Training with AnimalMass

[Girth]

I know I don't need to do this, but I want to anyway. I've been weight training for about 14 years now, 10 of those pretty much non stop. I spent a lot of time studying, reading, learning, etc. as we all do. I even felt as though I was at a point that I could give GOOD advice to just about anyone that wanted it.

After hitting a wall of minimal progress for about a year, I succumbed to my disgust for inefficiency. I contacted AnimalMass, and contracted his help. Since that time some 8 weeks ago, there hasn't been one week that I haven't made progress. Not a one! All of the below lifts shown are 1RM PR's for me, which I'll admit are tough to post not knowing where I fall in the rhealm of strength.

Parrallel Box Squat - 405
Rack Pull - 505
Dead - 465
Elevated Dead - 475
Wide Grip Pause Bench - 295
Cleans - 260

As I said earlier, nearly all other assistance work has gone up every workout. I'm around 200lbs. and have been eating at maintenance or slightly below while still making these strength gains. That shows how well the program is working.

I also want to point out that my focus is athletics and not weightlifting. And the carryover of these strength gains to my sport has been surprising as well. All except the arm growth which I can't stand, but most of you guys love.

The point of all of this is that I am a very experienced and knowledgeable lifter. And although I hadn't ever prescribed to this belief, there is something to be said about plunking down some cash for a trainer. It engages the psyche somehow to both increase your enthusiasm and drive to succeed. Just as any investment seems to do.

This isn't an advertisement for AnimalMass. I get nothing out of it, and he didn't ask me to do this. I just hate to see wasted effort. And I'm hoping to convince others out there, that the money you spend for a few months of solid training/diet/etc. advice, is miniscule when you consider that you'll have that knowledge for life. In fact, AM is a bit cheaper than some of the other on line trainers that are so well known. And he's versed in any type of training result that you'd like to attain. Not to mention his connections to some of the best minds in the sport today.

Seek him out. I beg, no....fatherly advise you to. His email is: matt@keptprivate.com. Tell him Girth sent you.

 

[Grizzly]

All of the below lifts shown are 1RM PR's for me, which I'll admit are tough to post not knowing where I fall in the rhealm of strength.

Parrallel Box Squat - 405
Rack Pull - 505
Dead - 465
Elevated Dead - 475
Wide Grip Pause Bench - 295
Cleans - 260

On the internet, you're a fucking pussy! No shit. A less than 300lbs paused bench press??? You bitch! I mean, any "How much do you bench" thread will tell you that you are at the very bottom. EVERYONE benches well over 300lbs, despit the fact that I have only seen 5 people in the 10 gyms I've been in in my entire life with more than 300lbs on the bar, and that includes myself.

In real life...dude, you're the man! No shit, those are impressive lifts.

edit- thought I'd clarify something. The "and that icludes myself" portion means that I'm included in those 5 people. Not that I can't lift well over 300lbs. Sheesh, I ain't that big of a pussy.

 

[Girth]

A compliment out of Grizz...I'll note the date. I appreciate the compliment, but seriously though, I didn't put those numbers there for recognition. I put them there as evidence of the NUMEROUS improvements that AM has orchestrated.

I've seen it said so many times, by those that are well seasoned....Hire a trainer. It doesn't make sense to you when you really feel that you know what you are doing. But it truly does make a difference. And I want all those out there to take heed of this. If you are passionate enough, succeeding in your weight training endeavours will make you WANT to pay for AM's advice. And you can ask all the questions you need to in order to grasp the true concepts of weight training and program design. That's where you continually gain from a few months of monetary investment.

 

[wildman1717]

I haven't seen AM around on the boards lately? I guess he has been busy.

 

[Girth]

He hasn't been posting as much this is true. I think competing/on-line training/teaching/and being dad has sucked up any ounce of free time.

 

[AnimalMass]

I'm here - life is crazy though. I'm teaching and coaching all day everyday. Add my online personal training, time with wife and daughter, and training to win my strongman procard, and you have one busy guy.

Girth, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm always looking for new clients - it's so much fun to see people succeed and reach their goals.

Matt

 

[Girth]

I don't know that I'll ever truly reach my goals. I only intend to forever progress, until age or wisdom shatters my delusion of invincibility and I settle for opening jelly jars as a workout.

 

[Phreezer]

I don't know that I'll ever truly reach my goals. I only intend to forever progress, until age or wisdom shatters my delusion of invincibility and I settle for opening jelly jars as a workout.

Matt and I work out together and compete together in Strongman. He's been a good friend of mine for many years. And YES, Matt definitly knows a lot about strength training!

No offense to you but given what you said about yourself before you talked to Matt, I'd hardly call you a "Very Experienced and advanced lifter" who knew a great deal about training.

I know I kind of sound like a prick.. but from reading your posts you're spending a good deal of em trying to come off like some egotistical training expert or something. And again, I looked at what you said and I looked at your weight and your numbers and I just don't see you being anywhere near an experienced lifter or especially an advanced lifter.

Also I wonder about your true discipline or drive... You've paid someone to help you get stronger and or bigger and you usually eat AT OR BELOW MAINTENANCE???? What's up with that? You'd think if you were actually serioius or knew as much as you claimed you'd eat a little better than below maintenance.. So I think maybe you should change your statement to Matt's program is so good I'm getting bigger and stronger despite myself being lazy and uncommitted to my diet...

You say you've been lifting for 14 years? How old are you? You mention some sport that you're playing..Out of curiousity what sport do you play?

 

[Girth]

No offense taken. Am I a training expert, no way. But I have put in a good deal of time and effort, and KNOW that I am much farther in the knowledge department than many on the boards that could use a decent trainer.

You are right in that my numbers aren't that great. I probably shouldn't have called myself an advanced lifter, and stuck with experienced. But I do feel as though I am far enough along in the strength curve, based on my weight. I will be close to OLY squatting 500 with nothing but a belt. Per John Smith "Very few people can do that at 200lbs."

Questioning my discipline and drive huh....Well....I get up every morning at 4:30a.m. to train, so that I can spend my evenings working or with the family. From 4:30 to 5:00 I prepare my meals for the day, have a small breakfast, and get whatever else I need ready. From 5:30 to 5:50, I warm up. Then I lift until about 7. I NEVER miss a workout.

As for my diet, see above as to its preparation. I always get adequate protein, multiple meals, etc. Dedication to a diet, gaining or cutting is not a problem. I've been 230, and 185, all with calorie surlus or restriction. That's the easy part for me.

The reason I have lower to maintenance calories is that I am at 200lbs. I play sports which require a high strength/weight ratio. I know that if I'm under 200 lbs, my vertical is about 40-44". Above that 200 lb. mark, I lose about 6" of vertical and some speed. I don't need more size, don't want it right now. In fact, that's why I backed down from 230. It was too heavy.

14 years puts me at 28. Yup, started lifting in 8th grade, haven't stopped. I'm currently palying basketball, will switch to baseball soon, then some volleyball in the late summer, then back to basketball. I'm not paid to play, but I also play to win with guys that are of the same mindset and above average ability.

My whole point is to prove that no matter what level you are at, a trainer can help you. And Matt is a good one, regardless of who I am or what anyone thinks of me.

But I did enjoy the digs into my integrity. It actually got my juices flowing a bit. Thanks Phreez.

 

[Phreezer]

But I did enjoy the digs into my integrity. It actually got my juices flowing a bit. Thanks Phreez.

Lol..don't be so sensitive... I was only going off of what you said..

 

[Girth]

Like I said, no offense taken. It is the internet after all, and we've never met in person. So getting offended in such a scenario really makes no sense.

I did think about it some more, and you probably have a point about me posting my numbers. That wasn't really necessary. I could have just said that I hit PR's in all those lifts. But I felt that putting numbers up would inspire newbie lifters to contact Matt.

But I digress, as we are taking the focus off of my point and putting it on me. So I'll bring us back with.......WANT TO GET BIG and STRONG? CONTACT ANIMALMASS!