Eric Helms - "Don't Copy Bodybuilders"

AnvilHead

Great podcast by Eric Helms, Andrea Valdez and Alberto Nuñez about what recreational/non-competitive bodybuilders should/shouldn't do compared to competitive bodybuilders, as far as training, diet, lifestyle, etc. Long podcast, but worth the watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3Zqq6LBxA


"Are you someone who likes to lift weights, enjoys training in a way that’s designed to maximize muscular hypertrophy, but don’t have any desire to step on stage? Would you like to know how you can take all of the information that’s out there and apply it in a way that will help you reach your physique goals without becoming unnecessarily rigid and obsessive? In today’s episode, Alberto, Eric, and Andrea answer the above question in detail. The coaches discuss this topic by looking at two groups of people: the general population who just want to improve how they look and feel, and noncompetitive athletes who want to maximize muscular hypertrophy but have no desire to compete. The coaches suggest ideas for each of these groups on how they can use the training principles popular in the evidence-based bodybuilding community to help them reach their goals. If you are someone who likes to train but doesn’t want to compete, or are a bodybuilder currently in your off-season, give this episode a listen for some tips and strategies on how to train in a way that will help you reach your goals and not someone else’s."

EmbeeKay

Can't wait to listen, thank you!

Chieflrg

Pretty sure this goes for just about any of the professional sport be it weight lifting based or not.

I cringe everytime somebody says, "Hey I checked into so & so's lifting program from *insert professional sport here*.

The professionals are obviously not only very sensitive to training they are freaks of their sport. You will not respond the same as they do unless you are just as sensitive to training and are freak as well.

Much better to find programming appropriate for your sensitivity or resistance to training and practice to adapt to the level you are capable of or desire.

mmapags

Thanks for this! Bookmarking for later.

AnvilHead

It's very insightful, especially coming from three people who all are/have been competitive bodybuilders and have trained both competitive bodybuilders and "genpop"/recreational clients.

middlehaitch

So loved this.

Sometimes, and only sometimes, I think I am not doing enough, not pushing enough, not developing fast enough, compared to the dedication a lot of people on this site put in. This just made me realise, or confirmed, that I'm just a 'gen pop' and I'm fine.

Maybe except for the length of it, it would be a good listen for anyone who lifts or is thinking of lifting. It puts things in perspective.

Cheers, h.

AnvilHead

middlehaitch wrote: »

So loved this.
Sometimes, and only sometimes, I think I am not doing enough, not pushing enough, not developing fast enough, compared to the dedication a lot of people on this site put in...

I think a lot of people (myself included at times) are guilty of that. It's a battle to internalize that what we're doing is enough, to keep our expectations realistic, and to find that optimal balance that works for our lives. A lot of what they said about those topics really resonated with me.

middlehaitch wrote: »

This just made me realise, or confirmed, that I'm just a 'gen pop' and I'm fine.

Exactly. I don't have the inclination (nor the genetics) to ever step on stage, and I do fit within what they define as the 'genpop' group who just wants to develop what muscle they can and be able to walk around with a decent physique. I think for anybody who falls within that group, they make a lot of very good take home points.

middlehaitch wrote: »

Maybe except for the length of it, it would be a good listen for anyone who lifts or is thinking of lifting. It puts things in perspective.

Again, I agree. It is long, it's pretty loosely/casually formatted with a lot of chit-chat, but there are a lot of worthwhile nuggets buried in there. I think it's a lot better use of an hour and twenty minutes than watching some mindless TV show.

Keto_Vampire

Really liked the part on how bodybuilders don't know how to do maintenance, everything being cyclical/non-sustainable, extreme, etc.

mmapags

Pro tip. Don't try to listen to this with headphones in bed at the end of the day, I think I got about 15 or 20 minutes in before I was in dreamland!

sardelsa

mmapags wrote: »

Pro tip. Don't try to listen to this with headphones in bed at the end of the day, I think I got about 15 or 20 minutes in before I was in dreamland!

Haha. I find Eric Helms has such a soothing and relaxing voice

Loved this, I have heard it before but had another listen and it's great. Because I don't compete I don't have to go to the extremes under a strict time frame, but I still have very specific goals. I like how they called it being a noncompetitive athlete. I feel like I have found a great balance of doing things, incorporating different bodybuilding techniques but also not jumping into it blindly, hating what I'm doing and losing myself in the process. It has been about figuring out what works best for me.

alteredsteve175

Thanks, @AnvilHead. Checking this out later.

jiggyj9

Awesome post. Can’t wait to listen!