I have a question to those, like wes, who say once they started just doing "whatever" in the gym
without regard to poundage, excercises, even what bodypart they will do that day, just going by feel... who say they really started growing when they did this. In scale numbers and measurements, how much did they gain? And was this with zero increase in drug dose and/or addition of different classes of drugs? So again, how much did you guys gain in hard numbers by downregulating every training parameter?
I have said something regarding bodybuilders "gaining". Most bodybuilders are not gaining shit, many haven't gained shit in decades. But many say they are making "improvements", whatever that means exactly. But it's complete BS in many many cases. Some are obviously regressing while saying they are making gains. How many would admit they peaked back in 1995 and they have been trying to merely hold on since then?
We can debate the relative importance of the big three: diet, training and drugs. But as far as the training aspect, my opinion is that muscle responds to increase in load and/or volume or intensity (means different things to people... could mean shortening rest between sets while still doing the same number of sets with the same load). I believe the load is the most important factor, others disagree. But some parameter has to progress. Or what's next, someone saying they stopped training altogether and then really started growing?
There have been many examples of guys, good bodybuilders injuring themselves, having to drop training loads but still able to pump and tone and squeeze as much as they want... and the result is always regression for that bodypart(s) affected. Every bodybuilder knows load matters no matter how much they say the opposite, if you used to do 10 reps in the squat with 405 and now you do 10 reps with 315 in exactly the same manner, have your legs grown? I don't think so.
Someone who wants to optimize his development I think should record all aspects (at least some type of log even if in the head only) so I agree with Coach there. You would track you food at least somewhat or your drug type/dosage, no? So why not training so you see if it's going in the right direction?