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Natural Anabolics

VO2Maxima said:
I'm going to propose something that probably will sound crazy: Candito Linear Progression or Greyskull LP.
Those are two very, very good programs that I bet will get you progressing faster than what you're doing now. When you look at them written out, they probably will not look like much volume, but I guarantee once you figure out how to actually lift hard, they will be sufficiently challenging. (In fact, I bet most of the strong guys here would have a lot of trouble running those programs because it would wear them out...honestly the two lower days on Candito would absolutely crush me, for example). But more important than challenging, they will get you stronger...and that's really what's important, right? Progression is more important than "feeling" like something is hard, otherwise we'd all just do crossfit.
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Great post. I'd recommend the Texas Method "template", or Candito's Linear Program for you. Honestly, even the intermediate program would be fine for you, and it would just prevent having to do resets and all.
 
VO2Maxima said:
I'm going to propose something that probably will sound crazy: Candito Linear Progression or Greyskull LP.
Those are two very, very good programs that I bet will get you progressing faster than what you're doing now. When you look at them written out, they probably will not look like much volume, but I guarantee once you figure out how to actually lift hard, they will be sufficiently challenging. (In fact, I bet most of the strong guys here would have a lot of trouble running those programs because it would wear them out...honestly the two lower days on Candito would absolutely crush me, for example). But more important than challenging, they will get you stronger...and that's really what's important, right? Progression is more important than "feeling" like something is hard, otherwise we'd all just do crossfit.
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As much as I like being stronger, will these programs also cause muscle growth? I know strength training makes muscles grow, but to my understanding hypertrophy based workouts do more for muscle growth.
 
SlavicStrong said:
As much as I like being stronger, will these programs also cause muscle growth? I know strength training makes muscles grow, but to my understanding hypertrophy based workouts do more for muscle growth.
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I honestly think that beginners and intermediates spend way too much time trying to differentiate strength vs hypertrophy training. Assuming you're eating enough, if you get stronger, you get bigger, end of story. Yeah, of course there are skill and neuromuscular gains to be made with strength training, but at a certain point, you need to gain muscle. There's some differences in training with very high level bodybuilders and very high level powerlifters, but you're not at that point, and those high level bodybuilders are way stronger than you. Right now, the biggest difference you can make to do more for muscle growth is to eat more. If you eat more and run one of those programs, you will get bigger, I promise.
 
SlavicStrong said:
As much as I like being stronger, will these programs also cause muscle growth? I know strength training makes muscles grow, but to my understanding hypertrophy based workouts do more for muscle growth.
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At age of 16, musclegrow will be there even you just look at weights. Dont overthink :)
 
VO2Maxima said:
I honestly think that beginners and intermediates spend way too much time trying to differentiate strength vs hypertrophy training. Assuming you're eating enough, if you get stronger, you get bigger, end of story. Yeah, of course there are skill and neuromuscular gains to be made with strength training, but at a certain point, you need to gain muscle. There's some differences in training with very high level bodybuilders and very high level powerlifters, but you're not at that point, and those high level bodybuilders are way stronger than you. Right now, the biggest difference you can make to do more for muscle growth is to eat more. If you eat more and run one of those programs, you will get bigger, I promise.
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So you'd say give this program a shot? And for about how long? But Candito's method of progression basically does what I do, increase 5 or 10 pounds depending on the exercise every week.
 
SlavicStrong said:
So you'd say give this program a shot? And for about how long? But Candito's method of progression basically does what I do, increase 5 or 10 pounds depending on the exercise every week.
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If it's already similar to what you're doing, what do you have to lose? ;)
But yes, if nothing else, I think it'll get you past the squat plateau you're talking about. I don't think you should be plateauing where you are and I think it's a programming issue. The assistance work in that program will help with that.
That and paying a bit more attention to your diet will do more than a natural anabolic would.
 
Danes said:
At age of 16, musclegrow will be there even you just look at weights. Dont overthink :)
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Haha it's so true. I loved it. Thought I would grow like that forever. Lifted, ate whatever I wanted, and just grew.

OP, whatever "natural anabolic" supplements you may decide to take, you're going to learn 2 very important lessons:
1) There is no shortcut
2) You can spend A LOT of money on junk
 
VO2Maxima said:
I honestly think that beginners and intermediates spend way too much time trying to differentiate strength vs hypertrophy training. Assuming you're eating enough, if you get stronger, you get bigger, end of story. Yeah, of course there are skill and neuromuscular gains to be made with strength training, but at a certain point, you need to gain muscle. There's some differences in training with very high level bodybuilders and very high level powerlifters, but you're not at that point, and those high level bodybuilders are way stronger than you. Right now, the biggest difference you can make to do more for muscle growth is to eat more. If you eat more and run one of those programs, you will get bigger, I promise.
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This. Even Arnold started with an emphasis on strength, and still recommends this to beginners. You want to build a solid foundation before you try to refine it. A bodybuilder may not be as strong as a powerlifter, but you'll never see a massive bodybuilder who is "weak." You still need to develop sufficient strength, which besides leading to its own muscle growth, will help future hypertrophy based workouts, as you can use more weight for more reps when you're stronger.
 
VO2Maxima said:
If it's already similar to what you're doing, what do you have to lose? ;)
But yes, if nothing else, I think it'll get you past the squat plateau you're talking about. I don't think you should be plateauing where you are and I think it's a programming issue. The assistance work in that program will help with that.
That and paying a bit more attention to your diet will do more than a natural anabolic would.
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Does this website look like it has the correct routine? Invalid Link Removed
 
OP, once again the AM community has given you solid advise. I appreciate your passion and persistence but make sure you are truly being coachable and not simply asking the same questions in different forms until you get an answer that validates your presuppositions. This is not a slight, we all have been guilty of this from time to time. Just be willing to heed the wisdom of us "gray hairs" (or no hairs!) here at AM.

-Cheers
 
SlavicStrong said:
What "optional exercises" do you think I should do?
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Base it on your weaknesses. Take a bench for example...when you miss a bench, what happens? Does it never leave your chest? Do you stall out a few inches above your chest? Do you miss the lockout? Does your bar path get thrown off? Then base it off that...if you miss the lift low, shoulders, chest, lats, and traps will help most. If you miss it high, it's mostly triceps at that point. If the bar path is bad, it's probably upper back (especially if the bar path on the descent gets thrown off) but could also be shoulders. Alternately, base it off lagging areas that you notice in your physique and want to bring up (just be careful not to base this exclusively on the mirror, that's how people's backs get neglected).
 
At the age of 16 I would take a multi vitamin and fish oil. I would not take creatine. The other thing to look into is a good protein powder so you can hit your protein numbers daily,. Especially since your younger and school schedule might make it difficult to eat every two hours, shakes come in handy. At your age you have natural hormones at the highest and you don't need anything other than lots of good food, hard training, plenty of water and rest. As much as these things might not appeal, without them nothing else will work and at your age you don't need anything else.
 
EMPIREMIND said:
At the age of 16 I would take a multi vitamin and fish oil. I would not take creatine. The other thing to look into is a good protein powder so you can hit your protein numbers daily,. Especially since your younger and school schedule might make it difficult to eat every two hours, shakes come in handy. At your age you have natural hormones at the highest and you don't need anything other than lots of good food, hard training, plenty of water and rest. As much as these things might not appeal, without them nothing else will work and at your age you don't need anything else.
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Why not creatine?
 
SlavicStrong said:
Why not creatine?
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Your too young. At least 18. Your body is still developing, and you simply do not need it. your natural test levels are already or are on the verge of being the highest naturally they will ever be, just train hard and eat. Don't take anything
 
SlavicStrong said:
I'm using creatine right now, should I stop?
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Its fine and actually one of the best natural things you can take.

To make it very easy for you:
If you feel your progress is very slow then I can bet you lack one of 3 main factors (or a combination).
-good diet
-good workout routine
-rest/sleep/recovery
 
You don't need to eat every two hours but I'd definitely not buy into natural "anabolics" at your age.

Vitamins/minerals
Creatine

Lifting program with linear progression (if your "new" to lifting)

Adequate sleep

You'll be golden. Make sure you hit your macros daily and enjoy cheat meals every now and again!

Best of luck
 
tyga tyga said:
You don't need to eat every two hours but I'd definitely not buy into natural "anabolics" at your age.

Vitamins/minerals
Creatine

Lifting program with linear progression (if your "new" to lifting)

Adequate sleep

You'll be golden. Make sure you hit your macros daily and enjoy cheat meals every now and again!

Best of luck
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Not buy it due to safety, or money wise? I have money to "throw around", as I have nothing else to spend it on, but I save most of my cash, as I know most supps. are a scam.
 
SlavicStrong said:
Not buy it due to safety, or money wise? I have money to "throw around", as I have nothing else to spend it on, but I save most of my cash, as I know most supps. are a scam.
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Neither. At 16-17yr old you will see a minute benefit from them.

If you're dead set on something, i would look at Fearns Soy Lecithin granules. Not only for the PA content but the added calories from the fat.
 
tyga tyga said:
Neither. At 16-17yr old you will see a minute benefit from them.

If you're dead set on something, i would look at Fearns Soy Lecithin granules. Not only for the PA content but the added calories from the fat.
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It's definitely not necessary, but here is some research showing that creatine an benefit teen athletes:
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I like the idea of Lecithin granules, even just for calories/fat, and healthy choline, without even considering the benefits of PA.
 
tyga tyga said:
Neither. At 16-17yr old you will see a minute benefit from them.

If you're dead set on something, i would look at Fearns Soy Lecithin granules. Not only for the PA content but the added calories from the fat.
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muscleupcrohn said:
It's definitely not necessary, but here is some research showing that creatine an benefit teen athletes:
Invalid Link Removed

I like the idea of Lecithin granules, even just for calories/fat, and healthy choline, without even considering the benefits of PA.
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This! SL is cheap and good for you in so many ways. Should be an easy "sell" for your parents if they are the one buying too.
 
Spend that supplement money on meat instead. Given your age, the only thing you need to do is eat ba ****load, train and maybe take creatine.
 
StatePlan1425 said:
This! SL is cheap and good for you in so many ways. Should be an easy "sell" for your parents if they are the one buying too.
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That's true too, especially since elderly people often have a few tbsp a day. Telling your parents "even grandma takes them" should help put them at ease that it's safe and "not a steroid" (some people think creatine and everything else under the sun is a steroid), unless you have a really jacked grandma.
 
muscleupcrohn said:
That's true too, especially since elderly people often have a few tbsp a day. Telling your parents "even grandma takes them" should help put them at ease that it's safe and "not a steroid" (some people think creatine and everything else under the sun is a steroid), unless you have a really jacked grandma.
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What do you mix SL with?
 
Many solid advices here.
And please: DROP BioGro.

If you really want a supp, go for SL, or, even better, Tr1umph, which has SL, Creatine and other great stuff.
And it's delicious.
I just say this because you seem quite determined to spend on something, and Tr1umph is great in many ways.
Don't go for epi, laxo, ArA and nothing like this for at least 7 years.
 
Honestly your money is better spent else where. You are ahead of the pack by starting out early, and I think your money would better be spent on hiring a good coach every once in a while.

Get away from bro splits, that **** is useless in the grand scheme of training. Bench, Squat, OHP twice per week, and DL once. Vary intensity and volume and consider running 4 week blocks that focus on each, with a one week transition between the two.

We have lifters following similar schemes who went from a 120kg bench to 145kg bench at 69-72kg bodyweight within a year.
 
Don't you guys think PA via soy lecithin would be up his alley? It is cheap, straight forward and effective.
 
Corgio said:
Don't you guys think PA via soy lecithin would be up his alley? It is cheap, straight forward and effective.
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Why? It would not do any harm but at age of 16, he should NOT focus on supplements at all . This month he take creatine and PA, Next month he will buy another thing. Then focus from good diet and good workout routine will decrease.
 
More focused on my diet now more than anything, I've been packing about 1,200 calories just in "snacks" at school. I brought two peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and 2 protein bars, that I eat throughout the school day, not including the actual lunch I get at school.
 
SlavicStrong said:
More focused on my diet now more than anything, I've been packing about 1,200 calories just in "snacks" at school. I brought two peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and 2 protein bars, that I eat throughout the school day, not including the actual lunch I get at school.
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This is a great way to start adding mass. Keep it up!
 
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