Bodybuilding.com's workout plans... legit or not?

[MrEgo]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/male-20to39-muscle-building/intro

I was just skimming through this workout plan. I hear good things about this website from guys who are pretty legit in the gym, but I don't know if their success was related to their own dedication or what they read on there.

Anyway, has anyone tried that particular routine or a routine similar to it from Bodybuilding.com? If so, what did you think of it?

 

[Exodist]

Good question.

I cant say they are good or bad, but the "Hard Core 12 Week Trainer from Kris Gethin" is less then impressive. He talks about you should do this and this to get this, but anyone who starts out in week one benching 300 pounds with dumbbells is already fn loaded with muscle. He just needed to go on a diet and loose his beer belly he put on over the summer.

 

[teatime0315]

I browse BB more than AT. and the knowledge there is very legit. If it wasnt for BB then i'd still be a skinny dude. Now I at least have a good amount of muscle and actually look like i lift.

 

[teatime0315]

Also dont expect to gain what they claim. everyone's body is different, you may take a longer/shorter period of time to achieve what you want. Diet is key also.

 

[MrEgo]

I'm not an amateur at lifting. I can bench 300, squat 375, etc. I just never really read up on routines, I just kind of went into the gym and started moving weight. I'm not trying to look like Ronnie Coleman in 12 weeks, but I have hit a plateau. I need to mix it up and get on some kind of structured routine.

 

[Lamont Burns]

I'm not an amateur at lifting. I can bench 300, squat 375, etc. I just never really read up on routines, I just kind of went into the gym and started moving weight. I'm not trying to look like Ronnie Coleman in 12 weeks, but I have hit a plateau. I need to mix it up and get on some kind of structured routine.

That's some horrible muscle imbalance, benching 300 and squatting 375. 300 and 375 are some odd numbers as well. Why not a 315 bench?

 

[tedrodai]

That's some horrible muscle imbalance, benching 300 and squatting 375. 300 and 375 are some odd numbers as well. Why not a 315 bench?

Usually people don't limit themselves to only 45lb weights. If fact, 5 lb increments are pretty common once your gains slow down. And horrible muscle imbalance according to what? The muscles used in bench and squat are not exactly opposing muscle groups. Moving on.

Bodybuilding.com is an awesome source of info, but there are a LOT of guides written by a LOT of different authors. So, as you can imagine, some are legit, some aren't. The guides also cover a wide range of audiences and goals. So take advice there as you would from anyone...and don't rely on any single source of information.

 

[MrEgo]

That's some horrible muscle imbalance, benching 300 and squatting 375. 300 and 375 are some odd numbers as well. Why not a 315 bench?

My squat is on its way up because I just recently (relatively speaking) started doing leg exercises. My body was obviously getting out of proportion. However, my bench has been pretty stagnant for awhile, and actually, I have some kind of pain in my left shoulder that's preventing me from benching right now. I'm going to rest for a few weeks to see if it heals up. If not... off to the PT I go.

Like the poster above mentioned, I don't just go from 225 to 315. I utilize plates that are less than 45 pounds. In fact, I can bench 300, but I cannot do 305. 300 is my absolute max right now and not just some fabricated number. Three years ago, I was able to do 320, but I ended up straining my left shoulder because my form was out of control.

I'm trying to work around anything that doesn't require a chest push. It's pretty difficult because so many good exercises require it.

 

[Exodist]

If the pain is bad enough to consider seeing a PT, then like many of us from time to time should have prob already went to the PT or Doctor. You may be able to catch something before it gets really bad and really hinders your training goals. I have to applaud you for getting to 300 on the bench as that takes dedication alone. Most I ever got to was 225 and after a 7 year break I am back to ground zero, or aka one zero zero..
It may take me a solid year or two to get back to anything close to 200 again.

 

[Lamont Burns]

Usually people don't limit themselves to only 45lb weights. If fact, 5 lb increments are pretty common once your gains slow down.

Alert the press.

And horrible muscle imbalance according to what? The muscles used in bench and squat are not exactly opposing muscle groups. Moving on.

According to human physiology. /over your head apparently.

Bodybuilding.com is an awesome source of info, but there are a LOT of guides written by a LOT of different authors. So, as you can imagine, some are legit, some aren't. The guides also cover a wide range of audiences and goals. So take advice there as you would from anyone...and don't rely on any single source of information.

Redemption of sorts.

 

[Lamont Burns]

I'm trying to work around anything that doesn't require a chest push. It's pretty difficult because so many good exercises require it.

Good luck on that. I'm trying to figure that out as well. I pronate my grip and use DBs instead recently, or you can try an underhanded bench press. The latter being more awkward to learn.

If someone could come up with something that worked, with ease of access that activated your sternal and clavicular muscles without using your anterior delt or cuff, etc., they would be rich and smart and I would love them. However the motion itself, for purposes of strength or mass basically preclude that.

I'm doing heavy 3x3 one day, and lighter the other with a smorgasbord of RC work to strengthen my shoulder. If this fails I will do 1000 light flys every other day. It's italicized!