Seek inspiration from family and friends that will give you straight and honest criticism. You do not need the type of critic who may tell you that Coleman may have to look out this year, that is total bullshit! Be honest with yourself and reach the goals that you set for yourself one at a time. Competing against yourself is much harder than against a line up, I can tell you.
The guys and girls stood on that stage have indeed good reason to be proud of themselves because they have understood the difficulties that’s involved in training serious or not, and overcome them. Analise and criticise yourself before condemning a sport that calls for as much, if not more, commitment in terms of diet and self motivation than any other sport I know.
For example, changing your body from a 9 stone weakling, sand in your face stuff, to say 12 stone of muscle and bone etc, is no mean feat, neither, as you will agree, is it easy? To some of you out there it may be but for the majority, no. That is why you must be more determined to succeed, and succeed you will if you put your mind to it, literally.
I personally am the type of guy who finds it very difficult to make gains, but make them I will. With or without steroids, or even training partners for that matter. But on that note I prefer to train without a partner because then I do not have to wait around only to be told that they cannot make it for whatever reason, and that really gets up my furcking arse!
The guys who usually want to change the world, zero in on me mostly at the weekends, Friday and Saturdays are their favored days. The usual time is about 20 minutes before the pub closes and they come over to me asking my opinion on their present physique.
It is then that I get the normal comment about the fact that the drink that I normally have, that being wine and soda, is a girls drink, and that I should be normal and have a mans drink, which could be anything from bitter or “snake-bite”, Newcastle Brown no matter. The most amusing thing is that there is a definite difference in the fact that their belly’s are usually banging on their knees as they walk, and mine isn’t. I rest my case.
These type of guys, (and they mostly are guys), often ask if they can train the next day, because they would like to show the world just what it has been missing, plonkers! Some do actually turn up, I call them the “Two-weekers”, because they are usually too weak to do anything at all, and the longest they have been known to last is just that, two weeks!
Who gets the blame for that, old Harty! I know that it is not only myself, as a coach, but I know that out there thousands of bodybuilders, ladies and gents, get the same treatment from the two-weekers. But enough’s anuff, about these types of people, (for a while anyway), and let’s be at the coaches who have this attitude problem towards training also.
(Coming Soon – “Bodybuilding Coach Scandal”)
Train Hard, Learn and Be strong,
Mick Hart.
“For anyone considering steroid use” This is a MUST READ… Layman’s Guides to Steroids I and II
WARNING: Do not read this unless you are ready to GAIN Serious Lean Muscle… Layman’s Guides to Steroids III
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
WELL SAID, YEP U ARE 100% RIGHT. have myself come across such losers.
Amen Brother!
Mick,
I’m 54. I had major back surgery in 2007, and it was a year before the doc would let me go back to the gym. I weighed 303 and had been diagnosed as diabetic.
When I got to the gym in late July of last year, I had gotten down to 279. I hit it hard, controlled my diet, and as of today am 227, down to 18% BF from 34%. I still have a ways to go — I wanna get down to 10% before I start adding mass.
It can be done even at my age!
Thanks for the constant inspiration!
completley agree. The ones that piss me of are the ones that laugh at my size or say “youll never get anywhere mate if you dont have a spotter HA HA” well i say to my self i may not be big but in a years time armed with the knowledge im learning from Mick and the laymans guides i fucking will be, so fuck um.
90% of the blokes in our gym in b’ham r 100% dedicated 2 not training on Friday nights or any part of the weekend because it interferes with their beer recreational drugs & junk food intake, pricks! On a Monday they start their first of at least 3 chest & arm routines! Yes they r training but not developing! I train & eat & rest properly. Guess what? Yessss I’m developing & am competing ukfbb masters in Oct, my 1st comp! Thanx 4 the steroid advise Mick…..Paul
Much like Jim I also had back surgery but taking it slowly. What I am planning this year to head out overseas and solid train using the guides as a sort of map towards what I am going for. It is a shame here in the US the use of anablics is criminal unless you have a fat wallet. I am not saying anablics is the only way to go but I have had great results years ago when I did not know the proper diets and schedule of what truly works. I am 43 and have all the symptoms and problems with my back after two back operations. I hope to get in touch Mick with before and after photos of my progress. Diet and traing are the base.. Adios and thanks you are an inspiration…….
yes mick, if you have the right partner,it can be good,but i really dont need some idiot screaming at me half way through a set of squats, or grabing the bar to early on bench ( that is the worst for me). I can create my own intensity, i just wish i could spell.
i know a fella that talks the talk every time he’s had a drink, about how much he can lift an how dedicated he is to training so i finally got him to the gym with me an he was more like the one-weeker, pathetic. Beer talkin as usual.. time wasters
There are some drawbacks to training alone. For instance your choices are somewhat limited when it comes to spotters, you always seem to be restricted to asking either some spotty Herbert with arms like pipe cleaners to help you on your heavy stuff or else its Mr grunt-a-lot carpets under the arms who is the only one around. Apart from that its brilliant!
Mick,
I need a urban slang English(UK) dictionary to follow some of the posts.
“Plonkers”,”stone”, “bollocks??”..LOL i just love it. Reminds me of the movie “Snatch” and such and how i had to watch it twice to get all the slang down, ha, ha!!
I look forward to my inmail every morning while i down a cup of “Joe” reading your informative and joking posts. I purchased the LGSIII over a couple of months but have not been able to read it in privacy b/c here in the States this kind of stuff could get you in trouble in “Amerika”..land of the free yea right?? The best thing about gear and guys like us over 40 is that it helps lube and strengthen our joints especially our shoulders and “Peters”. I would always consider Deca and GH therapy(Aides) for shoulder problems before surgery b/c i have found that is actually does help in rebuilding..my observation in working in MRI fro over 15 years now. My GF loves it when I’m on Test b/c it helps grow ALL the muscles “mate” ;o)..forget all those “Enzyte” commercials!!
Regards,,
Jorge
I have read a lot, i have talked a lot and one person who i believe knows what he is talking about is Mick Hart.I do not want to sound like a back patter (or worse) but so many people who train think they have the answers and so little actually do if any.
totaly agree with you on this one mick
It has taken me a year just to lose a few stones and gain enough muscle to keep my metabolism up and the fat at bay. I still have a way to go to get where I want to be but most people just don’t realise the time it takes to make the difference. The gains are slow but they do come. haven’t used gear over the past year, not to say i won’t but haven’t yet. I train alone at home, so no let downs and minimal time out of my day working out. You got it in one Mick. If there’s one thing I have learned over the the years (I’m 44) is to forget the hype, forget the shit and just get on with it. Don’t look for miracles in this game and that includes the gear. Without hard work, time in the gym and attention to diet and rest outside of the gym you’re wasting you time. I’ve been listening to Mick now for around 15 years give or take and to be honest he’s one of the few who have actually made any sense and he’s bang on everytime with his advice. I don’t give a fuck who believes it because it works for me and he’s been saying it for years only many choose not to listen. Yes even me at times but it only comes back to bite you in the arse if you don’t. Why make the mistakes others have made over and over. Your not the first bodybuilder and you won’t be the last! Join the no bull forum if you want some great advice and suport, and no I’m not on Micks payroll, cheers Davy
Its funny ive just read a post i wrote in march saying how people laughed at me for my size and things, well it hasnt been a year yet but with Micks help and the guys on the board, LMG under my arm i am now here in october with a Martial Arts comp 1st place and in the best shape ive been in since i was in my twenties. I train alone, sweat alone and cry alone but when it comes to training advice and an uplift from someone that has really stuck with it and still is taking the shit that goes with all of it, i turn to Mick and seeing as he has never asked me for any money for all the help ive been given im fucking amazed.
Hey Mick as Rockys wife said I DID IT, thanks to you mate.
Cheers again Ian.
Well said as usual Mick.I’m by no meens a big man..YET!! but 2 years ago i weighed 140lbs,Now I weigh 170lbs .2 years from now I WILL be a 200lb man.
Why? because everyone always called me small,I hated that.But I’m happy that they did now.Because I look good now,I walk taller than them now,my chest is defined,my arms make them look scared,my confidence intimidates.I don’t go to the gym for a chat,or to watch tv,I don’t care if my grunting pisses you off.At the gym I am in battle,at the gym the barbell is my sword,the next rep is my enemy,I must beat you,when I squat down I’m taking the battle to you,when I stand up I have conquerd you…..
This is what I do,this is who I am,if you don’t understand go ask your fuckin donut what it thinks.
Peace.
Yup, I was once a 8 stone weakling and could hardly bench 20kg!!!! After a year of training hard, sticking to a strict diet, laying off the drink and other party stimulants, and may I add without steroids, I was 10 stone, benching 110kg easy (on my own, no spotter, could lift more but don’t wanna risk pinning myself to the bench!!! Lol)
I then had a year of just maintaining this and not taking my training or diet to seriously, so jus held at the 10/10.5 stone weight and pretty much not increasing my strength.
I’ve now for the past three months been taking my diet and training a lot more serious, my weight is holding at jus under 11 stone, my strength has increased, but I’m not getting the results I want, so I’m now gonna do a course of gear.
Now without my commitment and hard work so far I would not have achieved what I have, I’m strong, I’m a nice weight for my size (5’8″ slight frame). And yes I will be purchasing Mick’s books to help me with the course I intend to do!!! Lol
And yes, I get asked every time I’m in the rub-a-dub about training etc etc, I refuse out right, I say unless your gonna take it serious, stick to it, and give it 110%, as will I, I will not train with you. Now to my two ex traing buddies Marky and Daz T, I told you this when you asked to train, two years later they are both BEEFCAKES!!!!! Lol
Nice one Mick, and to the other people who post……………………..keep up the hard work, it gets better and better, LOVE IT BREATH IT EAT IT SLEEP IT!!!!!!
Joely -¦¦¦—–¦¦¦-
D
Very familiar. It would be nice to have a good training partner but I have yet to come across one. Never had one either. They come and go and often 2 weeks is about the timespan. If you want to achieve you’ll have to be able to do it with or without a training partner. It’s an individual road, it’s your thing. A spotter is better for squeezing outlast reps and to use heavy weights but as the example of the screaming halfway through a set of squats, has it’s drawbacks as well and you can definately stimulate your muscle darn well without one. I’ve had times at which lacking a training partner prevented me from training with dedication, but I’ve found that once I push through and get in that zone again, I’m off.
dear mick,
I recently bought 5 decca dur amps and 10 test enan thinking this
would be ok for my first cycle. well i wanted to get info on training etc and i had already heard of you bso looked at your site well wow i think you have saved me from seriously damaging my body just from posted comments i intend to buy the Laymans guide in the nrxt few days. you are a truly trustworthy guy for advice unlike 99% of other so called experts.im going to buy the laymans choose and follow a cycle(suitable) for me and use your books as a bible.you are a inspiration to me and pribably mnt mre. Thank you Mr c MAck
You only get out of it what you put into it.
Consistency, consistency, consistency and oh yeah consistency.
All good stuff Mick…I am a former piss head, it’s easier to spell than the more common name Alky…Been training on and off for quite a few years, doing good at present (gear free). However will get some gear in a few years and be following your advice. Currently 43 years young. I am only squatting 110kg and I weight about 15.5 stone at 5′ 9
“. Should mention I have only been back squatting around 5 months due to a former hip injury. I train on my own as I don’t need anyone trying to pull me down and I find so called friends and sometimes family are the worst offenders.
I like to think of myself as a disciple of pain and the gym is my church where I learn discipline and change (slow but permanent). Keep up the great work mate. Glad someone got the balls to stand up and tell it like it is…God bless.
Thanks Mick, you know how to get a guys engines rolling, just getting back from my tour in Afghanistan in April. Have not been in the gym yet, my job sucks and all the work I put in to get a promotion was giving to someone else. So my confidence level has fucked me up, I’m getting my shit back together and relocated to Texas, our HQ’s. Mick keep up the good work and yes I must compete against me, 52 years old, ’6-4” 225lbs 7-8% BF. I’ll kick’em in the teeth this time around. Later
Hey Mick,
I was a pretty chubby kid growing up and that hurt my self-esteem even though I told no one of it. I was like every fat guy is, wishing and hoping one day there’d be a solution to get rid of the blubber. See, growing up I was an ectomorph till I hit puberty. Coupled with my lazy lifestyle and extremely poor eating habits as a teen, I slowly veered towards endomorph. Anyways, one day I woke up and told myself I will make this change. It is on me to change myself. I am the catalyst. I have since changed tremendously and am still going. Why stop when you can be better? Self-motivation is key for consistency. When you have a purpose, you keep at it.
Love reading your articles, Mick.
Steroids are still misunderstood and frowned upon in Singapore but am glad UK is getting sound advice and links to proper suppliers.
Hi Mick. I’ve been milling around in my head to get into a bodybuilding competition state or national, it doesn’t matter, I simply want to do it and I will look so good along my progression to that stage. Problem is that I’m 56 years old, osteoarthritis, several fused discs in my lower back, bursitis in both shoulders, tendinitis at both elbows, and torticollis of the neck. Somehow, I’ve got to work around these as best as possible. I plan to buy all three layman’s guides sometime next year. I want to become knowledgeable about steroids so that I can achieve the most with the least amount of time and energy when utilizing the remaining 4 years to go all out before I reach “60″ Thanks Mick, Ano