I was talking about exercise with someone in my building yesterday. This guy has been into lifting and working out for a long time, he's in good shape. You can tell he works out just looking at him.
Anyway. He said that he doesn't even lift weights anymore. He said that as a natural, after you lift for a few years and build up your foundation, you don't really gain much out of further lifting.
He basically said that you should lift until you max out your genetic limits, then after that you don't really gain anything from lifting.
So now he just lifts like once a week and only does the compound movements like squats and bench, just to keep his muscles toned up. But he mostly just goes cardio and sports for a workout. He said if he lifts weights hard he won't gain anything more because he is maxxed out already.
He also said that lifting weights is not healthy for the kidneys and it puts a lot of strain on your body in general. Another reason to avoid it.
Seems like he knows what he's talking about. He's cut with full muscles. Looks like he lifts weights, but he doesn't he just does other exercise.
What do you think?
There are some intrinsic value to working out independent of having big muscle. Health and fitness is one of them. I think a maintenance program of once a week training, provided that you still train intense enough to maintain your strength, is sufficient. And if you are active in other activities as you mentioned like biking/rock climbing then you will be, or still be, in great shape.
Some enjoy going to the gym for it's own sake, others do not. At this point in my life I can't imagine going to the gym six days a week. There's other things I would rather do. Weight training for me is about enhancing the quality of your life and not an end in itself. Nothing wrong though for those that get that rush hitting it everyday.
The program mentioned by dj, the "big three" is a good guideline though I would think of it more in terms of a pushing exercise, pulling, and a squatting type movement whether squats or leg press. I wouldn't be overly concerned with sticking to certain exercises or doing just free weights. I'd throw in some stiff leg deads for hams, lower back and to maintain some type of flexibility.
BTW BlackFlag, I thought you were doing some kind of contest?
