Hard Work or Genetics?

[2nd_chance]

Look at the difference between Tom Platz's legs and Lou Ferrigno's. Platz's legs made it look like Lou didn't even work legs. What gives? Was it genetics or was Tom a maniac and Lou a slacker?

[Get-n-fit]

With that kind of difference I'd say it's mostly training, but that is some serious imbalance on Ferrignos part

[discdoggie]

Platz is a FREAK!!!!!


(Genetics, in his case). Not saying he didn't work hard. But he was also very obviously blessed. There are others who may have a very similar blueprint who will never have those legs because they don't have Mr. Platz's work/Squat ethic.

[rnacdaley]

I love the look on Lou's face. Its like damn I have some work to do. I feel like I heard early in Platz's lifting days he was told his legs were 'lagging' far behind the rest of his development. If what I heard or read (can't remember) is true it is clear that it motivated him.

[bodyhard]

Lou brought his legs up later on in his career like or around 40. But back in his days at 28 he had ****tY legs.

[ljimd]

Maybe some of both.

[ntrllftr]

I'm gonna have to say Platz had a better supplier of beef liver tabs. Along with, better genetics.

[Corbi]

I'm digging Lou's socks.

[Jrob69]

Ya thats beyond human.

[anonymous]

I heard from some of the older guys in Golds Venice that Tom would take an extra scoop of Mega-Mass 2000 after a leg workout.

[2nd_chance]

Maybe some of both.

Good genetics doesn't mean that you're born with muscle lol.

[2nd_chance]

If I was Lou, I would've worn sweatpants that day.

[GuyJin]

It's both, along with a lotta dat dere Sel-Tek.

But mainly, he had the genes to get that way. No, he probably didn't know he'd get THAT freaky at the time he started out--no one does, and sure, he worked harder than others of his day to maximize what he had--and that's the secret, if there is one--it's yo' mothafukkin' set an' all--you have to work hard...but there are a lot of guys who do everything right for them, eat right for them, and some of them even take an extra dose of Sel-Tek...and they'll never get that way. Ever. Just the way it is.

Take home message: Work hard on what you got, do whatever it takes to get you to the level you think you can get to--and if you've taken on the lines of a champ after two years of hard and correct training (for you), then chances are you'll be one. Then you can choose to go the Sel-Tek route if you wish. The "two years" thing came from Bill Pearl who knows way more about training than I ever will.

JMO on all this...

[azstrengthcoach]

Look at the difference between Tom Platz's legs and Lou Ferrigno's. Platz's legs made it look like Lou didn't even work legs. What gives? Was it genetics or was Tom a maniac and Lou a slacker?

Genetics, Lou was very strong and lifted very heavy, Platz was just a freak

[2nd_chance]

It's both, along with a lotta dat dere Sel-Tek.

Yes and we know that Lou didn't use dat dere Sel-Tek.

[ntrllftr]

Yes and we know that Lou didn't use dat dere Sel-Tek.

So then you're sayin it's genetics or just hard work then?

[GuyJin]

Yes and we know that Lou didn't use dat dere Sel-Tek.

---

On the off-chance you're not being sarcastic, read my first post, please.

No, I'll answer for you. Of course Big Lou did. And I'm sure he trained hard--for him. But he didn't have the genes to get his legs up to the mega-freaky level. Eventually, he got them more or less in proportion to his upper body, but due to his height he'd always look a little thin in the leg area.

I read somewhere he had a hip replacement job done. Is that genes or hard training or both?

Or maybe it's dat dere Sel-tek.

[kris2pe]

The problem with these bodybuilder is that its hard to know when training or genetics came in cause most of these behemoth have taken roids.
I can assure you can do what they did to the exact tee but you will not look like them cause of roids.
Training and hard work comes in when results are guaranteed!
But lets face it they do have more time to dedicate their craft compared to what most people have.
I'm not 100% sure if working harder would results to the things that this guy has cause again the line between genetics, training and nutrition becomes a blur when roids come into play. Even they can't say what was the real factor their success!

I do however admire greeco-roman sculpture they are probably the best historical record of what genetic potential is all about!

[Crooktele79]

The problem with these bodybuilder is that its hard to know when training or genetics came in cause most of these behemoth have taken roids.
I can assure you can do what they did to the exact tee but you will not look like them cause of roids.
Training and hard work comes in when results are guaranteed!
But lets face it they do have more time to dedicate their craft compared to what most people have.
I'm not 100% sure if working harder would results to the things that this guy has cause again the line between genetics, training and nutrition becomes a blur when roids come into play. Even they can't say what was the real factor their success!

I do however admire greeco-roman sculpture they are probably the best historical record of what genetic potential is all about!

Your idea of gear is skewed...it's not a magic wand that will cure crappy diet and poor training. Alot more people than you think use "Sel-Tek" but 99% of them couldn't come close to being Olympia calibre.

Hard Work + Sel-Tek = amateur bodybuilder
Hard work + Sel-Tek + Genetics = Platz

[2nd_chance]

So then you're sayin it's genetics or just hard work then?

I'm sayin that Lou shoulda wore sweatpants that day

[Lvisaa2]

It's hard to compare them as Platz revolutionized leg training. Before him, no one had big legs. He emphasized legs way more than anyone of his era.. With that being said, Platz has genetically some of the best legs ever. Muscle bellies/separation/development of abductors. All of it was amazing. When Lou made his come back, he trained legs more, but they still lagged behind. Pretty expected since he had been developing an imbalance for almost his whole training career.

[ArchAngel'73]

No matter how crappy Lou's legs were or how much of an azzhole he is he has more money than Platz will ever see.










btw
Do any of you phucking newbs read the stickies and do you just not realize we are NOT supposed to talk about AAS?

[Smelly bull]

btw
Do any of you phucking newbs read the stickies and do you just not realize we are NOT supposed to talk about AAS?

bb.com = reading wasteland....there is no comprehension in this place!

[JOHN GARGANI]

to look that freaky, regardless of what supplements you use, is definitely genetically based....

this presumes working hard and correctly....

but as we all know, you can have a buddy that you train with and do identical workouts together, and yet one of you will always respond a little better....

that, is the genetic component...potential to put on a certain amount of mass...and varies from person to person.....

the same thing, of course , applies to gear, because genetically, everyone responds different to that also....

My contention has always been that we don't really know our true potential, so, we should train AS IF WE HAVE NO LIMITS and see where it takes us.....

[clive]

I thought this was charming.

[rejones1976]

Look at the difference between Tom Platz's legs and Lou Ferrigno's. Platz's legs made it look like Lou didn't even work legs. What gives? Was it genetics or was Tom a maniac and Lou a slacker?

Neither Platz has a better Chemist.

[ironwill2008]

Hard Work or Genetics?

Both. Since all Pro bodybuilders play on a level field (IYKWIM) that's pretty much all that's left.


Platz's leg workouts were legendary. The writups about them in the muscle mags fueled many of mine, and millions of others' own leg training sessions. And even though he retired years ago, his name still comes up at or near the top of any current poll of who has/had the best legs in bodybuilding.

[ntrllftr]

I'm sayin that Lou shoulda wore sweatpants that day

Hmmm, lemme see if I can get this right. You post a question without having an opinion of yer own. Just to let all the interwb retards, tough guys and "dumb bodybuilders" argue errr discuss about it?

[pharmamarketer]

Both. Platz maximized his genetic potential with training and good vitamins

[OperationChisel]

Gotta be both. Platz probably had some good leg gains and realized, gee, I could really build some crowd-stopping trunks ... and he was off to the races.

It's hard not to workout our best muscles with a little extra gumption because the progress is motivating.