OLD vs NEW BODYBUILDING
One of the most persistent questions floating around the minds of many aspiring bodybuilders is “What is the best way to train to build muscle?”. The answers are as varied as the numerous pieces of gym equipment that occupy any fitness establishment. There are many choices as to the best exercises to use, how many sets and reps, how many days per week to train and what type of program to follow.
Read this article to get insight into the logic of training methods from the Golden Era, and see sample training routines that can help you pack on mass faster than you’ve ever thought possible!
Old school bodybuilding is a term used to describe the bodybuilding practices of the 1970s and 1980s. These practices include the use of heavy weights, low repetitions, and basic exercises.
Most gym members were bodybuilders, powerlifters and others who were trying to get big and strong. Those establishments were equipped with plenty of free weights such as barbells, dumbbells, benches and some cable machines. However, cardio equipment like treadmills, stair masters and elliptical machines were not yet available. Also, many of the fancier machines, that help to isolate and “tone” muscles, were also a thing of the future..
Old school bodybuilders believed that lifting heavy weights was the best way to build muscle. They would perform 3-5 sets of 6-8 repetitions using heavy weights. This type of training is known as hypertrophy training.
Old school bodybuilders also believed in using basic exercises. These exercises include the squat, deadlift, bench press, and overhead press. These exercises work the largest muscles in the body and are the best way to build muscle mass. Old school bodybuilders also believed in using low repetitions.
This type of training is known as strength training. Strength training is the best way to increase muscle size and strength. The old school bodybuilding approach is different from the bodybuilding approach of today.
Modern bodybuilders focus on using high repetitions and isolation exercises. They also focus on using machines instead of free weights. The old school bodybuilding approach is more effective than the modern bodybuilding approach. Old school bodybuilders are able to build more muscle mass and strength.
What are the benefits of old school bodybuilding?
There are many benefits to old school bodybuilding.
One of the biggest benefits is that it is more sustainable. You can do it for a lifetime because it is more about quality over quantity. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym every day.
You can also eat a more balanced diet because you don’t need to eat as much protein as you would if you were trying to build muscle mass.
Another benefit is that you don’t need to use supplements. You can get all of the nutrients you need from whole foods. This is important because it means that you don’t have to worry about the side effects of supplements.
Old school bodybuilding is also more effective. You can achieve better results in a shorter amount of time. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym every day. You can also achieve better results by using less weight.
What are the differences between old school bodybuilding and modern bodybuilding?
There are many differences between old school bodybuilding and modern bodybuilding. The most obvious difference is the type of training that is used. Old school bodybuilders relied heavily on heavy weights and low reps, while modern bodybuilders use lighter weights and higher reps.
This difference is due to the fact that modern bodybuilders are more interested in muscle size and definition, while old school bodybuilders were more interested in strength and size. Another major difference is the use of steroids.
Old school bodybuilders did not use steroids, while modern bodybuilders rely on them to achieve their goals. This is due to the fact that steroids allow you to train harder and recover faster, which leads to more muscle growth.
Another difference is the way that the bodybuilders diet. Old school bodybuilders ate a lot of protein and carbs, while modern bodybuilders eat a lot of protein and healthy fats. This is because modern bodybuilders are more interested in getting lean, while old school bodybuilders were more interested in getting big.
Finally, the biggest difference between old school bodybuilding and modern bodybuilding is the way that the bodybuilders look.
Old school bodybuilders were big and bulky, while modern bodybuilders are lean and muscular. This is due to the fact that modern bodybuilders use a more balanced approach to training and dieting, while old school bodybuilders focused too much on weightlifting and not enough on cardio.
Mental Approach to Enhance Motivation
Motivation to train hard and heavy is something that needs to be cultivated. Sometimes you just don't want to train. What do you do then? How can you make it to where you always want to train? You always want to test your limits. You always want to make your next workout better than the last. How can you create an intense desire to give it 100% and more every time you train?
You have to want the results you are after bad enough to go through the pain and work it takes to get there
You have to sacrifice. Building muscle doesn't happen by accident. Building maximum muscle takes a unique synergy between mind and body. Developing this link of mind and muscle takes some practice and refinement, but the truly awesome athletes work on this daily. The more you can hone and refine this link the greater development you'll achieve.
What Is Motivation?
We are bodybuilders, people who spend many hours a week working toward physical goals to better themselves. There is something built into each and every one of us that helps us crawl out of bed each morning and hit the cardio, squeeze out a couple extra reps through complete exhaustion, and select a can of tuna over a bag of potato chips.
I'm not talking about something you can touch, but rather something in your mind, something ever-present in us all. Motivation, by definition, is a summation of the wants, needs, and beliefs that drive a character. Whether it be to improve our self-image, our overall health, lose fat, win a competition, or attract the opposite sex, bodybuilders have motivation.
Without it, we would go nowhere. In this article, I will explain how to get motivated for workouts, cardio sessions, and dieting, as well as changes you may need to make to your routine to help stay motivated long-term.
What Is Your Goal?
As I mentioned, all of us have a goal or some purpose for bodybuilding. Each bodybuilder has a unique goal. I believe that the first step to getting motivated is to determine your goal.
Perhaps your goal is to get 'cut up' for the beach this summer; maybe you are training for a particular sport, or even if you train just because it is fun and it feels good, you need to pinpoint your goal and always keep it in mind. You must plan every step you take in bodybuilding to bring you closer to your goal.
It is also important that you set realistic goals that you can achieve. As humans, success is one of the greatest things that we can experience. It boosts our self-esteem, our confidence, and it helps us stay motivated. Once we start seeing results from our training and fitness programs, we get motivated to continue until we accomplish our goal.
This is true of everybody. I believe it is the way we were designed. This is why something to work toward - a goal - is essential for all bodybuilders to have. So I encourage you to ask yourself, "Self, what is my goal?"
Avoiding Monotony In A Workout Program:
One important aspect when it comes to staying motivated, and ultimately sticking with a fitness program, is variety. It is a difficult task to complete a program, get in shape, or add muscle to your frame. These are things that take time and patience.
It is perfectly normal to get bored doing the same thing several times a week, but with motivation and proper variety in your routine, you can pave yourself a road to success.
It is extremely important to change-up your fitness routine occasionally. If you are performing the same workouts in the same order on the same days for months at a time, you are likely to get bored. The workouts become very stale. I recommend changing your routine every six weeks, if not sooner.
A variety will increase your motivation by preventing you from getting bored with a program and having it ultimately become something that you dread.
Variety does not only come in forms of changing an entire routine; performing variations of an exercise that you already do regularly can be something new and fun. For example, take a simple barbell curl, a movement that most of us perform, and try an extremely close or an extremely wide grip.
Not only will this help to avoid monotony, but it will also stimulate a more holistic growth of the bicep by targeting different parts of the muscle. Another simple, yet effective way to add some variety to your program is to change repetition amounts.
On a given workout day, decide to try doing a very high amount of repetitions. Even changing the speed of your reps will add variety and help fight boredom! Try extremely slow reps, fast reps, and slow down-explosive up. The point is, try something new!
Try performing a dumbbell bench press - something that many of us lack in our routines. Heck, it may even give your muscles the extra shock they need to promote more growth! Do you really want to miss out on that?
General Tips to Stay Motivated:
Log your progress:
Keeping a log or workout journal can be an excellent way to build motivation. You can look back in it and see how far you have come. Bodybuilding is a journey. It is about dedication. I strongly recommend logging your progress.
Get a training partner:
Training partners are excellent. You can keep each other motivated by encouraging one another and helping each other along through this lifestyle called bodybuilding. A training partner should be a friend, somebody you trust, and preferably someone with a similar physique to yours.
Get a mentor or idol:
This person will give you something to aim for. A real-life example of what you want for yourself. My idol is Marcelo Caraveo. I have pictures of him posted on my walls to remind me of my goal and keep me motivated.
Listen to music:
I really believe that music can make the difference between an excellent workout or cardio session and an average one. Music affects our mood, and it comes out in our training. It can make a workout much more enjoyable. I suggest bringing an MP3 player to the gym with you every time!
Take a break every so often:
It is important to take a week off once in a while, perhaps in the transition from one program to another. It will not hurt you. It is a time for resting and recuperation of the body and mind.
Keep your goal in mind:
This is the most important and effective of all motivation techniques. At times, you might feel like putting the weights down, skipping a cardio session, or eating junk food.
At this time, I encourage you to stop, close your eyes and visualize your goal. What is it that you are working for? Reassure yourself that you can succeed with proper will power and perseverance.
Conclusion.
Of all the aspects that come into the physical side of bodybuilding, I believe that a more powerful force decides whether or not we will fail or succeed in accomplishing our goals. A mental force called motivation.