10 BBing Myths That Must Die!

[www.BrinkZone.com]

not only did you prove everything i said was right on target

Again, big words from those who don't have the balls to put up a pic and hide behind moms comp. Carry on son.

[www.BrinkZone.com]

In lieu of your above post - and the dazzling insight therein - I'm guessing you are not familiar with mfw from 10-15 years previous then?

Which made GB look like pre school for trolls, flame wars, and mayhem.

[www.BrinkZone.com]

JFYI in case you didnt know, posting a picture of yourself with a gun only makes people think you re an insecure e-warrior with a small dick, ask robert ziruolo .

"If you didn't know", I work with SWAT teams when I am not doing the bbing/health/fitness related stuff:

www.OptimalSWAT.com

The many vids of my training with tactical LE:

I am an Adjunct Trainer for Smith & Wesson Academy in Springfield, MA, where I will be teaching a course open only to Tactical LE.You see son, not everyone holding a gun in a pic is an e-warrior. As stated, the pic was taken at a carbine course I was attending. If you can't do the 2 + 2 on that one....

on a side note, the more you take this board seriously the more people will psychollogically assault you.

No doubt.

[www.BrinkZone.com]

that is a killer concept in the gyms these days. 

Paul L.

You really don't see big strong dudes in most gyms these days like you used to. Most gyms, even most Golds, Worlds, et go out of there way to prevent such people from wanting to train in their gyms, no platforms, no chalk allowed, etc, etc. In the golds I train at, I dont think there is one guy who moves any big weight (including yours truly) which was a common site "back in the day."

Some of those crazy numbers I listed were done in no place gyms like the Iron Palace in New Bedford MA. That was great old school gym, and full of strong ass guys.

[WhiteCastle]

Epic thread backfire and multipost meltdown.

[disco_stu]

if there was honestly someone doing 405 pound behind the necks surely there would be some footage of it, no one is stupid enough to believe that type of weight on PBN isn't beyond world class, Arcidi i might believe could maybe get a single with it but certainly no one is pushing reps with that at least not to the bottom of the ear.

quaker you must live a sheltered life mate.

i too have seen incredible feats in the gym by relative unknowns and complete unknowns who dont get any press and arent followed around by video cameras. Some of them dont even realise they are freaks.

i was lucky enough to see one of the top powerlifters of the sport in our little local hole in the wall gym - i think from memory he finished 4th in the WCs in the 80kg class (mind boggles that there are others who could beat him).

he looked like the average joe- untrained. At about 6' tall and weighing 80kg this guy moved the squat rack..deep and for reps.  guys 40kg more couldnt come close.

we had another guy in the gym- a shortish guy whos name i never found out- mustve been all of 75kg tops. But more of a muscular build than the powerlifter. i watched this guy several times do multiple reps with 140-160kg on the bench after working up, then finishing his pec routine with 10-12 rep sets on a pair of 120lb dbs inclined.

[bigkid]

Epic thread backfire and multipost meltdown.

hahahahah

[bigkid]

The more time passes, the more people exaggerate claims.

[El_Pajero]

Most of it counts for juicers.

[BFP]

Will, why the iron sights on that AR? i understand the CQB fight well, and think iron sights are far inferior to an aimpoint or EO tech. Or do you guys just train frontsight techniques?

Jason

[suckmymuscle]

Body Building Myths That Must Die!
By Will Brink

Every culture has its myths and bodybuilding is no exception. Like most myths, most are nine parts fantasy and one part truth, though of course, some myths have no truth to them at all. I have spent much of my career attempting to expose myths surrounding bodybuilding and topics that relate to it, such as drugs, nutrition and supplementation etc.

For example, one of my more popular articles that was published “back in the day” in Muscle Media was entitled “Nutritional myths that won’t die” which focused on myths surrounding protein and athletes. Classics such as “athletes don’t need additional protein” and “high protein diets are bad for you” as well as others were covered and debunked.

This article, however, is not about one topic or myth, but random myths that float around and never seem to die. It’s intended to be tongue-in-cheek to be sure, but it’s still a serious attempt to combat various myths that have little or no truth behind them. Some of these myths are generated inside the bodybuilding community and some are generated outside the community, by the general public and or medical community. These are in no particular order, so let’s start with a classic:

Myth #1: “Your muscles will turn to fat the soon as you stop working out - Tissue Alchemy BS”

This is a classic used by those looking for excuses for why they have not started an exercise program and resent those that have. My own mother used to say that to me as a kid when I joined a gym at 14. There is no physiological mechanism by which muscles magically convert to fat when one stops working out for some reason. What happens, however, is that many of the gains in muscle mass will be lost from the lack of stimulation. It’s not exactly earth-shattering news that people who don’t exercise and eat above maintenance calories get fat. So what you have is often a loss of muscle and an increase in body fat due to lack of exercise coupled with excess calories. The next time you see someone who used to be buffed but is now fat, it’s not because his or her muscles some how converted to fat. They are fat for the same reason millions of others are fat: too many calories, not enough activity.

Regardless, what if it were true? That is, is the fear of this mysterious muscles to fat conversion a reason to not start a weight training program? If you stop brushing your teeth, the result is (drum roll) cavities, but that’s not a legitimate reason to never start brushing your teeth! I have gained and lost many pounds of muscle over my life time, and have worked with countless people in all phases of their life, and I have yet to see any muscles convert to fat, this myth of tissue alchemy needs to die now. I have however seen plenty of people who stopped working out and got fat.

Myth #2: "Pros eat 'clean' all year round"

This myth can be blamed squarely on the bodybuilding publications who want the readers to think their heroes eat low fat healthy “clean” foods year round. This has often led to newbie types attempting to get all the calories they require for growth from baked chicken, rice, and vegetables. Of course getting - say - 4000 plus calories (or more) from such foods is virtually impossible. This reality often leaves the newbie confused and depressed because he’s not making any appreciable gains attempting to stuff himself to death with foods that are low in calories. It’s very difficult to get 4000, 5000, or even 6000 calories a day from chicken and rice. Now for the reality: off-season I have sat across the table from many a pro eating cheeseburgers, pizza, and apple pie. I know one pro who used to pull over anytime he saw a Taco Bell. Big people require plenty of calories and calorie-dense foods are the only way to get them. As the late, great Dan Duchaine once said regarding off-season eating for growth: “don’t feel bad you ate a cheeseburger, feel bad you didn’t eat three!”

Now I can’t comment on every pro’s diet as I don’t know them all, and I am sure some of them have cleaner diets then others off-season. However, make no mistake: the articles you read about what pros eat off-season and what they really eat are often two different things.

As sort of an ancillary myth, most pros will carry more body fat than they claim off-season when trying to gain new muscle mass. Telling people they eat at Taco Bell and are above single-digit body fat levels does not sell magazines or supplements, so it pays to perpetuate the myth that they are hard as nails all year (with a few exceptions) and always eat “clean”.

Myth #3: "Bodybuilders are not strong"

Only people who have never stepped into a gym make such stupid statements. Strength varies greatly person to person of course, but some bodybuilders are very strong with 800lb squats and 500lb bench presses not uncommon. I have seen people using weight that had to be seen to be believed: 600lb front squats for reps, incline bench presses with 500lbs for reps, and seated presses with 400lbs for reps, etc. No, not all bodybuilders are nearly that strong, but any bodybuilder worth his salt is still considerably stronger then the average person. Some bodybuilders compete in both power lifting and bodybuilding and often do well in both. Yes, some bodybuilders are not as strong as they look, but some are much stronger then they look, and some are crazy strong.

Myth #4: “Bodybuilders can’t fight”

I’m not going to give much space to this myth other then to say bodybuilders are like everyone else: some are tough SOB's and some are cream puffs with most somewhere in the middle. No different then the general public. I have seen a few of the tough SOB variety in action. Conversely, I was at a gym-sponsored cookout some years ago where this huge bodybuilder decided to hassle this guy half his size. Problem was, the guy happened to be the state kick boxing champion and proceeded to beat the snot out of the bodybuilder in front of a few hundred people. The lesson here is: don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t get into fights!

Myth #5: "Bodybuilders are all gay"

As with the last myth, this one does not warrant much space. It’s my experience the bodybuilding community is gay as often as the general public. No more, no less, and how much muscle a person has does not seem to affect the rate one way or another. It’s a stupid myth that should be put to rest for good.

Myth #6: "Anyone can look like a pro bodybuilder if they take enough drugs"

If this were true, people in gyms all over the world would look like pro bodybuilders. The major difference between a high level bodybuilder and everyone else is their genetics, the one thing they have no control over. Yes, drug use is a fact of life in bodybuilding and many other sports, and yes, nutrition and training play a role; but if you don’t have the genes for it, all the steroids in the world won’t get you anywhere near to looking like the people you see in the magazines. Unfortunately, every gym has those people using doses of drugs higher than many pros and still look like sh*%. Make no mistake: drugs work and clearly add an advantage to athletes who use them, but the difference between them and you is that they chose the right parents!

Myth #7: "Bodybuilders are all Narcissistic"

Well OK, this one has a ring of truth to it. Truth be known, bodybuilders can be some of the most narcissistic people you will ever meet, but they are not all that way. Some are humble, down-to-Earth people, but let’s be honest, some narcissism is par for the course in bodybuilding. Nuff said there…

Myth #8: “Bodybuilders have small penises and they try to make up for that with big muscles”

How many times have we heard this dumb myth? Clearly, this one is directed at the male bodybuilders. Truth be known, I have not seen that many bodybuilders’ manly muscle missiles, but it’s been my impression they tend to be like every other man in that dept. Some are big, some small, while most are in the middle or “normal.” One caveat, however, is that a big guy with a normal-sized member will look smaller then a skinny guy with a normal sized member. It’s all in the proportions.

Myth #9: "Steroids don’t work"

If you believe that one you are dumber then dirt. No response to this myth required from me! There’s a bunch of steroid-related myths I could list, but this is not a steroid article, so I won’t bother.

Myth #10: “I don’t want to lift weights because I don’t want to get huge”

This one tends to be uttered by women, but I have heard men say it also on occasion. It’s a pitiful excuse for not exercising. As discussed above, very few people have the genetics to achieve even above normal levels of muscle mass, much less get “huge.” 99.9% of you reading this will be lucky to put on some muscle, and even that will take years of hard work. It’s not like anyone ever woke up one day bulging with muscles they didn’t expect. And if you are one of those rare people who put on muscle relatively easily? Lucky you!

Well there you have it; the major myths in bodybuilding (hopefully) debunked. Those were the ones I’ve seen/heard most frequently. If you think I missed one, feel free to let me know and perhaps I can add it to this article at some point. I don’t want to see anyone turned off to the great endeavor that is bodybuilding. Like all sports or life styles, bodybuilding has its dark side. However, bodybuilding can be a very healthy, productive, and fun way of life that pays major dividends, so don’t avoid it ‘cause of myths and disinformation.

See you in the gym!

  Sick and tired of the standard FLEX Magazine excuse for why pro bodybuilders use steroids:

  "Drugs are a fact of life for all elite athletes trying to push themselves to the limit. "

  What is never mentioned, of course, is the fact that:

  a) Bodybuilders take 10 times more drugs than athletes of other sports.

  b) Bodybuilding is all about steroids and other anabolic drugs. Steroids can make you hit a baseball harder, but they won't make you hit them more often or more precisely. These are athletic skills that steroids won't give you. Steroids can make you run faster throughout the basketaball court, but they won''t make you put the ball in the ring with more often nor will they make you fool your opponents who are trying to take the ball from you more often. Bodybuilding, conversely, requires nothing more than building muscle, which is what steroids do. Bodybuilders have no skills whasoever, unless you consider peddling drugs and hiding the scar tissue caused by your 20 weekly injections, or not getting scar tissue from your 20 weekly injections, as skills. I don't.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[suckmymuscle]

regarding "Myth #3" i'd like to know which bodybuilder he's witnessed doing 500 for reps on barbell inclines and 400 for reps on barbell militaries.

  Your self-esteem issues are truly incredible. Hint: putting others down does not upgrade you from your status of fat piece of shit.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[io856]

  Sick and tired of the standard FLEX Magazine excuse for why pro bodybuilders use steroids:

  "Drugs are a fact of life for all elite athletes trying to push themselves to the limit. "
  b) Bodybuilding is all about steroids and other anabolic drugs. Steroids can make you hit a baseball harder, but they won't make you hit them more often or more precisely. These are athletic skills that steroids won't give you. Steroids can make you run faster throughout the basketaball court, but they won''t make you put the ball in the ring with more often nor will they make you fool your opponents who are trying to take the ball from you more often. Bodybuilding, conversely, requires nothing more than building muscle, which is what steroids do. Bodybuilders have no skills whasoever, unless you consider peddling drugs and hiding the scar tissue caused by your 20 weekly injections, or not getting scar tissue from your 20 weekly injections, as skills. I don't.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

wow!
Quoted for truth

[240 is Back]

"Excuse me, I'm here to trade in this nasty firearm for some Yankees tickets - is this the right place?"

[www.BrinkZone.com]

Will, why the iron sights on that AR? i understand the CQB fight well, and think iron sights are far inferior to an aimpoint or EO tech. Or do you guys just train frontsight techniques?

Jason

Iron site was on the AR 'cause I don't have the $$$ right now to drop an AP or EO tech site on it. Damn things can cost more than the gun! On my list of things to add when I can. I'm not a big rifle/carbine guy, most of my gun $$$ goes into 1911s.

[www.BrinkZone.com]

"Excuse me, I'm here to trade in this nasty firearm for some Yankees tickets - is this the right place?"

Oh hell no, give me the AR over any Yankee ticket anyday.

[hipolito mejia]

  Sick and tired of the standard FLEX Magazine excuse for why pro bodybuilders use steroids:

 Bodybuilding, conversely, requires nothing more than building muscle, which is what steroids do. Bodybuilders have no skills whasoever, unless you consider peddling drugs and hiding the scar tissue caused by your 20 weekly injections, or not getting scar tissue from your 20 weekly injections, as skills. I don't.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

"Steroids are just the icing of the cake'

"You cant turn a chihuaua in to a pitbull by using steroids"

"Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder but nobody wants to do it drug free"

"I dont knock on doors, I knock them over"


"Yip Yip"

[chester_bbb]

are you honestly saying that you have seen people do reps with 5 plates per side on barbell inclines and 4 plates per side on militaries, if so, who?

You wouldn't know them. They're not from your local trailer park gym.

[BFP]

Iron site was on the AR 'cause I don't have the $$$ right now to drop an AP or EO tech site on it. Damn things can cost more than the gun! On my list of things to add when I can. I'm not a big rifle/carbine guy, most of my gun $$$ goes into 1911s.

theyre definitely not cheap. Fortunately the Army paid for mine  im the opposite though however, Im more a carbine/long gun type guy.  You should talk to benchmstr. He has about 7 billion dollars worth of high end firearms, that he has willed to me when he dies.

Jason

[Method101]

"Excuse me, I'm here to trade in this nasty firearm for some Yankees tickets - is this the right place?"

monster neck to head ratio.

[ob205]

Great Post will, used to read your stuff, Lyle, Dan D, etc. on MFW back in mid 90's.  I have a para ordinance P-14 .45, remember those, .45 acp with 13rd mag?  Also, I know you have forgotten more on the science of supplementation and bb than everyone on this board.  Question, ever met Mentzer in person?  Comment please

[www.BrinkZone.com]

Great Post will, used to read your stuff, Lyle, Dan D, etc. on MFW back in mid 90's.  I have a para ordinance P-14 .45, remember those, .45 acp with 13rd mag? Also, I know you have forgotten more on the science of supplementation and bb than everyone on this board.  Question, ever met Mentzer in person?  Comment please

Met Mentzer a few times, but briefly. When I met him he was probably 50lbs overweight and smoking a cig. Bit of a nut job honestly.

[nycbull]

by Nut job what do you mean exactly,,, a lot of people say that but what did he say exactly that you thought he was nuts, maybe he was just eccentric.

Have you ever considered doing HRT, you are at an age you probably could get it from your doc, if not why?

Do any of the Swat team members do roids and do they ask you advice about them?

ALso went to your site....What exactly is an e-book, is it just a long PDF file?.....

The format for advertising your ebook is a bit cheesy, yours might be very good but there are other scam diet gurus out there that use the same format for selling their ebooks...the 10 ft long html page that scrolls forever....Is this some kind of proven formula for selling e-books?  I would think you would do better with a differnt format that didnt mimic rip off diet exercise sites out there.

[www.BrinkZone.com]

by Nut job what do you mean exactly,,, a lot of people say that but what did he say exactly that you thought he was nuts, maybe he was just eccentric.

By all accounts he was "eccentric" early in life, and downright nuts later in life. I met him mid way, and my brief encounter left me feeling he was a card or two short of a full deck.

Have you ever considered doing HRT, you are at an age you probably could get it from your doc, if not why?

Because I'm doing OK as I am and my T levels are holding, they have gone down between my 20s, 30s, and now early 40s however.

ALso went to your site....What exactly is an e-book, is it just a long PDF file?.....

Of a sorts yes, but mine come with private forums, various tools (meal planners, diet planners, etc) we had custom made for the program as a whole.

The format for advertising your ebook is a bit cheesy, yours might be very good but there are other scam diet gurus out there that use the same format for selling their ebooks...the 10 ft long html page that scrolls forever....Is this some kind of proven formula for selling e-books?  I would think you would do better with a differnt format that didnt mimic rip off diet exercise sites out there.

Never been sure what the right format is honestly. Tried various formats, but the "long copy" as it's known tends to be the more effective so far. I agree, similar set up to other crap/scam stuff. If people take a close look however, at exactly who i have for testimonials, industry types, etc, etc, they usually figure out it's on another level than the junk out there.

Unlike alot of the other stuff out there, people can at least confirm my creds, read my stuff, etc, etc on my site and a ton of other sites, so at least I have that advantage.

If you have a format you think would be superior, lay it on me!