The Two Categories of Lifters

The Two Categories of Lifters
.
Category A: The Put-On-Some-Weight Guys – I can’t relate to these twerps who want to get super strong but refuse to gain weight. They have little or no muscular development, they’re around 6’1″ and weigh 135. You can see their collar bones sticking out from a mile away, and their elbows can be used as weapons. They have no muscle to begin with and are terrified of losing their abs. To add muscle, you have to take in a few more calories than you burn off. Yes, you can gain muscle and lose fat, but the people who do this already have some muscle to begin with: a fat-loss “engine.” If you fall into this category, I’m not saying to increase your body fat to 20%. All I’m saying is that if you’re looking to add size and gain strength, 10-14% is going to be a lot better for you than 4%.
.
Category B: The Get-in-Shape Guys – You can spot these oafs a mile away. They show up wearing high top Chucks, a shirt that says Go Heavy or Go Home, a shaved head or beard, and what I call proportionate fat. Hey, I’m all for filling out your weight class, but it’s a huge mistake to fill out four weight classes over the muscle you hold on your frame. Certainly not at the expense of your conditioning and recovery. Seriously, folks, you can weigh whatever you damn well please, but if you can’t walk 100 yards without stopping to catch your breath, then you really need to get your fat ass into shape. I’m not saying you need to be a marathoner, but I’ve seen a shitload of lifters who are in such bad shape I have no idea how they even make it through a squat session. If you happen to be one of these guys, you might want to think about getting a sled, or maybe walking every now and then.
.
Of course, if given the choice, I’d always take a guy from group B over group A. It’s much easier to teach a guy who already has some underlying muscle to eat clean, than to try to convince some bean pole that it’s okay if his abs disappear for a while.
.