I met my first 'bro' today!
LividMuffin
Posts: 47 Member
So it finally happened! Today for the first time, I had the honor to have a conversation with one of those mythical creatures that I've known of from the internet but never seen in real life until now - the 'bro'. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed in the slightest, the bro was exactly what I thought he would be like, having read a tones of stories about them - big, bald, opinionated and 100% right about everything.
The unfortunate thing is that he happens to be the owner of my gym who gave me a month free entry when I came there for the first time, so I couldn't even argue because he was so nice to me!
I just smiled, nodded and thought what the hell.. Here is what happened: I came to him asking how should I structure my workout after missing a whole week of lifting. Personally I assumed he would suggest to do the big compound movements and hit as many body parts as possible to compensate for the missed week. Instead his response was to only hit ONE body part! I would love to hear your opinions on this, I'm not saying he is wrong but would love to understand the science behind it..
When the conversation shifted towards nutrition, that was when the bro really started to shine bright. Apparently to lose fat I can be eating how many calories I want, even 3000 as long as it's mainly protein and I should keep my carbs bellow 50g for majority of the time. What the ****?! According to him the body will take all the protein to only build muscle and the rest of the unused protein will simply come out, not storing in any form. Is it really that easy to trick the basic science regarding calories in vs. out? Also something tells me that 400g of protein and hardly any carbs and low fats aren't quite the optimal diet composition... Not only that the ultra high protein is unnecessary, there is evidence it can actually be counterproductive!
I didn't have the energy (or balls) to argue but he left me feeling like a split personality.. On one hand I know that this extreme old school approach is..well..old and there are much better ways of achieving fat loss/muscle growth but at the same time, he owns the gym and is a massive guy with decades of experience so he surely must know what he's talking about. Can you people share your opinions and experiences with bro diets and exercise splits, articles or join me in the 'confused' team? I don't like this feeling of knowing he is wrong but not being able to say why...:D
The unfortunate thing is that he happens to be the owner of my gym who gave me a month free entry when I came there for the first time, so I couldn't even argue because he was so nice to me!
I just smiled, nodded and thought what the hell.. Here is what happened: I came to him asking how should I structure my workout after missing a whole week of lifting. Personally I assumed he would suggest to do the big compound movements and hit as many body parts as possible to compensate for the missed week. Instead his response was to only hit ONE body part! I would love to hear your opinions on this, I'm not saying he is wrong but would love to understand the science behind it..When the conversation shifted towards nutrition, that was when the bro really started to shine bright. Apparently to lose fat I can be eating how many calories I want, even 3000 as long as it's mainly protein and I should keep my carbs bellow 50g for majority of the time. What the ****?! According to him the body will take all the protein to only build muscle and the rest of the unused protein will simply come out, not storing in any form. Is it really that easy to trick the basic science regarding calories in vs. out? Also something tells me that 400g of protein and hardly any carbs and low fats aren't quite the optimal diet composition... Not only that the ultra high protein is unnecessary, there is evidence it can actually be counterproductive!
I didn't have the energy (or balls) to argue but he left me feeling like a split personality.. On one hand I know that this extreme old school approach is..well..old and there are much better ways of achieving fat loss/muscle growth but at the same time, he owns the gym and is a massive guy with decades of experience so he surely must know what he's talking about. Can you people share your opinions and experiences with bro diets and exercise splits, articles or join me in the 'confused' team? I don't like this feeling of knowing he is wrong but not being able to say why...:D
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Replies
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He probably told you what has worked for him, and many of his customers.
He told you one way, there are many ways out there.
I had a nutritionist from MIT tell me that no one needs more than 40g of protein daily, and that high is only if you're training for powerlifting, she also maintains that the best diet for someone who is intolerant of grains is a diet heavy in breads, corn and rice.
Why? Probably because she's seen it before in her practice, and is working off of what her clients tell her.
Neat thing about nutrition, it's up to you to try it out and find what works optimally. In big bro's scenario, there is a lot of inefficiency. 400g of protein, and what isn't used is passed? Why not eat a little more than needed in order to reduce economic waste? Reason people don't do that is because it's hard to analyze stuff like that.0 -
His idea's on nutrition are foolish and you know that so I won't get in to it in detail. His idea on workouts is worth talking about because a lot of people still do body part splits. They are not the best way for naturals to train (natural meaning someone who does not take PEDs) Body part splits gained immense popularity at about the same time steriods gained the same kind of popularity. This is not coincidence at all. All the top pro body builders use muscle splits, they also all use PEDs. People read about them in magazines or the internet and assume if it got that person so big it will surely work for me. This is not the case. Naturals simply respond better to hitting all body parts 2-3 times a week. Beginners are almost always best suited with a total body workout 3 x a week that focuses on heavy compound movements. There's a reason all the best novice programs are set up that way (ICF 5x5, Stronglifts, Starting Strength). Intermediate lifters can get benefit from splitting the upper and lower body and hitting each group twice a week. Only advanced lifters (this is based on the amount of weight you lift, not the years you've spent lifting but as a rule of thumb, 5-8 years consistent lifting experience) can even begin to make an argument for a "bro" split.
The problem with bros is they think everyone should train the same. This is so far from the truth. Beginners should train like beginners, intermediates should train like intermediates, and advanced lifters should train like advanced. I take the same approach to dealing with bro's. The argument isn't worth it, and there is nothing for me to gain personally from engaging in it. You can't beat a bro in a brodown anyways...0 -
Great Post! Are you sure you are only 19? You are a lucky girl to have it so figured out at your age! I know exactly what you mean by not being able to say why you disagree. I have had the same thing happen to me a million times. It kills me because, you "get it" yet you know he is feeding the same misinformation to many people who do not. Frustrating...0
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That is actually a really good point! I have been doing the compound lifts every workout and some extra work for a certain body part after the main lifts but I am going to get on a proper plan as I realise the progress I'm making isn't as significant as it could be..0
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His idea's on nutrition are foolish and you know that so I won't get in to it in detail. His idea on workouts is worth talking about because a lot of people still do body part splits. They are not the best way for naturals to train (natural meaning someone who does not take PEDs) Body part splits gained immense popularity at about the same time steriods gained the same kind of popularity. This is not coincidence at all. All the top pro body builders use muscle splits, they also all use PEDs. People read about them in magazines or the internet and assume if it got that person so big it will surely work for me. This is not the case. Naturals simply respond better to hitting all body parts 2-3 times a week. Beginners are almost always best suited with a total body workout 3 x a week that focuses on heavy compound movements. There's a reason all the best novice programs are set up that way (ICF 5x5, Stronglifts, Starting Strength). Intermediate lifters can get benefit from splitting the upper and lower body and hitting each group twice a week. Only advanced lifters (this is based on the amount of weight you lift, not the years you've spent lifting but as a rule of thumb, 5-8 years consistent lifting experience) can even begin to make an argument for a "bro" split.
The problem with bros is they think everyone should train the same. This is so far from the truth. Beginners should train like beginners, intermediates should train like intermediates, and advanced lifters should train like advanced. I take the same approach to dealing with bro's. The argument isn't worth it, and there is nothing for me to gain personally from engaging in it. You can't beat a bro in a brodown anyways...
^^^ This
OP - Just the title had me cracking up!0 -
Great Post! Are you sure you are only 19? You are a lucky girl to have it so figured out at your age! I know exactly what you mean by not being able to say why you disagree. I have had the same thing happen to me a million times. It kills me because, you "get it" yet you know he is feeding the same misinformation to many people who do not. Frustrating...
Haha, thank you (I'm taking that as a compliment..:D) And I'm actually 20 in couple months so the wisdom of the adulthood is starting to show..:D I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one feeling the frustration.0 -
Bro science strikes again! :laugh:0
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I lol'ed at the diet advice. As far as training I'll quote a great philosophizer "Everything works, but nothing works forever"0
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Despite his advice... you still got 1 month membership for free!!0
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