West side Creator Louie Simmons

[SpageHopkins]

I recently read an "interview" with Louie Simmons in this internet magazine called Testosterone. In it, Louie supposedly says that he has done steroids for the past 28 years, among other things. I am wondering if this was
a genuine interview It does not affect my belief in the training methods used at Westside, I am just curious.
This article was conducted by Louie and Reviewed by Louie.. He feels it is about time people start telling the truth about drug use and quit trying to ask like it is not a factor in our sport. I tend to agree with him and wish
people would start to be more honest about it, at least with themselves. Then maybe we could have true drug free meets instead of having lifters who use drugs saying they don't. Our sport has non drug tested federations for
those who wish to use so why don't they lift in them?

Not sure if this changes my view on Westside training but I am lifting for enjoyment and Max effort is that. Just have to see if my old body recovers. I have always hated how its generally thought that all you have to do is try harder to progress. My experiences are that knowing or accepting what your body is telling you is the hardest lesson. The point that grabbed me about westside is this 3 week period of progress then it halts, my past training shows 3 weeks of great gains then crash never mind no progress I cant start last weeks weight.
I do harbour this secret hope that I am actually naturally strong if I can just get a way past this. Have you noticed that people who are natural athletes do seem to be laid back and if they dont feel like training they wont, perhaps this is displaying the ability to listen to their bodies. This is an observation from my Rugby days when I would do whatever I was asked to do but the best player I knew would do what he felt like and hated training.

[SpageHopkins]

I recently read an "interview" with Louie Simmons in this internet magazine called Testosterone. In it, Louie supposedly says that he has done steroids for the past 28 years, among other things. I am wondering if this was
a genuine interview It does not affect my belief in the training methods used at Westside, I am just curious.
This article was conducted by Louie and Reviewed by Louie.. He feels it is about time people start telling the truth about drug use and quit trying to ask like it is not a factor in our sport. I tend to agree with him and wish
people would start to be more honest about it, at least with themselves. Then maybe we could have true drug free meets instead of having lifters who use drugs saying they don't. Our sport has non drug tested federations for
those who wish to use so why don't they lift in them?

Not sure if this changes my view on Westside training but I am lifting for enjoyment and Max effort is that. Just have to see if my old body recovers. I have always hated how its generally thought that all you have to do is try harder to progress. My experiences are that knowing or accepting what your body is telling you is the hardest lesson. The point that grabbed me about westside is this 3 week period of progress then it halts, my past training shows 3 weeks of great gains then crash never mind no progress I cant start last weeks weight.
I do harbour this secret hope that I am actually naturally strong if I can just get a way past this. Have you noticed that people who are natural athletes do seem to be laid back and if they dont feel like training they wont, perhaps this is displaying the ability to listen to their bodies. This is an observation from my Rugby days when I would do whatever I was asked to do but the best player I knew would do what he felt like and hated training.

[SpageHopkins]

Great quote by a Triathlete being interviewed after a race.

I will have to train smarter,not harder, smarter

[Melas Zomos]

It certainly is no secret, Louie has been pretty open about his use through the years. And from my observations most of the followers do approve and partake. While it certainly helps with gains, roids are not necessary for the westside program. I will admit that in our group of 6 that were going through the program 4 were on.

Every program you encounter, especially powerlifting, is going to have that stain to it. It is just a fact of life these days.

What it really comes down to is your ability to recover. Some recover better than others, but if you are not recovering then you will not make gains and need to implement means to do so. While I am not suggesting taking roids in anyway, what I am suggesting is you have to be 100% with your nutrition making sure you are getting enough clean calories as well as quality protein and bcaa's, post workout stretching, foam rolling, contrast showers, icing of troublesome bodyparts etc....all play a part. This is especially important as you age too I am finding out, with little room for error.

I also found that with the westside program a training partner or two helps greatly. I train alone, and often trained alone when doing that program, but when I did have a partner who also was doing the westside that is where I made the most gains. Typically the six of us would only meet up once a month on Sundays to do our 1rm and bust balls of course.

Judging by the little I have seen, I would say you are naturally strong. Not many people can go in to gym having not trained for a while and do a dead start zercher with that poundage, unless of course they did a lot of shoveling in their day job.

[samurai69]

very important to listen to your body

like the smarter not harder quote, like the boxer over doing cardio, means he can get hit for longer if he cant hit hard and first himself

as for westside ..... hell why not!


as for natuarally strong.........its "old man" strength (i got it too), its years of training in the past, not the quick fix steroidy muscle of todays kids

.

[Cookie]

Not sure if this changes my view on Westside training but I am lifting for enjoyment and Max effort is that. Just have to see if my old body recovers. I have always hated how its generally thought that all you have to do is try harder to progress. My experiences are that knowing or accepting what your body is telling you is the hardest lesson. The point that grabbed me about westside is this 3 week period of progress then it halts, my past training shows 3 weeks of great gains then crash never mind no progress I cant start last weeks weight.

I`m just like you. 3 weeks & I feel like I`m needing to back off or time off.

I do harbour this secret hope that I am actually naturally strong if I can just get a way past this.

Maybe a much slower tapering up of your workloads so that you can break the 3 week jinx.

Have you noticed that people who are natural athletes do seem to be laid back and if they dont feel like training they wont, perhaps this is displaying the ability to listen to their bodies. This is an observation from my Rugby days when I would do whatever I was asked to do but the best player I knew would do what he felt like and hated training.

Noticed the same myself. I have always put it down to the calmer person not producing any extra cortisone & other catabolic hormones out side of the gym environment which helps to keep the body in a much stabler condition. The calmer a person is the more rational their choices will be.

[SpageHopkins]

Not sure if this changes my view on Westside training but I am lifting for enjoyment and Max effort is that. Just have to see if my old body recovers. I have always hated how its generally thought that all you have to do is try harder to progress. My experiences are that knowing or accepting what your body is telling you is the hardest lesson. The point that grabbed me about westside is this 3 week period of progress then it halts, my past training shows 3 weeks of great gains then crash never mind no progress I cant start last weeks weight.

I`m just like you. 3 weeks & I feel like I`m needing to back off or time off.

I do harbour this secret hope that I am actually naturally strong if I can just get a way past this.

Maybe a much slower tapering up of your workloads so that you can break the 3 week jinx.

I am hoping the westside idea of switching between variations to avoid accomodation will work, this also gives me the chance to play with some odd lifts

Noticed the same myself. I have always put it down to the calmer person not producing any extra cortisone & other catabolic hormones out side of the gym environment which helps to keep the body in a much stabler condition. The calmer a person is the more rational their choices will be

I would have said self belief plays a part, the effect of nervous energy under pressure. Perhaps I am saying the same thing?
Let me just say I have posted sometimes on other forums and felt no shared experience but as with this reply I am glad I posted thank you.

[samurai69]

Noticed the same myself. I have always put it down to the calmer person not producing any extra cortisone & other catabolic hormones out side of the gym environment which helps to keep the body in a much stabler condition. The calmer a person is the more rational their choices will be

I would have said self belief plays a part, the effect of nervous energy under pressure. Perhaps I am saying the same thing?
Let me just say I have posted sometimes on other forums and felt no shared experience but as with this reply I am glad I posted thank you.

by that account i should have no muscle/strength at all and keep making poor decisions

[Cookie]

I would have said self belief plays a part, the effect of nervous energy under pressure. Perhaps I am saying the same thing?

I can understand what your saying . Speak with a guy from time to time who has made a massive return to the bodybuilding scene. Huge impact. And was speaking with his a week or two back & during the conversation there was never a single mention or ever not meeting this years goals & targets. It was as if he had already won his qualifier & was ready to pick up his trophies for winning the grand finals

So calm, so calculated, so confident.

Let me just say I have posted sometimes on other forums and felt no shared experience but as with this reply I am glad I posted thank you.

Thank you. We are glad to have you on the forum & look forward to watching & helping, in anyway we can, you progress.

[samurai69]

I would have said self belief plays a part, the effect of nervous energy under pressure. Perhaps I am saying the same thing?

I can understand what your saying . Speak with a guy from time to time who has made a massive return to the bodybuilding scene. Huge impact. And was speaking with his a week or two back & during the conversation there was never a single mention or ever not meeting this years goals & targets. It was as if he had already won his qualifier & was ready to pick up his trophies for winning the grand finals

So calm, so calculated, so confident.

Let me just say I have posted sometimes on other forums and felt no shared experience but as with this reply I am glad I posted thank you.

Thank you. We are glad to have you on the forum & look forward to watching & helping, in anyway we can, you progress.

but most that are like that ...certainly in BBing and some specialist trained sports are like that because they have put in the work and know its going to pay off

self belief too comes from that "quiet confidenc" that comes from knowing you have put the work in


.

[SpageHopkins]

What it really comes down to is your ability to recover. Some recover better than others, but if you are not recovering then you will not make gains and need to implement means to do so. While I am not suggesting taking roids in anyway, what I am suggesting is you have to be 100% with your nutrition making sure you are getting enough clean calories as well as quality protein and bcaa's, post workout stretching, foam rolling, contrast showers, icing of troublesome bodyparts etc....all play a part. This is especially important as you age too I am finding out, with little room for error.

:

I have to say I should be training the Zercher again today for a Max and if you ask me how I feel,I would say I am ready to go. Due to short notice Overtime shift at work today, I will get an extra days rest and Zercher tomorrow.

The only point I will add, is that I never wake up feeling............. I dont want to train today..................it is only when I have got there, done the warmups and start the heavy sets, then I realise ............................should have rested an extra day.....

Could this be my enjoyment of weight training biting me on the bum, I have always looked forward to my training and the only reason I have given up in the past is because of the state of overtraining I have got myself into with injuries, illness, fatigue and not to mention crippling DOMs on the way, with very little progress.

I cannot believe there is debate about whether overtraining actually exists, unless peaking too early is not classed the same.
With the last training cycle I did, I was training up to
Sq 195kgx3x2sets
Bp 133kgx2x3sets
DL 195kgx2
rested 9 days then lifted
Sq 180kg They were real gutbusters and 190kg squat buried me.
Bp 120kg
Dl 200kg Just determination to make the 500 total
Would this not be overtraining or would you call it something else?

[SpageHopkins]

http://drsquat.com/content/knowledge-ba ... ning-split
Just adding this into the equation if you believe in Easy gainers and Hard gainers, the paradox is that Easy gainers have to be careful to get enough rest and cannot train as often.