TheGoodDoctor’s BodyBlog

Hey everyone!

Today i want to talk about training of abdominals.

Personally, i think a lot of people are way overtraining when it comes to abdominal work. Essentially, the abs, are like any other muscle, and thus, will develop the same as any other muscle. They need rest and recuperation in order to grow and develop. Daily training in my opinion simply leads to catabolism and adaptation, two things any bodybuilder wants to avoid at all costs. A lot of my friends, who are also bodybuilders train abs daily, which i think is needlessly excessive. I mean, would you train biceps every day? of course you wouldn’t! Training a bodypart every day is far too much in my opinion, and this goes for the abdominals as well

A lot of people forget, the abs are the key stabilisers of the trunk. when you do free weight training, in particular overhead work (ie, a shoulder press) the abodominals are already working in order to stabilise the core. Most likely each time you go to the gym, they are very likely getting a workout. Thus, specific daily abodominal training on top of that seems way excessive to me, and as with most types of overtraining, is most likely counterproductive.

Myself, i train my abs like any other bodypart, once a week. No more, no less

The excercises i do are as follows:

i)Hanging knee raise

ii)Standing cable crunch

iii)Jacknifes

iv) Twisting crunches

Contrary to popular belief, a ton of abdominal training will not give you ripped abs! i repeat, will not give you ripped abs!

Will you develop the core by abdominal training? Yes

Will you get a shredded core? No

This will only come about via dropped your bodyfat % into single digits. So next time you see another gimmicky ab machine on tv for sale promising to give you a shredded core, please, dont believe the bullshit. 

Now a lot of people are going to read this and say, i train abs every day and look at my abs. Fair enough. But, then look how much time you have spent doing that. Myself, i have got a sliced core just doing maybe 20 minutes of ab training per week. But hey, look at my profile pic and you can be the judge

Ultimately what i am saying is that less if often more, and i think the abs are a good example of this. Keep ab training to once, maybe twice a week and focus and getting your bodyfat down. Then, and only then, will you have the ripped six pack you have always dreamed of 

On a side note, one week down of contest training and i am feeling good. Already starting to harden up a fraction which is good but a little unexpected, for this contest, i should peak nicely in the last six weeks. 11 weeks, and on that note, its time to train

Seeya everyone

The good doctor

Hi everyone

Well, the time has rolled around again, time to get into contest shape. I have exactly 12 weeks to get into peak physical condition, and it has already begun! I’m kinda excited, because i know how crazy i will look at the end of it all This time, I am starting my carb cycle at 200gms, with a high day every forth day of approximately 330gms of carbs. Gradually, i will chop down to 100gms of carbs per day, but this time it should only be for the last month (last time, i dropped my carbs too low too early and was one mean, mean SOB!). Thankfully, this time my staff will only have to put up with me eating so few carbs for the last month! haha!

I will gradually up my cardio too. I am starting off for 40 minutes per day but will gradually build to 2 sessions per day totalling 90 minutes. I am generally a fan of the stationary bike but i might do some work on the elliptical traininer too. occasionally, i will go for a long walk if i have the time (I quite like walking, the only problem being is that it is low in energy expenditure)

In the next 12 weeks, i will eat no cheat meals, and consume no sugar. Thats hard for me because i have a bit of a sweet tooth but i will manage

I will also try to post some progress photos if i can every 3 weeks

Wish me luck guys, I want to win the title this time! (so close last time, finished second by a fingernail!)

The good doctor

Hi everyone!

Been a long time since a posted a blog so now that things are not as hectic now that the new year is over i though it’d be a good time to post one.

Today i want to talk about a phenomena nearly everyone on this site would be aware of, that being "the pump"

The pump is something everyone who bodybuilds will talk about at some point or another. Some bodybuilders go to the gym specifically to get a pump, some bodybuilders live and die for the pump, hell, some even talk about a pump like its some sort of orgasmic experience!

Am i missing something here?

Never in my life have i been interested in the pump to be honest. Now i am fully aware of the studies about blood volume training ect, many bodybuilders live by this rational, and thats fine. Hey, whatever works for you is my philosophy! But me, its never been my focus in the gym. I focus on strength, pure strength. In essence, i go to the gym to get as strong as i am able. The reason for this is because i know if i am getting stronger, i am getting bigger. I mean, has anyone heard of reduced muscle size whilst getting mass strength gains? I haven’t.

Maybe its my powerlifting background coming out but i think about it like this: Both a powerlifter and a bodybuilder can be big. The difference? you will not find a powerlifter who is not strong, yet on the flipside, I have seen many bodybuilders lifting pitiful weights. Many elite bodybuilders figures are rather pathetic i must say

Now this is not to say that there are not some stong bodybuilders, because there are. Guys like Ronnie Coleman, Johnie Jackson and Branch Warren are some of the strongest men around. It interesting to note though that Jackson and Coleman, perhaps the two strongest bodybuilders alive, are converted powerlifers. Coincidence? Maybe

I guess what i am saying is that the pump is no point of interest to me. Lifting a light weight for a bicep curl until its engorged with blood has never stimulated growth in my body, rather, I get good growth out of intense, super heavy rep in about the range of 4-7.

People speak about the pump in bodybuilding terms like its of vital importance, but to be honest, i dont see the appeal

Am i missing something?

The good doctor