Do you over-analyze as an excuse for not lifting?!

CrazyRussi · 25-Jan-05, 03:21 AM

Hey guys, I was browsing t-nation website and I noticed a little radio-like thingie on the left hand side, and it has John Berardi as one of the interviewees. Knowing JB is usually a good read, I click on it. It's a 20 minute interview, the last 10 pimping a particular product. The first 10 minutes, however, are pretty insightful.

This is one of the first interviews in my life where I was like "Woah...this is EXACTLY how I feel, to the T." In it, JB dicusses how people who don't want to lift weights compensate by learning more about nutrition. They have a perfect diet, perfect nutrient breakdown, understand hypertrophy and muscle fibers, etc. However, when they go to the gym, they rest on this knowledge and don't work hard. He then describes a mindset that I always have when I go to the gym:

"Yeah, that guy is way bigger than me. But I know so much more than him about form, nutrition, etc., I shouldn't ask him for advice."

Basically, the moral is that we should stop analzying so much and go lift some heavy-ass weight! That's how the old time bodybuilders did it, and their bodies are great. It's good to have all that knowledge, but just going and lifting as hard as possible is the most important. Remember, say no to "Overanalysis paralysis"

To find whole interview, go to www.t-mag.com and click on John Berardi in that small radio on the left side of the screen.

Tuna Fish · 25-Jan-05, 08:59 AM

Well, geez Russi....

Ya better get off the computer and lift. Oh yeah, don't bother trying to learn more about the dietary aspects, as we all know that diet doesn't affect one's results.

Don't think. Just DO....

**Todd** · 25-Jan-05, 12:25 PM

Yah, sometimes all the science and info in the world won't help you build a better physique..... you have to know how to apply all that knowledge and just like anything else, lifting weights is a skill that can be honed greatly, by listening to your body and learning from what it tells you...something no book can teach you.

:

Do you think the majority of IFBB pro bodybuilders know everything about physiology, kinesiology and the insides and outs of what makes a muscle grow from a complete scientific point of view. I would say 99% of them don't and don't really care...they know what they need to know, and that's the basics....how to eat, train and rest to grow stronger and bigger....and they are masters at it! They know their bodys better than anyone, know how to apply super high intensity better than anyone, and that's what it comes down to.

**Firehawk** · 25-Jan-05, 12:59 PM

Just to add to Todd,

That's why it's an art, and not a science.

Cort · 25-Jan-05, 01:01 PM

That seems kind of backward, if they really had an understanding of hypertrophy and good control over their diet then why wouldn't they know that working hard in the gym produces results?

No reason to stop analyzing as long as you get your lifting in, it really can't hurt. A lot of it isn't entirely necessary to get big and strong, but knowing more about what you are doing is never a bad thing.

**Todd** · 25-Jan-05, 03:31 PM

Oh, I would say training, diet and rest, yes....those things have to payed attention to 24/7, but the small little details such as muscle cell activity, etc...are things that are not needed to be known for great success. I mean, look at most personal trainers who have studied kinesiology, physiology, nutrition etc.,....most of them look like they have never lifted a single weight. Knowledge is power, but only if you can apply it and know how to apply it.

CrazyRussi · 25-Jan-05, 03:40 PM

I didn't say that diet, knowledge, etc. is useless. On the contrary, I'd say it's almost essential to building your ideal body. However, "He who waits untill he knows everything to take his first step will forever stand on one foot."

Some people, like myself, don't try hard in the gym because we think "what's the point, if I don't have ideal nutrition, and I don't know how to ideally tax my muscles, and ideally do this and that, I'm not getting the most out of my workout." We then go online and look at forums and ezines to look for the perfect routine, perfect diet, etc. Of course, one doesn't exist, so we usually end up not finding one, and the cycle continues.

So, instead of just saying screw it and lifting hard, we keepseraching for the perfect whatever. Thats what i meant by my post

**Todd** · 25-Jan-05, 03:52 PM

Ah, I see now! Gotchya!

**nitromoose** · 25-Jan-05, 06:04 PM

Yeh Russi, I'm exactly the same: "We then go online and look at forums and ezines to look for the perfect routine, perfect diet, etc. Of course, one doesn't exist, so we usually end up not finding one, and the cycle continues."

For me I feel that there's too much information. When I first began when I was about 13 (now 20) I just lifted whatever I felt like, I didn't really think about it, and got results. Maybe newbie results but it still happened.

I'm always searching for ways to tweak. Exact number of sets needed for each bodypart and things like that. I went through a period where I became so obsessed with tweaking that I changed my routine weekly.

But now I'm trying to go back to what I used to...lifting and dieting because I enjoy it and then see what comes out of it. Unfortunately my weights are unaccessible for a while, but my dieting is going well. Not from information on the net, but from common sense