguar high intensity high-rep work (BW and light weights) does add muscle to my body (with heavy compound work thrown in one every week or two ... or 3). I am convinced though that in terms of optimal mass gain (something I myself am no longer chasing) nothing beats lifting heavy things.

I think this guy probably has pretty good genetics and/or trained hard and heavy in the past to get a 'cut' physique and is fortunate to be able to maintain it by training like a grandmother now .

How anyone can be satisfied repping 15lbs overhead week in week out is beyond me (perhaps he's repping for time?) but to each his own.

I hope this post doesn't come off in the wrong tone. I respect that there is probably some merit to this dudes training philosophy (as presented here) and it sure as heck has the potential to be an interesting discussion - the hardgainer in me though says nobody gets to look any good training like that all their lives.

[Gooseneck]

Question though, why is he a client then ?? Maybe somebody wants your number .... lol.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by pseudonym

the hardgainer in me though says nobody gets to look any good training like that all their lives.

you are prolly right about that. I think this mentality is for someone who is of considerabe size already... this is for someone with a crap load of muscle already, and is looking to get that good pump of slow twitch fibers. very effective, just not for us smaller guys.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by pseudonym

v. interesting Merrida.

I am dubious about the concept of somebody paying for A: a gym membership and B: a trainer and doing the aforementioned suite of exercises ... why pay to use a set of 5lb Db's (10 bucks from most fitness shops around here)? and why have a trainer waste their time watching you rep less than an Oly Bar? (if he's as 'buff' as it seems no matter how shyte his form is with that sort of weight he's not going to hurt himself).

A trainer is not there exclusively to teach people who to lift heavy weights and bodybuild. Everyone has their own goal.

My point was that it is not the 5lb DB's he can buy at Walmart. I am teaching this man that heavy weights are not needed to build quite a stunning physique. What good would they do at home. It isn't the DB's you purchase, it's the training, it's the program, it's the paces I put him through, it's the routines I design. I don't have to force him or even entice him to lift massive weights when he is very built using the weights we are.

You may have quite a misunderstanding of what trainers do.

As the adage goes, it isn't what you've got it's how you use it. If what I was doing with him was not working, he would not have this physique, would he? He's proving my point that there are so many things that can be accomplished without massive poundage. Why use me? What do you think I do for my living? Stand there and swish my hair and wiggle my butt? No, I am training this man, educating him, varying his routines, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Just because he isn't lifting hundreds of pounds -- do not underestimate what he, what we, have been able to accomplish.

.

[Merrida]

Oh PS and for the record: I've worked with him for years, as he's changed what he's trained for. It does bug me, admittedly, to be dissed when I've seen remarkable results in this man.

He does not stay on "the same routine" for his whole life. That, again, is what we as trainers do,...we know when to switch things up.

Point is: What we're doing is working, and boy is it working beautifully.

There are more ways to alter your physique than hurling heavy poundage, and I'm witnessing it with more than one person,...he just happens to be THE most wonderous specimen of this.

If you are unsure of my training methods despite the results I am getting with my clients, then before you trash them or disavow them,....educate yourself.

.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Merrida

What do you think I do for my living? Stand there and swish my hair and wiggle my butt?
.

haha! I love your guys comedy. this forum always puts me in a good mood even on the gloomy days or when im pist off! which isnt much since I have a good attitude!

[.V.]

Originally Posted by Merrida

I have a client who I adore. He is a picture of perfection, lean, muscular, and just well you know,....like really nice all the way around.


This man has a body most would die for.

.

I'm your client?

Oh wait, never mind. You said die for...not die from...never mind.

Originally Posted by Merrida

Why use me? What do you think I do for my living? Stand there and swish my hair and wiggle my butt? .

Well yeah.

...Whatever it takes to pay the bills.

[YesImAndys]

Originally Posted by .V.

I'm your client?

Oh wait, never mind. You said die for...not die from...never mind.



Well yeah.

...Whatever it takes to pay the bills.

OMG......ANDY??????? Not EVERYONE is like YOU DEAR....They keep their clothes ON no matter how low the funds get........hehehehe

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by westside24

haha! I love your guys comedy. this forum always puts me in a good mood even on the gloomy days or when im pist off! which isnt much since I have a good attitude!

Dang, you thought I was kidding? Shucks, that is what I do. Ya just flash a little here, wriggle a little there, stretch a bit,....it actually works because then they lose count of how many reps they've done and I get to play out my (more publically acceptable) sadistic fantasies by inflicting just a tad more pain on my clients. See? At least there's a method to my madness.

If a client wants something "extra".....like,....traditional training and a more formal presence,.....well of course, that costs extra.

[pseudonym]

Ah so he's a long term client? I didn't realize this, I presumed he was a trainee who insisted upon training that way and for some reason paid you to watch him (BTW you're absolutely spot on that I have no idea what personal trainers in general do; I'm genuinely not being facetious when I say that).

Originally Posted by Merrida

If you are unsure of my training methods despite the results I am getting with my clients, then before you trash them or disavow them,....educate yourself.

My intent was not to trash your training methods because A: I didn't realize they were specifically your methods and B: If it's working (achieving goals the trainee has set himself) what's to bash?

You gotta admit the initial post was a little light on the details - I read it and thought (in all honesty) 'here's a story of another gym W*n*er who works like an asthmatic grandma but has the genes to look great anyway (and pays a lady trainer to coo over him while he curls the pink DB's)'... harsh and ignorant it would now seem .

I've obviously got the wrong impression (of what your post was about the the attitude you take to training your clients); no offence was intended.

To satiate my own curiosity; how much info on your methods training this fellow are you willing to divulge? (I'm genuinely interested in your approach).

[etothepii]

Low body fat and decent musculature equates to the "to die for" look., a la Brad Pitt, no?

If he wanted to be hyooge -- learned how to spell on BB.com , then of course he'd have to lift heavy.

It's nice that you are a trainer not bent on one specific philosophy or style. You're doing what this guy wants/needs to reach his goals.