I thought I was going to move on to other bodybuilding subjects after my rant on aesthetics, but I was asked about my own training and physique early on compared to Jonathan’s, my co-worker at Iron Man magazine and training partner for almost 20 years.
It’s interesting because Jonathan had excellent genetics for mass and aesthetics compared to me…
There were good and bad edges having Jonathan as my training partner. Luckily, he was aesthetically minded—both of us wanted to look like Bob Paris not gargoyles; however, one problem was that he was more mesomorphic and so responded better to lower reps and heavier weights…
Heavy training didn’t do much for me—not much growth and usually injury. So we tended to use a combination.
I knew some high-rep sets benefited both of us—so we usually included them, but Jonathan wasn’t a fan. Still, he was good about allowing me to design our workouts. As Iron Man’s editor in chief, I was in touch with the research and those in the know, like Jerry Brainum, Jose Antonio, Ph.D., and Charles Poliquin…
But like almost all bodybuilders at that time, I was under the misconception that heavy, low-rep training was the best way to build mass for everyone. And to muddy the waters even more, it worked for Jonathan, so I kept doing it too…
One year our goal was to squat 500 pounds. I was a decent squatter because of my build—fairly short legs and strong glutes—so I thought I could hang with him and get there…
After many months, the day came to put 500 on the bar in the rack. Jonathan did two strict fairly deep reps. I was impressed and psyched. I shouldered the bar and felt my spine smash down like an accordion. I was able to squat it for one shaky rep, but I’m sure my depth was high…
Luckily an ambulance wasn’t needed, but my spine was never the same. I still have trouble with my back from that gym stupidity some 20-plus years later. For example, if I oddly twist exiting a car, and I flip onto the ground screaming.…
In the photos below, I was in my late 30s and Jonathan in his mid 20s. Notice that I have fairly narrow shoulders and a wide waist. Jonathan’s clavicles are also somewhat narrow, but he has a much smaller waist…
I also tend to have flat muscles—pecs and delts—whereas he has fuller, rounder structures. His ability to round out his delts, as well as his small waist, helped make him look wider. And let’s not even talk about back. Okay, let’s do. Jonathan’s was Arnold-esque…
Photographer Mike Neveux said Jonathan had the best arms and back he had ever seen on a natural bodybuilder. His comment on my physique was, “Well, at least you can get ripped.” Here is me at age 50, when my body fat was near its lowest. Ectomorphs can get cut fairly quickly. Jonathan always had trouble in that area (at least I could top him on one thing)…
What’s the moral of the story, besides that I missed my calling as a distance runner? Never stop experimenting or learning. Do not be closed minded and think you know it all.
If muscle is what you want, don’t give up—no matter how shitty your genetics. You can build muscle and create the illusion of size and even more aesthetics.
It’s been 48 years from when I first picked up a barbell, and I’m still enjoying my workouts, experimenting and learning—and proud to look fairly decent in my early 60s…
If you want to reap the muscle-building knowledge of my mistakes and experimentation over almost five decades, keep reading this newsletter—and get a copy of Old Man, Young Muscle. (yes, another shameless plug)
Sculpt your perfect physique: Get the ideal exercise for each muscle, the best add-on moves for ultimate mass, complete 35-minute workouts, exercise start/finish photos, and details on building muscle fast and efficiently in Old Man, Young Muscle.
And you still get The Muscle-On, Belly-Gone “Diet” ebook FREE for a limited time when you add Old Man, Young Muscle to your mass-building library. Go HERE.
Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.
—Steve Holman
Former Editor in Chief, Iron Man Magazine
www.X-Rep.com
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