For years I believed that if I worked harder in the gym—to failure and beyond—I would grow bigger. I had no doubt that soon my muscles would expand beyond belief…
Hard work and patience, right? Nope. It didn’t happen. Why? I was working hard, but I wasn’t working smart—at least, not as smart as I could have been…
And driving harder on crappy exercises can do more harm that good—like on overhead presses. Can you say “shoulder-joint impingement?”…
I made a number of strides toward smarter workouts—like developing a more efficient muscle-building approach, Positions of Flexion.
But my giant leap in smarter muscle building didn’t come until recently…
What exactly do I mean by smart? It has nothing to do with dialing in the Power Factor or mustering vein-busting intensity…
It has everything to do with figuring out your reason for training, emphasizing the ideal exercise for each muscle, and working out in a sane, safe way that packs on muscle for you…
My reason for training evolved throughout my 45 years of training. My mission eventually became: Stay built for life…
And that led to safer, saner workouts for the most part, as I discovered moderate-weight Density Training. I can thank the late legendary trainer Vince Gironda for that…
My integration of the 4X density method produced significant muscle gains with no serious injuries. That’s due to short rests between sets with only moderate poundages—joint-crushing weights necessary. (See The 4X Mass Workout for more.)
The real ah-ha moment for me was embracing the ideal exercise for each muscle. That was the result of my re-acquaintance with Mr. America and 2019 Drug-Free Mr. Universe Doug Brignole…
His biomechanics expertise and analysis was a revelation for me. While I was using a number of his “ideal” exercises, I was not emphasizing them enough in my workouts.
Once I did, and integrated them into my new fragmented POF workouts that are outlined in the new ebook, startling muscle gains occurred for me quickly, at age 62….
And even more shocking, it happened in a pathetic home gym. I was using only 50-pound PowerBlock dumbbells, an adjustable bench, and a doorway chinning bar.
So while hard work is a prerequisite for making the best gains possible, it’s far from the only thing. Plenty of people work damn hard for years—and not just in the gym—with little to show for their efforts…
Spinning their wheels, so to speak—and they just keep plugging away, figuring someday they’ll get there. Probably not…
You’ve gotta keep thinking and adapting to circumstances, opening your eyes to ideas that make sense. Hanging on to dogma and baseless methods will only hold back your true potential, not to mention waste loads of time…
Stop driving on the muddy, pot-hole-ridden dirt road and get on the smooth super-highway to your destination for more efficient, faster mass creation.
Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.
Steve Holman
Former Editor in Chief, Iron Man Magazine
www.X-Rep.com
3 Workouts a Week, 35 Minutes Each for Jacked Mass
The Efficient, Safe Way to Grow Bigger
No Matter What Your Age
For a limited time, you can get the brand-new Old Man, Young Muscle at 25% off (introductory price)
PLUS you’ll get the Muscle-On, Belly-Gone “Diet” ebook F-R-E-E
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