 |
ANDY’S JOURNEY BEGINS
BREAK-IN TRAINING
Two weeks “to the day” my
new friend Andy reappears at the gym.
Hi Doc, remember me?
Oh yes, Andy. Yes, I remember
you. So, how are you feeling? How did the rest go?
You’ll never guess what
happened.
Well, let me take a stab at it, I love
puzzles. I’ll take a wild guess and say you feel better, stronger,
and you’ve put on a few pounds, how did I do? |
|
Ah, DANG… well you did great. You’re
right on all three counts.
Yep, that’s me, a damn genius,
but well I knew that, and maybe now you do too. Over training
is a one way road to nowhere Andy.
I can’t believe it, I know I
am rested, and feel like I have more energy, but I gained weight.
You seem surprised, wasn’t that
what you wanted?
Well sure, but…
But my ass, seems the last conversation we
had, you referred to me in the context of being , how was it
you put it? A
bit nutty, yes, I think that’s how you phrased it, nutty.
Do I seem so nutty now?
Oh, no not at all, I was well, just surprised.
Well, get changed, we have work to
do. Time to take this newly reenergized system of yours, and
introduce it to some systematic and proper training.
I have my notebook with my exercises
in it.
Oh yeah, that, the wealth of wisdom
you compiled for three years while making NO progress, the
trash can is over there, drop it in as you go change.
But Doc, all the weights I use, and
stuff are in here.
No, that merely represents a chronicle of the
energy output you expended in your pursuit of strength that
took you NOWHERE. Those are the weights you “used” not the
weights you will be using, and they are the exercises you “use
to do” not the ones that you will both learn to fear and
respect, time to look reality in the face. Time to put away your
toys and grow up, Andy, it’s time to go to work, so.. Why
are you not getting changed?
Andy scurried off to the changing room, and I could see a bit
of apprehension in his face.
When he reemerged, he had on his sweats and a tank and was caring
his bag.
I was back at the squat cage, pulling off
some 45’s and
getting things ready for the child. I expected him to make
his way back, but as I pulled the last wheel (45 pound plate)
off the bar, I looked around and found him nowhere in sight.
I spied him up near the front staring at some of the many 8x10
photos that adorn the walls.
Hey, we’re burning daylight
here, come on Andy time to get to work.
Oh, yeah .. Sure thing, I was
just…
You were dreaming Andy, just dreaming. It’s
time to wake up Andy, smell the coffee, get your head out of
the clouds and start training the way those guys did. In, other
words, training for gains, for power, for size, capuche?
But, Doc, who are some of these guys? I haven’t
seen some of them before.
Those are some of the people I grew up with in
this sport, and they represent a time in the bodybuilding world
when mental energy was expended on how to best TRAIN, and not
on what new drug one can get his hands on. Those men, were both
pioneers in the sport as well as examples of what can be done
when you really work.
Okay got it. Came Andy’s quick and
almost “programmed” response.
Well how about let’s
got it over here. I
shot back while pointing at the squat rack.
But I do Shoulders on Monday said
Andy.
History, ancient history, Andy. The correct
response would have been ‘I did shoulders on Monday’ today
we build muscle, and that means we work, we work heavy and hard
on big muscle groups and we train the body as a unit.
Andy was in for a rude awakening, this I knew, how rude an awakening
only time would judge.
Remember Andy, what you DID, didn’t
work. What you are about to begin WILL.
Andy was about to make his first BIG mistake
as he slowly began to open his mouth and form the word “BUT”.
Time to save Andy some embarrassment and me some time.
You came here for two things Andy, results
and guidance. Well you will get both, but remember, this isn’t
a democracy, you DON”T have a vote. In here it it’s
my way or the highway. And Andy, there’s a clear reason
for that, my way works, we already know your way didn’t.
After some careful explanation on squatting
from and protocol he began what would be a memorable afternoon’s
training.
Gone were all the “super” exercises he had gleamed
from his magazine articles, and in their place were some old
favorites that have outlived all the hoopla and hype of the years,
and the reason they have is simple …THEY WORK.
For the next 35 minutes or so, Andy would work and I do mean
WORK his way through six very concentrated exercises, all designed
to work his entire body.
No super set this or that. No special super Y or B or whatever
rep routines, just plan old hard work on some basic moves.
Andy would perform each exercise until he could not fully complete
the movement in perfect form. And, I stress PERFECT form.
Andy’s workout consisted of the following:
| Full Squats |
2 sets of 15-20 reps |
| Standing Press |
2 sets of 10 reps or better |
| Regular Grip Chin |
2 sets of 8 or better |
| Dips |
1 set of as many as possible |
| Triceps Press Downs |
1 set of as many as possible |
| Deadlifts |
1 set of 10 reps |
Now it is to be noted that when I began explaining
what we’d
do this first day, Andy’s immediate reaction was, That’s
all?, but as we completed the deadlifts, that had changed
to “Please tell me that’s all!”
Yes Andy, that’s it. Doesn’t
your entire body feel worked?
Heck, Doc, my hair is even tired.
Well you go home, get some good rest, and eat
smart, and I’ll see you back here in two days.
I was almost braced for some response about
how he “needed” to
train everyday, but I got none. Not a peep out of my new charge
that seemed to be rapidly turning very green. Instead he staggered
back to the changing room, and hobbled out to his car without
so much as a word, just a short, half raised wave to say goodbye.
For Andy, the journey had begun…JUST
BEGUN.
To loosely quote Lao-tzu, the Chinese philosopher
( 604BC - 531 BC) A journey of a thousand
miles begins with a single step. Andy had just taken the first step, there
would be MANY to follow, but the journey had indeed begun. And
in Andy’s case, most of that walk would be all uphill.
|
