Bodybuilding advice for all

**Telly** · 03-10-2002, 09:07 PM

I've been using these boards for a couple of months now, and i am concerned at the number of posts coming through particularly from beginners, so i though i'd offer some home truths learned through my own experiences.

Firstly, if you intend on taking up bodybuilding with a dream of developing a world class physique in 6 months, forget it. I suggest you turn your attentions to another sport. Bodybuilding is one of the most rewarding pursuits anyone can be involved in, and unless you take a long term view, dedicate yourself to working hard, set some realistic goals and above all have patience, then your wasting your time.

Second, to the beginners in particular, i am amazed by the number of posts from people who have just started bodybuilding who use muscle measurements and bodyfat % as a guide. Throw away the tape measure and the bodyfat calipers. If you can't honestly use the mirror as your guide, then you suffer from delusion. If anyone can tell me the usefulness of bodyfat% and bodypart measurements that the mirror can't tell you, i'm all ears.

Supplements can be a great aid to bodybuilding, but they can also burn a hole through your wallet. I am shocked by the amount of young people on this board who launch into buying supplements with very little training under their belt. Concentrate on training and eating well for at least 6 months to a year and then evaluate what supplements if any you need. It's funny that alot of these people work out at home with limited equipment because they can't afford a gym membership, yet they spend the equivalent each month on supplements. I think that working out at a proper gym will be of morre benefit than supplemenmts, don't you?

Above all, set realistic long term goals or you will end up hating the sport for all the wrong reasons and end up quitting in frustration. And, be critical, read as much as you can and experiment, because know one person has all the answers, that's what makes this board such a valuable resource.

**musmar** · 03-10-2002, 09:36 PM

Some good stuff written there man.

**MrLift** · 03-10-2002, 09:57 PM

Amen! The truth and nothing but the truth! Seems like a lot of people just starting are looking for the magic pill. Ain�t none! Hard work and good food is the only way to go.

**Andrew M** · 03-10-2002, 10:23 PM

If anyone can tell me the usefulness of bodyfat% and bodypart measurements that the mirror can't tell you, i'm all ears.

I'd have to disagree with that. Skin calipers and other tools that aid bodybuilding can give you hints on whether you working in the right direction. Sure somethings take time and some people expect immediate results, which don't always happen, but those are the blind ones that you're knocking.

Other than that, good post.

**Telly** · 03-10-2002, 10:32 PM

Andrew,

Not knocking anyone, just trying to give constructive advice.

What can calipers tell you that the mirror won't? If you're losing bodyfat won't you look leaner. If you put on fat won't you look fatter?

**HIT is best** · 03-11-2002, 01:13 AM

Nice advice Telly. I think that should answer alot of questions. Good post.

Peace

**ozcoltsfan** · 03-11-2002, 02:36 AM

hey telly fellow aussie
i am a beginner and have been for 4 months now (18 years old) and i have to agree with you 100%
i use the tape measure, and thing is i realize there is little use for it because it pretty much tells me nothing
i DO get everything i need to chart my progress simply from looking in the mirror
i can tell ive made big gains from the mirror, where as the tape measure may suggest otherwise, but who cares, i look way better and thats what matters
as far as supplements i take protein powder and thats all i really think i need, if you take a glance over to the teen BB section, you will hear of crazy 15 year olds buying around a dozen supplements, its just silly, at 15 there are so many things you good be spending your money on compared to all these powders and supplements, they need to read your post
they need to learn how to get the most out of real food instead of wasting their money at this stage of their lives
cheers

**D&G** · 03-11-2002, 03:12 AM

Kojak

**CyberGod** · 03-11-2002, 07:11 AM

BUMP

You forgot something Telly!!

Missing a meal once per month or partying once per week won't kill your muscles

**labouche** · 03-11-2002, 11:30 AM

"world class physique in 6 months"
maybe not world class, professional or amateur bodybuilding shows, but, ive seen many people make incredible, cant recognize them, changes to their physiques in that amount of time. for some this is very much a possibility.

"usefullness of bodyfat % and bodypart measurements that a mirror cant tell u"

ru serious? its called body composition and ones lean muscle to fat ratio. when trying to improve upon prior phases of training quantitative measurements can be very usefull tools. hard numbers can reveal many possible areas of improvement.
also, lets not forget the simple reason that measurements can help in the mental/emotional arena as well. those r very definite aspects of bodybuilding and probably the biggest reason why people begin training in the first place. and to actually c the improvement on paper can give a tremendous amount of encouragement.

**Telly** · 03-11-2002, 01:46 PM

Labouche,

All i can say is have a read of ozcoltsfan post a few posts above yours.

Congrats to you ozcoltsfan, you've got a lot of common sense for a young guy.

Cybergod, big bump on you man. I didn't foget about that, just didn't want to go on forever, but having a life outside of bodybuilding is vital, as we both know.

**TheFutureOak** · 03-11-2002, 02:57 PM

i will say measuring bodyfat isnt that imp. when your beginning the mirror/pictures should tell you enough but measurements are useful in my view to help confirm what the mirror and the pics have been telling you and it helps to know which bodyparts are growing the most and measuring areas like the back which you cant see in the mirror as clear however these certainly arent nessacary they just help give you goals and help give you an idea of your exact progress...but you made some very valid points esp. on the supplements and they wont join a gym (esp. the guys using cell-tech) and while it can help to have a big goal give it some serious time and just set small realistic goals remember Rome wasnt built in a day and neither is a quality bodybuilding physique

**musmar** · 03-11-2002, 05:07 PM

The mirror will always tell the truth!

**labouche** · 03-12-2002, 10:36 AM

Telly-
maybe i shoulda said that im hearin ya on the other points u mentioned.
but thats how ic it on those two. but its no big deal.
in fact, Ozcolt does say it all: unless u know what ur doing those numbers will be meaningless.

**Aimhealthy** · 03-12-2002, 11:09 AM

Good post bro. Your are 110% correct!

aimhealthy
www.aimhealthy.com

**Mr.Lean** · 03-12-2002, 01:56 PM

I think bodyfat and other measurements are necesarry to chart progress and be methodological about bodybuilding. While the mirror gives a good indication of progress, I have noticed that there are some days were I look lean and muscular and some days were I look soft. I think measurements backup the mirror image so you can be certain you are heading in the right direction.

**TheFutureOak** · 03-12-2002, 01:59 PM

good point mr. lean i have noticed this too

**Telly** · 03-12-2002, 02:13 PM

Isn't that what i said above, what will the tape measure or calipers tell you that the mirror won't.

**HardBody** · 03-12-2002, 02:45 PM

Great Post Ted!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Andrew M** · 03-12-2002, 11:21 PM

Isn't that what i said above, what will the tape measure or calipers tell you that the mirror won't.

No, its not. Look as I said, the rest of your post was great, but to bash people for using other tools to get a more accurate reading of their body is insane. Perhaps your the one suffering from delusion?

**Telly** · 03-13-2002, 01:31 PM

Andrew,

I'll tell you a simple fact.

The only reason people take measurements of bodyfat and muscle size is ego, pure and simple. Nothing wrong with that, but for someone starting out, the mirror should be their guide. The mirror never lies.

If you can explain to me where i bash anyone in my post i'll gladly listen. Why is it that when people try to offer constructive advice, some view it as 'bashing'.

The point i was trying to make which is lost on a couple of people, is that it is easy to become disenchanted very quickly when relying on bodyfat % and muscle measurements when starrting out. People should concentrate on one thing, building muscle, because without that, you have nothing, and bodyfat measurements and muscle measurements become irrelevant.

Too many young people get caught up in all the bull**** aspects of the sport that they read in the magazines instead of concentrating on the very basic aspects of the sport and using common sense.

**labouche** · 03-13-2002, 01:48 PM

Telly-

i think u got it completely backwards. im getting my bodyfat% checked tomorrow(by a beautiful p.t. btw) and it has NOTHING to do with ego. i mean, if it were im an idiot cuz i just got done with a 6-month bulking cycle and it isnt gonna be pretty!lol) it has to do with making future adjustments.

on the other hand, i do look in the mirror often and THAT is purely for ego and looks.

i agree that for beginners it can be useless but only cuz they have no clue how to use the info.

but i can tell u this: without a doubt i wish i had done regular measurements since when i first started working out.

it wouldve been cool and informative.

**Telly** · 03-13-2002, 02:04 PM

Labouche,

Point taken and no arguments. You obviously have a reason to take the measurements, but a kid who has just started bodybuilding...........

maybe the language i used in my originbal post was too strong, but i still think the mirror will give the most valuable feedback, particularly for a beginner, and that's essentially the point i was making. Figures can lie. The mirror doesn't.

**Kriscube** · 03-13-2002, 02:07 PM

I have a question. I have been weight training for about 6 years and the only supplement that I have ever used is Creatine. I just started taking zma and tribulus and I wanted to know your opinion on the supplements that I am taking now. I take a multivitamin and one 625 mg tablet of tribulus, and a 500 mg tablet of gluclosamine in the morning, between 11 and 12 I take a tribulus tablet and a gluclosamine tablet. At 1240 I take a multivitamin and dym extreme (ephradra). I workout from 1 to 130. And I take another gluclosamine around 6pm and ZMA before I go to sleep. I am 34 years old and I weigh 185lbs and I want to put on about 15lbs of lean muscle. Am I on the right track. I eat a high protien diet around 120 to 200 grams of protien a day but I am probably not getting enough calories but that is easy to fix.

**Andrew M** · 03-13-2002, 11:38 PM

Telly, thats our whole defense on tools for measuring BF, but your post makes them seem as if they are completely unnecessary when they are not.

If you can't honestly use the mirror as your guide, then you suffer from delusion.

That, in my opinion, is bashing.

**Valcore** · 03-14-2002, 01:47 AM

I think the mirror is a great tool, but a photograph is way better. It depends on how you view yourself but you'd be amazed at how many people can dissillusion themselves and trick their mind into seeing something different in the mirror. Show someone a photo of themselves in just their underwear will really give them a reality check. You can't hide from a photo.

Also a photo taken now and a photo taken 3 or 6 months from now will really show what you've acheived in the time frame. Sure you can remember what you looked like vaguely and you can have your weight and measurements written down but with two photos you can have a direct comparison and feel an even greater sense of acheivement.

To measure progress on a weekly basis I think the mirror should be your guide. If your goal is to gain a certain poundage of muscle in a certain time frame then the scales and bodyfat measurements can help you see if you are progressing in the right direction towards your goal.

**labouche** · 03-14-2002, 07:47 AM

great post Valcore

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