Size dictating knowledge: Yes and No

[chanmanfoo]

I have seen this as well, but I have also seen the personal trainer who doesnt look like much take a hefty/weak individual and transform them into something anyone would be proud of.

I feel its impossible to judge a book by its cover. We all have different goals and ambitions, different working conditions and family commitments. We all have our ups and down, mental and health issues we have to deal with. I think we call all say we have seen a scrawny runt who really seemed to know his/her shit on any given aspect of training, we can also say we have seen human juggernauts and wonder how they can get dressed in the morning without help. My point is we all have different goals, some to compete and some get simple satisfaction out of helping others. Its easy to say "been there done that equals credibility." but what about the scrawny trainer with crappy genetics who works out but is nothing special whoc has spent many years helping hundreds of people? In all fairness I feel if he has directly, successfully trained hundreds of people then I would think that qualifies him as a "been there done". Maybe not personally but at the same time they have hundreds of cleints succeed under their tutalage and thus have much more exposure and a much broader base of what works and what does not based on direct contact and directing those he/she trains, than the average joe gym rat who only works on themself.

If any of you have been in a teaching environment you will know what I mean that teaching others is one of the best ways to learn yourself. Your continually asked questions form varying perspectives, things you may have never noticed or thought about, this further pushes you and in the end results in some of the best knowledge you will ever attain.

well said Zyglamail, things are not always as they seem. in my teens people often thought i knew much about training and fitness when in reality i didnt know shit, and was lucky enough to have decent genetics and a home gym.
foo

 

[CB38AC]

I am a good example that size does not show what you know... Some of us just dont have the genetics...

With a solid diet and training I'm maxing out at about 205 at 5'10 close to 10% bf and this is with gear and t3 and slin...Some of us just have the genetics of a little guy and fight for everything...

 

[Nelson Montana]

It's a little of both.

One of the problems I've always had with Lyle McDOnald was that he so adamantly espoused his beliefs -- to the point that anyone who didn't beleve him was subject to verbal abuse. Meanwhile, his theories were concocted strictly from text book sources and not real life cases. (Most people who follow the ketogenic diet aren't really in ketosis -- but that's another story)

ANYWAY, my point is...

If you're going to be a diet expert -- and be arrogent about it -- I don't think it's asking too much that you aren't FAT.

On the other hand, following the advice of someone who has the most advantages (i.e. genetics/drugs) seems pretty stupid.

If you want to learn how to become rich, don't ask the guy who inhereted a millon dollars. Ask the guy who started with nothing and made himself wealthy.


Now, I'm no mass monster, but I've made a ton of progresss, and that's the name of the game. I also think people have to realize that not everyone want's to be as huge as possible. Just because someone isn't big, doesn't mean they can't be.

I'd say the most brightest minds in the annals of bodybuilding would go to:

Dan Duchaine.

Rheo Blair

Vince Gironda

Mauro DePasquale

They knew what to do. They could tell you how to do it too.


None of them were over 200 pounds.

 

[satchboogie]

just for the record....

some of the best trainer/dieticians in the world are not muscle freaks but rather healthy fit guys who under a sweater don't look like they're packing mass.

you gotta remember that the knowledge that they posess may get you to gain 40 pounds of muscles within 2 years versus a giant whose knowledge will help you to gain those same 40 pounds but in 4 years!

myself, i train and eat properly and if i want i'm sure i can get to a pro proportion, but not interested!

much more satisfied with a lean, defined, low bodyfat physique all year long.

think about that!

 

[Nelson Montana]

Originally posted by Dial_tone


Vince Gironda had some real nutcake ideas. .................................

So did Blair and so did Dan. (And I don't agree with everyhting Mauro says). But I think whenever anybody goes out on a limb and chooses to see things differently, they're going to be off now and then. Then again, people who follow the crowd are also wrong -- a lot.

Actually, Vince was right abot most everything, except squatting. But I see his point. It really is a glute exercise as much as it's a thigh exercise. The Hack is better. But my old kness can't deal with it. My hackin' days are over.

 

[satchboogie]

NELSON........

you say your hacking days are over.

outta curiosity, what split do you follow? and, do you spend more than 45 minutes each session?

one last thing....

pre and post training meals.

what's in yours?>

 

[Nelson Montana]

Too many questions and too off topic.


Basically, I train a major bodypart and a corresponding muscle, per session, but do thighs alone. I occasionally do an entire body workout, circut style, 3 times a week, but I wouldn't recomend that to someone who wants to grow. It's more of a maintence thing, and you need a lot of muscle memory for it to be worthwhile. Everyone's needs are different.

 

[sermon_of_crockery]

An argument against the "big guys know what they're doing and little guys don't" philosophy would be this:

Big guys have the genetics to be huge. They don't have to try hard.

Little guys like myself and CB38AC have to work our asses off to get even the odd 5 lbs of muscle. We have tried lots and lots of different things and we know what works and what doesn't. The big guys probably got big off the first thing they tried so they think it's the best.

I think a little guy with shitty genetics who went from 155 to 170 works harder and knows more than a genetic freak who went from 220-270.

IMO.

 

[Debaser]

I think that some of you are missing my point: read the very first thing I said. To summarize:

In general, those that have developed intelligent training concepts look impressive. That doesn't mean the reverse is true--there are a lot of huge guys out there that don't know what theyre doing and got there because of genetics and/or gear.

And sermon of crockery, that's a total, um...crock of shit. You think every large guy has great genetics? The 2 I listed at the top didn't. They worked their asses off (probably harder in one training session than you ever will comprehend) to get to where they are.

155 to 170 knows more than someone who went from 220-270? There is no way to determine who knows more unless there are 2 specific people you have in mind. And works harder? Um I think it takes a little more work than you think to get to 270 (lean).

 

[sermon_of_crockery]

I think that some of you are missing my point: read the very first thing I said. To summarize:

In general, those that have developed intelligent training concepts look impressive. That doesn't mean the reverse is true--there are a lot of huge guys out there that don't know what theyre doing and got there because of genetics and/or gear.

And sermon of crockery, that's a total, um...crock of shit. You think every large guy has great genetics? The 2 I listed at the top didn't. They worked their asses off (probably harder in one training session than you ever will comprehend) to get to where they are.

155 to 170 knows more than someone who went from 220-270? There is no way to determine who knows more unless there are 2 specific people you have in mind. And works harder? Um I think it takes a little more work than you think to get to 270 (lean).

To even hold 270 pounds on a body, even at just 20% or lower bf, even with huge amounts of gear, takes genetics that are better than 95% of the population.

I don't deny that it also probably takes a lot of work.

I don't care how much gear I take, 10 grams of test a week won't get me to 270#. I have about average genetics. Below average compared to people who regularly work out and stuff.

Guys like Paul Chek and Vince Gironda are amazing minds. Maybe they have developed their knowledge because they could develop their bodies only so much.

Guys with genetics can continue to develop their bodies and get recognition for that.

I'll tell you one thing, if I was huge from what I learned already I would be much less thirsty for knowledge. Because I would already be huge. Shit if I was 225 at 10% bf I would probably quit right there. But as it is my inadequacies drive me to find new ways of developing my body.

I'm not trying to say you're wrong. Just playihng devil's advocate.

Maybe if you have the structure and want to be huge, you should seek out huge guys for advice. If you have a smaller frame you should seek people with similar structure who have successfully put on muscle.

Different people are going to have different expertises.