Genetics sometimes gets thrown around as an excuse to not be great at what you do or an excuse to not be the best you can be at what you do. The answer I've always had to that is ...
I see a pattern, and I've seen the same pattern for the past several years. I see a lot of questions about the best specific things for a novice and intermediate to do. The best thing for a beginner or novice to do is just chill the fuck out a little bit. You're making shit way too complicated for the level you're at.
You're going to make progress doing anything as long as it's not completely stupid. Yeah, there is some stupid shit that's online but for the most part, it’s not terrible advice for beginners. Even the advice from people that everyone likes to bitch about and make fun of. Don't get me wrong there are some ideas that really do suck but when I talk about beginners I am speaking about those who are doing their very first training cycle.
Last month, I spent a whole day going through YouTube watching a ton of videos and yes, some of them look like they don't train, some of them look like they can't pull 200 pounds to save their life and on and on and on and on. They've got 100,000 subscribers and this and that. Getting past all that, watching some of the videos, I rarely saw a bad video when it came to advice for beginners. Everybody's pretty much very close to being on point for that. Just find a program that intrigues you, that you're a little bit excited about, and just do that. Just follow it through. It's really hard to screw up a beginner with any type of online advice. There is one huge issue I will present later.
Don't try to find the most complicated thing and then try to change it after three weeks and ask 9,000 questions on what to change next. Just stick with something for eight to ten weeks. You'll be fucking surprised at how strong you're going to get. Then, do it again. The next thing you know you're going to be so much stronger just because of the consistency and discipline that you have in sticking with a program.
At a beginner level, you're going to get stronger unless the program is absolutely 100% completely off-base and stupid. They're all going to work pretty much the same for you at that level. Find something that clicks with you, something that you relate to, that you're going to buy into, and go from there. When you're in it a little longer, everybody's going to be a little different based upon technique, skill level, coordination, mental strength and genetics.
Everybody's going to run into a point in time where it's going to have to be a little harder, and you're going to have to get a little bit more particular in the training and so forth, but you're looking at a couple of years for most people. It should be noted this is when most people will quit, lose interest, seek excuses, and move onto something else. Working out is something you can do for life and will always enhance your health and well-being. Training is something that is done with purpose and in time, it will test you. When the first couple years go so well your ego gets pounded when you get tested. This is part of what will make or break a lifter because the first test (sticking point or adversity) will not be the last. You must learn how to overcome these obstacles and in time embrace them because it is through them you will find your real strength.
This is when you realize you are not competing against others but with the weights and your win/loss record isn't based on how many trophies you get but how many PRs you get after being knocked back.
There are guys, of course, that are going to progress faster. They're going to come to the gym and they're going to be strong as shit before they ever do anything. There are going to be other ones that come in and they suck. They're weak, but then three years later, they're strong as fuck. Genetics, sometimes, gets thrown around as an excuse to not be great at what you do or an excuse to not be the best you can be at what you do. The answer I've always had to that is...
How in the fuck do you know your genetics suck if you haven't even fucking tried?
There is no doubt that genetics play a big role in strength sports. You may never be the best of the best or even make the top 25 but give it a couple of years and then if you give it a couple of more years, you make no gains, and you're on a solid program, yeah I'll agree, your genetics probably fucking suck. This doesn't mean you can't get stronger and become better. You can!
You can't sit there after six months and say "Oh my genetics suck. I'm never going to be the strongest." That's fucking bullshit. I personally know lifters who I feel have great genetics for the sport that had to bust their asses for five years before they (we) saw the gift they have. You can't say your genetics suck until you actually give 100%. Again, I'm not saying everybody has the genetics to be the #1 ranked lifter in the world, but what I am saying is if you don't try, you don't fucking know. Most people don't try long enough to be able to know. That's fine if they don't have the passion and they don't like the sport. It's not fine when it's just being used as a cop out. No sport and nothing worth having is ever easy. Can it be easier for some than it is for others? Without a doubt. I would be lying if I said otherwise BUT how many people do you know who have great genetics for something and waste it? I would guess and say there are more of them than there are those who fight with all they have to make it happen.
Remember, it's still about you vs the weight. Trust me, the weights will always win in the end but you can get a few ass beatings in along the way. We all will lose the war but WILL win many battles along the way. Fight like a motherfucker!
More Blogs & Articles From Dave Tate Here
1 Comment