Firstly, I know damn well that just going hand and working hard in the gym will give results, regardless of program. But my program hopping leaves me without structure and I know that’s bad.

Secondly I’m just looking for book suggestions so I can replace video games with reading. Always been a reader. But video games took over when I was in the military. Right now I’m reading Ayn Rand but that’s not the end all be all ya know? But I don’t know what else I want to read! Thanks lol.

Okay back to lifting.

ADVISORY CAUTION DANGER: Do not read this if you know you will simply say “just do starting strength no mater what.” Cuz this is a long read for you to waste your time on. If that’s your view, can you convince me to just do starting strength beyond “just do it cuz I said so”?

I know you’ll say “don’t over think it!” I can’t. I have no ability to not constantly think and debate and challenge my views and understanding. If you got tips on how to turn that off that’s probably more useful than lifting tips tbh.

Anyways:

I’m always analyzing and debating with myself, about literally fucking everything. But in terms of lifting, my issue is mostly this:

I feel that starting strength is technically the most well designed and balanced program to recruit the most amount of muscle fibers thus building the most amount of strength and muscle on my frame with the least amount of exercises. It’s very balanced and all designed to work together. I bought and read starting strength as well so I know quite well the benefits.

However when I actually do the program, I hate it. Adding 5 lbs each week is either too easy, or all of a sudden way too hard. (Since I’ve been struggling with not being lazy and a bad life circumstances, I have repeated the novice phase of lifting about 5 times now sadly so I’ve tried a lot of stuff lol. I’ve also done stronglifts, 5/3/1, bodybuilding 5 day split, and various “powerlifting” programs)

The first time I ever lifted was my best time. I didn’t know what I was doing. 3 days a week, I went to the gym, squat, bench press, deadlift, go home. I would hit a new 1rm every week or two, and then do that 1rm until I had added 7-8 reps to it and I’d test a new max. I got to almost 1000lb total in about 4 months. My squat was 325, deadlift was about 450, and my bench was only 185. I also ate like a madman cuz boy I can eat and I gained like 30lbs most of which I’m sure was fat. But boy it was fun!

So I’m tempted to just do that again except this time add in rows and standing barbell press and just do those 5 lifts, varying weight and reps like I did before but at a slower pace because I’ve lost 100lbs since my first time lifting and I will not be eating so much!

Then there’s this program that I bought from George Leeman. It’s absolutely brutal, which I love. I suppose the military instilled this in me but if I’m not brutalizing myself I’m not happy at the end of my workout.

It’s very high reps. You start with 20 reps on your first set, on your first day for each exercise. Then, you add 5 lbs every day, regardless of the reps you get as you increase the weight. The idea is that no matter what, you should never stall, and in one year, if you never stall, adding 5 lbs a week to each lift, you should add about 250lbs on each lift. It’s more for squats and deadlifts but you get the point.

What I like about the way the program is structured, is that when I learn new stuff about lifting, I see that George cleverly put all these principles into the program that I couldn’t understand when I was new. Every time I learn some new stuff about lifting, I recognize that George Leemans program covers a ton of areas.

But I also know, that if I were to post the program, 100% of people would tell me not to do it. They would automatically say it’s bad, and all of the shit I’ve been learning and seeing applied in this program, is meaningless. They would tell me to just do starting strength.

So I have that conflict of listening to myself which I usually do, and listening to people who believe that they know more than me. And maybe they do, I don’t know. But I’ve spent the past few years studying lifting and have had paralysis by analysis way too much as a result.

Also, I can’t fucking stand simple answers. If you’re going to say “just stfu and do starting strength cuz I said so cuz I’m claiming I know more than you” That’s not going to work for me. I will not listen to that. I need an argument, I need a debate, I need information to be compared and contrasted I just can’t help it.

I am pretty sure I’m wasting my time on this post. Y’all will tell me to do stronglifts or starting strength and that’s that. If so I’m just going to remain being lost so I hope maybe somehow I can find some guidance or advice rather than “just do it.” At least convince me to just do it somehow lol. Please I need it I’m crazy I can’t stop thinking and debating with myself about all of this, I’m a crazy person what can I say.