Watching youtube fitness on the toilet gang button

I’m 54, I was a bodybuilding gym bro for 30 years. One day after watching Alan on KZfaq, I decided to powerlift. I love it! It’s like I’m lifting for the first time again. Falling in love again. Changing routines is very healthy mentally & physically. Who knows, maybe I’ll try strong man at 60:) Keep going to the gym, stay fit and strong, mentally & physically and “train untaimed” that’s all that matters.

One thing I really like about bodybuilding training over powerlifting training is that if I'm just not feeling it on a day I come in (no sleep because babies were up or stress from work etc.), I don't feel like I've failed if I'm not up for hitting my top sets. I can still push my lifts to failure or near it and even if my reps are less than what I got on a previous session I can be sure it was still a beneficial session. Whereas with powerlifting that would signal: 'Time to deload and drop the weights back down try again in 4 weeks' with bodybuilding it's more like 'I'm going to sleep well tonight and I'll try again in a couple days'.

Interesting following you since 2016 with the perma bulk "only men are over 200lbs" things through the running and getting cut phase and now looking jacked as hell. This is a really solid physique man.

Alan is the wise philosopher of the fitness community. Dropping wisdom and self analysis for us all to learn from.

Awesome to see your journey, been with you for YEARS now. Amazing how our physiques change as our goals and lives change. Thanks as always for being another point of contact to get me excited to go to the gym every day! 🤘😈

This man gets it. I never have bad days; I only have days that aren't great. I never lose more than one rep in an exercise in a week. 90% of the time I either add a rep or maintain reps but with improvements in RIR, control, tempo, etc. That's why I love bodybuilding. No working up to a top set to see whether my bench is bad or good that day. 90% of the time I can repeat or improve upon what I did previously. Muscle building is slow and my program factors that in. I still deload, but that is usually because life gets in the way or because I get sick. In general, no bodybuilding program should require a deload every fifth week. Some will benefit from them, but they're not required unlike in strength-specific sports.

Hopped on the hypertrophy train about 4 months ago and 100% agree with this. Using the RP hypertrophy app has made me reevaluate what I considered RPE levels and forced me to progress without having to think too much. Obviously this can be done without an app, but the relationship with what I'm trying to accomplish has felt like a new paradigm. Also, the elimination of the idea of accessories has been awesome. Starting leg day with 4 or 5 sets of extensions feels great!

It’s so refreshing to have someone articulate the same realizations I’ve had over my fitness journey. Thank you for making this, it really helps 💪

Excellent vid, love the new mindset man.

I believe your channel has aged magnificently. Congratulations for continuing to provide insightful and stimulant videos!

It required a lot of me as a human to be able to get out of my old mentality and try to not think of myself as a Powerlifter only. I think I have come far enough to be able to appreciate bodybuilding as more than just being shallow and wanting to look hot. But just as I was starting to actually listen to your words I see that St Anger T-shirt and realize that my mental capacity to change and my ability to reconsider my beliefs has it limits. I can still hear the faint ring of that snare.

I was in bodybuilding online coatching for two years. I loved it. Bodybuilding is shuch a fun trainig. Powerlifting is other kind of fun. But it tears your body down. I was in pain training powerlifting.

I started hitting the gym 4 months ago and I'm thankful I already knew about NH, GVS, Basement Bodybuilding, Steve Shaw, Alexander Leonidas & BOM.

This is why I love block periodization. I'll spend a month peaking for a meet, spend a week getting back into lifting, then spend several months doing what is essentially bodybuilding with an emphasis on sbd. I'll do variations that I have fun with and that are different while doing a plenty of different exercises and I can kinda just cruise and throw on muscle, then when my next meet is coming up ill spend a month or two in a strength block, then spend a month peaking.

Been watching Alan for years and he still manages to make videos with messages I didn’t know I needed to hear! Thanks for the years of free useful advice

Watching you go through this process is so cool! I’m no where near as strong/advanced as you, but it’s awesome to see you make similar discoveries to the ones I’m making. It’s incredibly motivating and reassuring.

Awesome video brother. I too enjoy bodybuilding, while including the major barbell lifts. But I'm so over doing my 5's!😂😂 glad to hear training has become fun again for you. God bless!

As someone who has recently shifted from bodybuilding training to strength training (as part of a planned progression), I feel the bad days in my soul. Appreciate your anecdotal experience 🤙🏼

This makes so much sense. I have also been doing a bodybuilding style training for a few weeks now. I do like the variety and the pump. Thanks for the great insight, Alan.

I’ve found a lot of the same things have happened to me in my training. I’m still focused on chasing my powerlifting goals, but in the last year or so I’ve found a ton of value in implementing a bodybuilding approach to my accessory work. Also just being free to hit whatever exercise I want or weights/reps that feels good for the muscle group I want to hit is so much more sustainable in the long run.

I havent considered my workouts to be powerlifting, strongman, or bodybuilding, yet I use components of each. My only goal has been to get stronger and more efficient in my movements, to be healthy in 20 years when I have grandkids running around. Every day is a challenge and I feel privileged to be able to use my home gym. Another rep, another pound, another day. A previous comment mentioned the RP app, and that has made programming easier and more enjoyable. Just being consistent and loving the journey.

The best workout type, is the one you find entertaining. Thanks for great content, you a beast man.

Just wanted to say thank you for your video about lower back injuries (from 2017). It really changed the way I've dealt with injuries and niggles, and helped fix a nasty back injury sustained on deadlifts.

I started watching your channel years ago to learn proper squat/deadlift form years ago. Recently ive started watching natural hypertrophy and its cool to see you dive into body building as well

Definitely agree with no bad days in bodybuilding. It's not just attachment to a lift and the weight and ego, it's also the repetitive stress and possibility unsuitability of the powerlifting movements for so many people that causes the bad days. Bodybuilding gave me the freedom to search for and adapt movements that fit my relatively fucked up body, meaning I can really go for it in my workouts without worrying about my weird pelvic bone imbalance or the fused vertebrae I have etc. I train legs almost entirely with single-leg variants, even on machines and avoid about 90% of the joint pain I used to experience. Am I ever gonna have Tom Platz quads or a 600lb squat? Probably not. But I imagine I'll be walking in and out of the gym for about 30 years longer than I would have otherwise.

very wholesome video, i have also switched from a powerlifting training to a "bodybuilding"-routine. i went from chasing numbers to having a higher frequency session every day.

Fully agree with everything said! I love training for sport, strongman, powerlifting etc, but bodybuilding style training just me makes me feel good. I also don’t dread it on days when I’m tired or really busy.

Love this perspective. I've beaten myself up over "bad" days many many times.

I'm going through a similar journey. I've been enjoying more body-building training lately, too. Thanks for the video.

Aweosme video Alan and super helpful and thoughtful! Please keep making these videos on your perspectives coming into bodybuilding from strength training!

I needed to hear this. Thx Alan.

Alan. Thank you for the video. You gave this older man a lot of food for thought concerning the different worlds of strength sport; including bodybuilding.

What an absolute pleasure to listen to. Great video, Alan!

Bro! Way to go man! Your physique has really improved, I can see it on the thumbnail. Your arms and shoulders have gotten much bigger!

Glad this is coming at me a year into training SBD instead of 10! Thanks Alan, great video

Thank you. Ive been listening and watching your tips and tricks for years. You have inspired me during my heavy days. And have given me the ok to have grace with myself and to keep going. I have powerlifted for the past 8 years or so. I love going heavy, but my body has been back firing on me lately. I am a homeschool Mom of three and i need my energy to go towards my family. But i can have a good day lifting in the gym too. Thank you for your encouragement always.

Nice! Looking good brotha

I'm doing more bodybuilding now, I have always trained all of my exercises just as importantly. I never understood why the bent over barbell row was not as important as the bench press.

Great video. It is always refreshing to change up your program.

Super inspiring and realistic stuff man-

Been away from this channel for a while so i felt warm and fuzzy hearing the outro again. My favorite. Ftr I was never a powerlifter but I can confidently say youre just in the honeymoon phase Alan. Lets have another video after a full year 😊

Alan, I always enjoy your content. I honestly looking forward to view each of your new videos.

Great video as always

Good stuff Alan👍👍

Thanks for posting this. For Recovery reasons I switched to a bodypart split, and will admit I've been treating arm day as my "easy day". I'll go into it with more focus on each rep. Thanks for all your help and anecdotes and instruction over the years.

Go to the gym and have fun. Train hard and smile. Do your best and do better next time. Thank you for the video!! 💪

I trained the big three for years before acknowledging reality slowly over time. Bench never hit my chest, just my shoulders and I couldn't progress. Squat form got super shady above three plates a side, I could hit parallel and kept progressing but my quads never felt it. Deadlift, my form off the ground, at an arbitrary height determined by plate diameter was terrible. Once locked out I could rep 200kg for reps, but that first rep was always sketchy as hell, and I never felt it in my hamstrings. Nowadays I do RDL's with a super slow eccentric to feel the stretch, I use a Prime chest press machine all set on the bottom range of motion, I feel the target muscles and perform every rep under control and with full ROM. I do pendulum and reverse hack squats which feel great on my lower back and allow me to touch hamstrings to calves and feel the effort in my quads when my knees go as far over my toes as they can whilst still keeping pressure through my heels. Beyond that my pulling, pushing and isolation exercises are all based around what feels best for the muscle and the joint. Getting stuck in a particular doctrine, BBing, Strongman, Oly, Powerlifting seems to just end up with most people who are not suited for those particular disciplines wasting effort and time pursuing goals that have no relation to their real life. Do those things if you are pursuing those goals, beyond that, take what you like from each, fit it into your programme in a manner supported by research and your own lifestyle.

Man, these last 5 months of bodybuilding is really showing on your physique. Good job 👏

Great video! I’m currently in a mix of higher rep range and doing my 4x4 and less for my strength gains in my compound lifts! You inspired me to embark on a body building journey next year and really chase those bodybuilding style Workouts!

Nice shirt fellow metalhead. Your shifts in perspective over the years have been inspiring. Thanks for documenting your journey

Some really great points and realizations here. I'm a pretty competitive person, so back when I was doing powerlifting and later crossfit, every workout felt like a competition with myself and everyone else and it was exhausting mentally. My transition to bodybuilding has been really refreshing because as long as I get a pump and get sore the next day in the muscles I worked, I know I put in good work and it doesn't matter if I didn't got that extra rep, or put more weight on the bar/stack. It's surprisingly freeing, and I'm almost always psyched to get back to the gym as soon as my soreness from the last workout has waned. That and my ADHD brain loves it!! If I get bored with an exercise, rep range, volume, I can change it up and not feel like I'm setting myself back somehow. But at the same time, moreso than crossfit, it feels like I can still keep track of my progress even if I'm changing up my exercises every few weeks/months. Also, as I get older, injuries become more and more of a concern. Because I'm no longer lifting weights that are best for 5 reps or less, the weight on the bar is less and the control is far more important. Basically bodybuilding for me is the art of making lighter weight feel heavy. In doing so I reduce my acute and overuse injury risk as well as systemic and joint fatigue. If you feel burnt out with powerlifting, seriously consider bodybuilding, you might be surprised just how much you enjoy it!

Awesome Vlog, thank you Allan. Im 51 and also feel like weight training is my meditation.

Great video Alan!

you've made great progress Alan!

The progression stress went away when I started doing bodybuilding. I still progress just fine. I'm stronger now mid bulk than I was at peak bulk last time but I don't stress progression anymore. 💪🏻 Good to see you doing great! Also, haven't needed a deload since switching to bodybuilding 👌🏻

I combine strength training with bodybuilding and it works very well for me at 69 years of age. I started training when Sergio Oliva was Mr. Olympia, so I have years of experience. This was a very good video.

I love this comparison video. Very helpful.

very good assessment Alan!

Yeah dude I get it going through the same thing , it’s all the same as long as your pushing yourself and enjoying looking good and strong Alan.

This is why I'm glad I discovered powerbuilding very early on when I started lifting. I actually have always concentrated MORE on taking the accessory movements to true failure because it won't mess me up as badly as, say, blowing out my core with taking squats to failure (...ask me how I know right now 😢). Also, vanity. Lol I will say the slower strength gains as you get stronger, and the more frequent plateaus, get VERY frustrating with strength training. Mentally I do the exact same good day/bad day thing. It can definitely suck when missing a deadlift basically makes you feel like crap for the rest of the day.

Solid work

Love your videos! Suggestion: show yourself entering into your log .

Going through a terrible lower back injury where I've barely been able to train for the last 9 months now, your description of good and bad training days is so familiar. I can't wait to get back to training, just for the simple enjoyment of it. If my back ever does heal, I will definitely take more of a bodybuilding approach so I don't get stuck in the mentality of always having to hit big numbers and have good day (which is what led me to fracturing 2 vertebra and 3 herniated discs)

Looking jacked my friend. I started powerlifting around when you did but switched over to bodybuilding overtime and kinda stuck with it by accident. I still lift heavy but it allows me to do more things and I also love looking more sculpted while still having plenty of strength. Also, I just program strength mesos if I want to push strength and take a break from building. It’s a win win. PS, as you become more advanced, your required set volumes go up along with the weights and it very much has a similar effect of “breaking past the wall” in order to get training started that you described with strength training. As someone who has done both, they both equally are tough as shit except I tend to vomit more with bodybuilding when sets get super high and the muscle feels like it’s being completely destroyed. Different kind of pain but still pain! Good stuff

Looking great Alan!

Great video Allen.

You're a solid thinker and a great writer, Alan.

I'm loving the bodybuilding content, particularly since I've also switched in the past year and a half. I'd really like to see you on some RP style training, moving from 3-4 RIR to 0 RIR over a 6 week meso, with a deload at the end. Super slow eccentrics and pauses have given me the best gains in my life. I feel like you'd like squat shoes on the hack as well!

I really echo powerbuilding as the most psychologically rewarding way to train. There is great psychological benefit from the muscle fatigue and pump from a good bodybuilding workout, just as there is with hitting a PR deadlift. My sweet spot has been averaging heavy compounds overall once-twice a week or less, and then filling out the week with bodybuilding workouts and movement workouts where I use resistance bands to go through any sticking points. I’ve been hitting PRs, looking thick, and having the most fluid range of motion I’ve ever had.

It feels so good to get confirmation of that 12 weeks grind here in the video and in the comments. I walked the powerlifting path for years from 5x5 to 531. Even with all the programmed deload weeks, it seems like I couldn't run these programs for longer than 3-4 months, often failing right before the next PR. I really considered giving up lifting as a whole. I started a bodybulding program, week 10. Wish me luck.

Everything you said in here, particularly about powerlifting and strength lifting after 12 weeks leaving you exhausted and needing to build back up to the same weight, is why I’m about 12 weeks away from just switching to bodybuilding and not caring about numbers anymore. The stress on my body is just so much. I’m trying out Candito’s new 8 week program and so far it’s very low stress so I might be able to handle it, but I’m growing very sick of leaving a powerlifting workout exhausted, mentally and physically, having added next to nothing to the bar from the week before. At least with bodybuilding, I can do similar movements, but chase a pump and so as long as the muscle feels worked, even if I don’t feel tired, I’m good. We’ll see what happens. What I need is a good bodybuilding program that’s only 3-4 days a week and doesn’t take forever in the gym. We’ll see what happens.

Very insightful thanks Alan

Thank you, Sir!

great shirt from Death (10.40) and nice to get your insights to the change in training with your level of experience

Wish the younger crowd would take this to heart. Seems like all they're interested in is your point of "only heavy weight is needed for the warriors to get strong!" mentality. I was the same back in the day, focusing on S/B/D and half-assing the accessories. I got stronger (at a 1RM level) at those movements back then compared to now, but my physique/motivation looks better now than it did 7 years ago, which is odd when I should be recovering "worse" now than before. And I find it more fun to do calisthenics + actually stimulate the muscle instead of hyping up myself up to do a set of 5 (which i still do for DL/Squat, since I'm a little underwhelmed by how much "strength" i lost for those movements)

I am by no means a professional as a strongman or a bodybuilder, but I do love it, and have been doing it since 2008. Coming to strongman & powerlifting after building a foundation in bodybuilding, a lot of what you are saying resonates with me. However, in my case since I came from bodybuilding, I have taken a lot of what you are saying for granted. Its really interesting to me to hear your side, coming from strength training to bodybuilding, and makes me wonder how much of this stuff we have internalized along the way, and how much it affects our performance and recovery.

That handstand push-up rig with the bands you got there is elite. Never seen that before

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

I definitely enjoy the flexibility that comes with not being attached to the Big 3 (or 6) Lifts, very useful in crowded gyms where you can't afford to wait for equipment.

My dude you perfectly summarized my love for the gym.

Great video! Relate to everything you said.

This is your best message

That’s what I like about mixing strength and builder focused training. Always some progress in one way or another

Great video bro

I love you have the thoughts of saying “sets of favhe” for the people that resonate.

Great one😎💪🏽💯

This one resonated with me so much at the moment as I take a backwards step from powerlifting. Great video. Highlight, however, was Crowbar's Planets Collide playing really, really quietly in the background whilst you were doing preacher curls.

That first point resonates with me. Its nicer mentally to just try and get a pump instead of worrying about performance

He's such a chill dude

Amen brother. I learned that bodybuilding is for me about 6 months ago. Age 47 and feeling awesome since stopping the power lifting.

Very insightful

Bodybuilding style workouts allow for better recovery time for me especially if doing other activities like jiujitsu and running.

So thankful!

Needed this one

I've competed in power lifting and strongman for 40 years. I did a side plank Clam shell for the first time yesterday. You are never to old to learn new things.

Great video and looking friggin awesome! I started bodybuilding then got into strength/powerlifting focused training. I now try do both but do sometimes suffer the performance disappointment you mention, which makes training less enjoyable.

Your closing comments on why you love lifting almost had me tearing up a little. Thx

Great video ❤

Damn Alan you really are going to war on those isolation sets! No wonder the gains are coming so fast