By: Ron White

As I sit here going through my emails that I have received from many people that are in the iron game or are just getting a taste of the weight training "bodybuilding bug", I have noticed a common thread among all of the questions that I have received recently.

I would like to share a few of them with you and give you my feedback. I know we are all different and what works for me may not necessarily work for you, but there are some absolutes that apply to all of us. So with that, let me begin with a few of the more pretty normal yet interesting questions:

[ Q ] How long will it take for me to gain the muscle size that you have gained?

A: I am asked this question quite often, and I never know how to answer it without dashing someone's hopes of fast muscle gains and overnight growth. The answer is always "It takes time, and the amount of time depends on several factors: your genetics, training, body type, exercise and dietary habits and most importantly your desire and determination.

There are these factors and more to consider? but in any case it will not happen overnight.

In my opinion I really don't think it matters how long it takes unless you are pursuing bodybuilding as a profession. After all, all that we have on this planet is time, so why not spend the time that you are here building the best possible physique for you? After all, it is the body that you will have for the rest of your life.

[ Q ] What types of supplements do you take and what is your diet like?

A: I take a multitude of supplements, as they are necessary for energy, recovery and recuperation. I usually don't say which because we are all different and what I use may not work for someone else? but supplementation is a must!

As far as my diet I always seems to be in "muscle gain mode", so no matter what I eat I make it a point to have a meal every 2 - 2.5 hours to make sure that I am getting adequate balance of proteins, carbs and fat for maintenance and growth.

Click here for energy products.
Click here for recovery products.
Click here for recuperation products.

[ Q ] What is your training routine like? Can you email or send it to me?

A: This is always easy to answer. I have no idea! I usually tell most that I do keep a training log, but each workout is different as I go by how my body feels and I "listen" to what my body is telling me.

After years of training you do get to the point that you know what will work, what won't work and when your body wants more or has had enough.

For me it is hard to tell anyone what works, but the compound, basic movements such as bench press, squats, deadlift, t-bar rows, military press go a long way in starting the physique on the right track. And did I mention? SQUATS!

Too many beginners and a few more advanced lifters neglect the legs. I was one of those for some time until I figured out that "you never see a big tree with puny roots". And if you are a beginner, concentrate on the free weights. The leg extension machine is nice, but it is the barbell and squat rack that will put the muscle mass on and makes you GROW!

[ Q ] I want to get big like you, but I can never seem to find the time to get into the gym...

A: Well, this is not really a question as it is a statement. Whenever I get this question I always think of when I was in an audience of a talk show and there was a group of highly successful people on stage fielding question on what they did to make it to where they were today.

These were movers and shakers of finance, business, industry, media and the like. This one woman stood up in the audience and asked this highly successful restaurateur "how can I get into the restaurant business? I have always wanted to start a restaurant and make it a success".

The restaurateur said to her "what you can do is first get a job in a restaurant, even if it is just being a cashier or waiting tables to get the feel of how a restaurant runs, what it is like and get into the inner workings of what makes a restaurant run". The woman then replied "well, that sounds like a good idea but I have to take care of my house, run car pool and fix dinner for my family and other things".

It was then that the successful restaurateur said to her "Then ma'am, you must not want it bad enough". I will never forget that exchange, because it is so true, and it was that one remark that motivated me through all the years of my training and my desire to "Get Big".

Whenever I manufactured an excuse in my head to not go to the gym for my daily workout, the phrase "then you must not want it bad enough" would echo through my head like a shout in the Grand Canyon! And yes, that would motivate me into the gym big time! I have told many a person that story, and it is effective when taken to heart?

YOU GOTTA WANT IT BAD ENOUGH!

Conclusion

Well, this is but a few of the questions that come to mind. I'm sure that there are many more that I have not touched on, but will again in another posting here.

Before I wanted it bad enough and today at 45 years old!

In the meantime I am taking a dose of my own medicine and am off to the gym, because I really do want it bad enough! And yes, still feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. I am always happy to help, whether you're 18 or 80.

In the meantime, hit those weights!

thebigguy1@hotmail.com

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