Take The Road Less Traveled

[Poppy]

Again, this is my opinion and part of my outlook on life.

Be your own hero. If you’re reading this, than you’ve survived 100% of the things life has thrown at you. Who better than to look up to then yourself. You’ve been through hell and conquered all. You know what you’re capable of…you and only you knows what’s rolling around in your head.

I’ve never understood a man wearing a jersey with another mans name on it. This doesn’t register in any way shape or form in my head… not even from a fan’s perspective.

EDIT: The following is intended for at least intermediate lifters.

Let’s get to training…I really dislike “programs”. “What program you running brah”…ahhhhh…something about all that doesn’t sit right with me. Each individual human has millions of different characteristics; mentally and physically. How can a broad brush stroke program cover so many folks. Sure, there’s the initial gains made just because it’s something new that your challenging your body with.

“Well Poppy, there’s this dude….”. To you I say “there’s only one current absolute…we’re all going to die, there’s always going to be outliers and you can’t prove the rule with the exception”.

My suggestion is: beings there’s really no new breakthroughs in strength, conditioning or bodybuilding that will cover every single soul on this rock…not even 10%… why don’t you take a basic template of something you’re interested in and tweak it (over time) to a “program” that you own? A “program” just for you…not for you and your buddy or for the masses…JUST FOR YOU!

There’s about forty eleven gazillion “programs” out there. Really, the only ones that hold any credence (in my opinion) are the ones that call theirselves or are considered “templates”. They’re designed with built in wiggle room/adjustments. They will have “choices” based on your weaknesses…perceived and real. You will be able to adjust (over time) to address your individual goals, weaknesses and current attitude.

In my head, the whole be your own hero and design your own training thing goes hand in hand.
As usual…my opinion…which is worth exactly what I just charged you.

 

[Xpliot]

I agree with this! This is the type of mentality I have as well

 

[John]

I agree with the jersey wearing part,I havenever either

 

[JLee]

So I’ve got mixed feelings with this. I agree, I don’t like the one “program” for all idea. Programs are great for people new to the gym or maybe intermediates who are looking for something different. I almost never see people doing strip sets, drop sets, super sets or anything other then the 3 sets of 8 stuff. Maybe they don’t know you can do this? Maybe they’ve seen it but don’t know how to apply it. This is where a program would help. These certainly not necessary for someone who been training for awhile. Not sure if I got my thought across clearly but that’s my 2 cents on it.

 

[Poppy]

Understand completely and agree. I probably should have prefaced that thought with intermediate and up lifters.

 

[Poppy]

I edited the article.

 

[anabolic_geek]

It’s true that there are gobs of programs out there but I would opine that very few of them are worth a damn. Most trainers or coaches don’t have a clue what they’re doing and just collecting money from their clients. They scribble down a few exercises on paper and the client thinks they’re getting expert advice.

For example, a program without any sort of periodization isn’t a program at all — it’s just a collection of workouts. That isn’t training, it’s just working out. Which is fine for some people, but for people who are results oriented, this kinda stuff is shit. I would say about 95% of the programs I see on the internet meets this criteria.

 

[TG1]

 

[Poppy]

Son of a bitch is stealing my stuff!!!

 

[Tbgr]

This touches on something broader than just lifting.

I have been in management for nearly a decade, and in the field for longer at work.

There is a self awareness that some people have, some people never pushed hard enough to find it. Some people
Need to be managed, others manage themselves.

It’s a defining moment in my life when I Became willing to fail, and another big one was accepting responsibility for my failures.

 

[Symarip85]

That sums it up for myself as well. Sometimes when newer guys or lesser journeymen ask me how to get to where I’m at I always explain how individual accountability has a lot to do with it. When the job gets fucked up you can’t be blaming the apprentice. You’re the man, you’re the success and you’re the failure. Not many people can accept that. Which is great because for me and you it’s just better job security. And I always thought jerseys were strange for that exact reason @Poppy. It’s a mild form of dick riding and I’ve always viewed it as beta behavior. I don’t have anything against those who follow, the world needs all types to function, for sure. But it has never been in my blood to do so.

 

[herrubermensch]

I’ve been so consumed with family issues that I haven’t hit the board for about a week, and this is the first thread I read. My kind of thread @Poppy !

You know I agree with you wholeheartedly and with the broader thoughts expressed by @Tbgr and @Symarip85 . For the first four to five years of practice, I tried to make myself fit what I thought was the “mold” of a perfect lawyer. I did ok, but I was fucking miserable. I’m just not a good follower, no matter how hard I might try, and I do not handle being “managed” at all. I finally decided I just had to be myself, come what may, and damn if my career didn’t skyrocket. Not that everyone loved me; they didn’t. In fact, fewer did than before. But being myself made me reasonably happy (as happy as one can be being a damn lawyer), and professionally, it was the best thing I ever had the courage to do. “Salvation Lies Within” is my motto. “Be Your Own Hero” is just another way of saying the same thing, I think.

 

[Poppy]

Your absence was extremely conspicuous. To me anyways. Hope you got the cheese holes lined up brother.

 

[herrubermensch]

Thanks, big guy. It’s been a rough ride with my wife’s family, and there are more mountains to climb I’m afraid. But you can’t postpone life awaiting impending tragedy. Gotta keep rolling the boulder up the side of the mountain and smile all the while.

All of this compounded by the fact that I’ve tapered myself down to a TRUE TRT dose of Test E and dropped the mast and DHEA altogether. Lost control of my E2 for a bit, and my BPH has flared up, probably as a result of excess DHT from the mast and DHEA, so had to do this. Once labs show everything back under control, I’ll plan the next blast, probably for January. See how conservative you and @NeuroRN have made me?!

 

[NeuroRN]

This makes me proud

 

[Poppy]

For what it’s worth. You look great for any age… probably in the top 1% for anyone…in your (our) age category… your in the fractions of 1%.

Take care of yourself old timer. You (we) aren’t getting any younger.

 

[Aude_Aliquid_Dignu]

I ALWAYS say the same thing about jerseys…get your own damn name on the back if you are a fan?!

Also, there is NO wiggle room for Cardio. Gotcha just Do It.

 

[Dirtnasty]

My take on jerseys. Once you are older
Than the players get a polo shirt