With the wide spread use of the internet as it is now there is a large amount of free information out there for all to see. Now upon creation, I doubt those early users of the internet and of course the self proclaimed inventor Al Gore sure didn’t see the culture of trolls, misinformation, and general idiocy coming about. The internet allows us to find all sorts of treasure troves of information and in turn allow people to become self stylized “Guru’s” of just about everything out there. In the fitness and nutrition industry this is particularly true. Someone, somewhere, read an article that said you should never do X, always do Y, and avoid doing Z too much. They are so devout in their beliefs that they will fight vehemently against those who oppose no matter what sort of opposing information they may be presented. This has resulted in 150 lb “Guru’s” telling veterans of the iron game that they will surely die if they continue to do something they have been doing for 20 years. That they won’t get big (even though the vet may outweigh the Guru by 100 lbs of muscle), they won’t get lean, or they won’t meet their goal if they do something one way or another. This is not sparta, no, no, this is the internet.
Recently, I had yet another one of these instances of someone who can barely squat 225, tell me that I of course shouldn’t do something a particular way in my training, because of course they know everything. Well here’s the thing, what takes someone from 225 to say 405 isn’t necessarily going to take someone from 405 to even 495 and then again from there to say 750. Yet, in the age of the internet, he who has read the most current article knows best. Even though I out squat, deadlift, bench, etc. said person and I have trained people of every caliber from the total beginner that is 12 to the internationally competitive athlete, I do not know what I am doing compared to this person that has minimal results to speak of but has read everything on the internet. Even though my results in my own training as well as the success of my clients, in my opinion speaks volumes, I must not know what I’m doing because I haven’t read the latest article that says I should only eat carbs at X time and that eating too much fat will undoubtedly just kill me.
In the world of fitness, simply listen to people who have done what you are seeking to do. I’m not going to go tell a super heavyweight looking to squat a grand that what they’re doing is all wrong. They squat more than me, so something must have been done right. Does that mean the stronger person knows everything? Absolutely not, but it does mean they have walked the path and taken things to a new level and those experiences should not be discounted.
If I want to learn to squat a grand, I’ll talk to the person that’s done it. If I want to get super super lean and hop on stage to do a bodybuilder show I’ll contact competitors or nutritionists who have done it. I’m not going to listen to the trainer at the commercial gym who looks as though he’s never trained and carrying a gut for fat loss advice. I’m not going to ask the kid that struggles benching 225 how I can get my bench to 500.
Just remember, what you know should be evolving. Don’t be dogmatic in your beliefs, continue learning, continue striving for more knowledge and success. Talk and train with people who are BETTER than your current self. Learn from them. If the internet warriors simply fought as hard for success and strength and muscle as they did on some of their e-penis measuring there would be a lot less mediocrity and more success as a whole.
And for those of you that may be an internet warrior thinking you always know the best way and that your way is the only right way, you’re moronic.
I don’t claim to have the best way of training or nutrition or recovery. But I do have experiences, I have found ways of doing things that work for myself and work for others. If I say something on here regarding a way of training or eating then it’s because I’ve seen success with it, not because I think it’s the only way to do it. In this short life I’ve had so far, I’ve found there are many different ways of getting from point A to point B and not every way is for every person.
I coach for results, not for a belief. If I found that wearing a pink tutu while squatting would give me 50 lbs on my squat I’d do it. Find ways to meet your goals, to get the success your wanting. Climb the mountain of adversity and misinformation and find what works for you. If you can’t seem to meet your goals then start seeking out help from people that have already surpassed those goals and have walked the walk. Don’t talk to the fat person about getting shredded, don’t ask the weakling how to get strong, and don’t give your money to a crack addict expecting a return on investment.
