When New Guys Ask For Advice… Then Ignore All Of It

[AMP]

One thing I’ve run into more than once is giving advice to someone new to gear who asks for help but doesn’t actually listen.

You’ll see it coming. They want reassurance, not guidance. They already decided what they’re going to run, how much, and why. They’re just looking for someone to green light it. When you bring up basics, start low, get bloodwork, don’t stack five compounds, learn how your body reacts they nod, then do the opposite.

What usually follows is predictable. Sides pop up fast, Sleep goes to hell. Anxiety ramps up. Estrogen issues, blood pressure problems, mood swings. Then the panic sets in and suddenly they want fixes for problems that were completely avoidable. That’s the frustrating part not that they made mistakes, but that they skipped the boring foundation work that keeps mistakes small instead of catastrophic.

I’ve learned you can’t save everyone. Advice only works when someone is ready to hear it. Experience is a brutal teacher. At some point, you stop pushing and just make it clear, this is what works long term, this is what doesn’t, and the rest is on them.

Gear isn’t the issue most of the time. Ego is. Impatience is. Wanting to look advanced before earning it. The guys who actually last in this game are the ones who respect the process early, even when progress feels slow.

Curious how others here handle this, Do you keep trying to guide new guys, or do you let experience teach them? Ever had someone ignore solid advice and learn the hard way?

 

[Dirtnasty]

I give advice and do t even follow it so won’t say much ha

 

[Neuro]

I very rarely will continue to give advice if they don’t listen. I’ll just tell them to stop asking me. Similarly, if I feel like they aren’t putting any effort into learning no thanks. I’m not here to play airplane and spoon feed you knowledge.

 

[Poppy]

I usually preface advice with “I know you won’t pay me any rabbit ass mind but this is what worked for me”.

 

[eazy]

someone new to gear who asks for help but doesn’t actually listen

if it is on the internet, it's fine.

the advice becomes searchable and some lurker who I'll never interact with will read it and may put it to use.

 

[Ominous]

I very rarely will continue to give advice if they don’t listen. I’ll just tell them to stop asking me. Similarly, if I feel like they aren’t putting any effort into learning no thanks. I’m not here to play airplane and spoon feed you knowledge.

Yeah same here. They see you in great shape and with good habits in the gym and they want that. But maybe 1 out of 20 will actually follow through with the advice I gave.

 

[Neuro]

Yeah same here. They see you in great shape and with good habits in the gym and they want that. But maybe 1 out of 20 will actually follow through with the advice I gave.

I feel like I can confidently say I’ve held a decent amount of knowledge in the topic of diet training and gear for the last 5 years or so. In that time when anyone asks for help I tell them “keep a food and drink log for 7 days. Everything you eat and drink. Sauces. All of it. 7 days. You do that and I’ll be an open book.” Not one person has been able to follow through with that.

 

[Poppy]

Yeah same here. They see you in great shape and with good habits in the gym and they want that. But maybe 1 out of 20 will actually follow through with the advice I gave.

Good to hear from you. I hope you’re well.

I know you’re no youngster and have thousands of hours on the weight stack…you also know exactly what peds and food intake work for you. Your advice like most of ours is not the easy way out… 12 to 20 inch arms on this 4 week program with these magic drugs…

We were all young once. That thought gives me a bit more patience with the kids.

 

[Poppy]

I feel like I can confidently say I’ve held a decent amount of knowledge in the topic of diet training and gear for the last 5 years or so. In that time when anyone asks for help I tell them “keep a food and drink log for 7 days. Everything you eat and drink. Sauces. All of it. 7 days. You do that and I’ll be an open book.” Not one person has been able to follow through with that.

That’s a great litmus test… simple and requires little effort. Tell/show me what you stuffed in your cake hole for the last 7 days.

 

[Neuro]

That’s a great litmus test… simple and requires little effort. Tell/show me what you stuffed in your cake hole for the last 7 days.

I picked that up from someone else and it’s saved me an unknown amount of hours and breath.