Some of you will look at this title and think what do you mean “complexities”? “ . . .It’s easy – just eat right and go to the gym and lift weights . . . “
For the majority of us though, changing our shape isn’t easy and the fact that many of us do manage amazing transformations is testament to our persistence, determination, consistency, and intelligent approach to the subject, rather than a sign of great genetics.
My own story will help explain – You may have some hope when you see what I achieved despite the doctor’s advice.
I was told by an endocrinologist that “you can train and it will help compensate for your delayed growth, but you are like a plant that starts badly and no matter what you do, you will never be any good.” No matter how hard I worked, it wouldn’t make a difference – or so I was told.
My challenge was to build up to a reasonable physique, in contrast to some who were trying to whittle down to a smaller version of themselves – but the principles and qualities for success are the same.
Understanding the Body: How it Reacts to Nutritional Variations & Muscle Stimulation
I studied everything to find new techniques and better understand my body.Many of the “lucky few” with good genetics, you will find, are actually unaware of the basic principles of physique transformation because they never had to learn them.
Ironically, it is these people, because they look so good, who are sought after by the desperate hordes for answers. They simply relay what they did, which was nothing special, and they quite often know nothing about muscle physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, cycles of stimulation and recovery for sensible program design.
I, instead, always admired those who achieved success despite not having great genetics – they had to learn the science of training and nutrition. My idol was Frank Zane. He had a smaller frame than the rest, yet was one of only 3 guys to ever beat Arnold in competition, and he won the Mr. Olympia 3 times!
My Start in Weight Training: Boys Turning Into Men. . . or not. . .
At aged 14, my interest in weight training started, due to a lagging physique when other boys were turning into men. At the time that some were weighing 60 or 70 kg, I weighed an impressive 33kg (year 10 or third year high school), which I have the medical records to prove.Things didn’t get much better for me in university. I weighed 47kg at the age of 17, and that was after a year of weight training. I creeped up to 52kg a year later at age 18, and I left the university just before turning 21 and at a weight of 65kg.
Stepping Onto the Stage at 66kg, 25 Years Old
Even after 2 years of training and near-perfect eating, I could have qualified for the women’s U52Kg division, without even having to diet.But something changed over the next 20 years.
I completed internationally and won trophies. I devoted my life to training to the point where I had no social life, never ate junk food, never smoked, never drank alcohol, and always got plenty of sleep. I am lifetime natural, (never used steroids or any other enhancement drugs) which is something that is very credible with the fact that at my peak I still only weighed 73kg on stage.
My successes came as a result of obsessiveness and commitment – and a scientific approach to all aspects of training.
An Approach to Training that Works for You
Sheer volume and weight was never going to be the answer for me.I designed new training splits, anabolic (growth) diets, exercise variations, and generally was on a continual search for the Holy Grail – after 30 years, I believe I’ve found the answer.
A combination of the countless hours of research, analysis and training time, my engineering experience and computer programming distilled down to a powerful system.
If your goal is to get smaller (reduce body-fat) rather than bigger, I believe I can still relate and offer some help. I have “simulated” a similar situation to what you may be experiencing. I competed at around 4% body fat, which is a particularly difficult as the body goes into auto-pilot at low body-fat levels, as an automated protection against famines and tries to save the body from going too low in fat, preferring instead to hang onto as much fat as possible as a “safety-reserve”. The hormones are triggered in order to preserve the remaining fat.
So whilst I have not had to try to drop from a weight of 130kg or more, I believe I can relate to, and empathise with, the challenges of dropping weight and battling with a body that does not want to lose it! The principles, discipline, and psychological challenges in going from 18% body-fat to 4% are similar to those in going from 35% to 18% body-fat.
AMP Your Workout Smart Tips; Let’s sum everything up.
- Don’t look for answers from the people who have different body types – e.g. good genetics or who have not experienced the same challenges as you expect to face.
- No matter what you’ve tried in the past, you do have the power to transform your physique using a scientific approach, proven principles, and dedication – I’m walking proof.
- Maintaining or building muscle is an important foundation of any physique transformation. If you need to build up, muscle will give you the pleasing shape and tone that you want (this applies equally to ladies as well as men) – and if you need to drop weight, muscle loss is a major issue, as you will see in future articles. It is imperative that you maintain muscle during a fat-loss program.
- AMP Your Workout analyses and guides your training to suit your genetic strengths so that you maintain or grow muscle as efficiently as possible
More information on these scientific approaches is available at the site AMP Your Workout.com.
