You know, I'm really getting fed up with all these armchair experts who trash classic, old school training and dieting methods, the kind that have worked for decades. These people talk smack about the basics, then try pushing some red-color sugar water administered in an "underground and covert oral syringe" and pass this off as the next best thing since steroids. We'll I'm sick of it, and it's high time someone set the record straight.
My Path
Listen, I got involved in the iron game fifteen years ago thanks to my brother who was a competitive bodybuilder in the '80s. From that time forth, strength athletes have always amazed me. What I love is the fact that there's nothing subjective about lifting. You either move the weight, or you don't. No bullshitting, no crying.
Of course, competing within a sanctioned body, I had to pay attention to a huge list of banned substances. Basically, I knew that if I couldn't get it through foods or if my body couldn't produce it naturally, it was prohibited. If my testosterone to estrogen ratio was greater than 6.0 when I got tested, then guess what, I got tested positive for juice. End of story.
Before retiring from powerlifting and bodybuilding, I got some pretty serious results. As a 220 pound guy, I could squat over 705. Now this may not be a world record, but let me tell you something, the lift was done absolutely, positively natural. No gear. Nothing but the basics-old school training and intensity.
My Secret
More impressive than that lift was the fact that, six months earlier, I weighed in at 205. So how did I do it without juice? Good old-fashioned eating and lifting. During my gaining periods, I did heavy compound movements like the clean and jerk, bent-over rows and military presses. All this was in addition to the three classic lifts, the bench, squat and deadlift.
My Diet
I ate like a moose. Every day, I was eating clean, whole foods and taking in over 6,000 calories: at least 500 grams of protein, plus tons of carbs and fats. Yeah, maybe you've seen some of the diets of lifters from the past. They ate nuts, whole bran, cream, tons of vegetables and red meat.
Well like them, I got great results eating this way. In extreme sports like mine, sometimes you just can't eat enough food to get all the nutrition you need to grow. That's where supplements come in.
My Supplements
With all the new (and questionable) products out there today, many of the proven supplements have been left by the wayside. These basic, time-tested supplements have been ignored for too long. Sure, some may call these classic supplements or old school, but let me tell you, the human body hasn't changed all that much since the dawn of time. We still need protein, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals to live and grow. Discovering the right supplements helped me reach all of my goals.
First, I knew I needed lots of vitamins and minerals. I also knew that if wanted to be a freak, not just any one-a-day pill was going to cut it. In my long search for the perfect product, I came across the incredible Animal Pak years ago. It was and still is the foundation upon which everything rests. I took two packs a day, religiously, one with my pre-workout meal and the other with my first meal of the day. These packs are incredible. They're complete, comprehensive, and no-nonsense. Everything I need from a basic nutritional point of view is here. Pick up a can and read the label. Animal Pak has got it all.
From there, I still rely on the old staples of hardcore bodybuilding: liver tabs, amino acids, protein powders (milk and egg). Yeah, I've also used newer supplements like glutamine and creatine and both have worked well for me. You can't go wrong with 10 grams of creatine, 20 grams of glutamine and 2 grams of BCAAs per day.
Now many of you probably think you're too good for liver tabs, but let me tell you something. Liver is very high in utilizable protein (80% by weight). Unlike processed protein powders, liver has tons of natural nutrients including aminos, nucleic acids, key vitamins and minerals such as the entire B vitamins, folic acid, selenium, phosphorous, zinc, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, magnesium, manganese, potassium, chromium, iron, vitamins A, C, D, K, E, and more.
And yeah, it all comes in a form that your body can use quickly and efficiently. You will not believe the difference liver will make on your training.
My Advice
Basic, hardcore supplements isn't rocket science. They're not flashy, but they're proven in the gym, where it counts most. Like training, sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. So forget the hype and all the "expert" advice out there. Throw out all the trendy new crap and go back to what works: hard training, solid diet, and proven supplements.
Remember friend, always push hard and suffer.