Leg strength

[Kman61]

Most know I am a frequent poster here. A few weeks ago I noted that I once hit a 710 squat natty. Someone jokingly asked for proof. I did not get offended but went looking for my workout cards. In the early 90s I had stopped body building because of my doctoral work. I had a training partner that had his doctorate and we trained together a lot. He was 6'5' and a 185 marathoner. I promised I would help him gain 60 pounds and he promised he would help me finish my doc program. We did legs once a week on Sundays and recorded it all. I pulled my file. I found all the 4 years worth of leg training but could not find the one with the 710 on it. I found the one I am posting that shows where I hit 635 and then 585 for reps. I apologize. One day i will find that card but my training partner is still living so I have do have a witness. FWIW, we were doing a Platz routine. Weeks 1 through 4 we did 20 rep sets. At the height of this two year run I was doing 20 with 495 for 6 sets. Butt to the floor.

Why is this important? Because we did it natty. Yes. But moreso that the human body is capable of far more than we can imagine if we only focus. If you follow my posts much you know I have been around the horn and have competed at a fairly high level for a low life amateur.

This post is not to cover my ass but to live up to my word. Love this forum.

 

[jwilliams2]

710 is good chunk of weight. Most people will never get to that amount of weight even on gear so props for doing it natty

 

[Ahmad90]

Lol im guessing i was the guy that said that. I hope you didnt get offended but a 710lbs squat is a feat most roided up dudes wouldnt even hit. To be a natty that hits it is just plain amazing. How much did you weigh at the time?


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[LevButlerov]

This is one pretty amazing weight to lift. It definitely deserves all the respect for a natty bodybuilder, and even more so for a guy who was working as a doc.

 

[stevesmi]

I wouldn't worry what people say on here. everyone is a smartass behind the safety of their computer especially the younger generation that has been using them since they were 2 so they have zero in person skills and when put in a situation like that have no clue what to do.

 

[muskate]

Great write up. You are completely right. One of my favourite quotes is:

"The human body is strong, it is the mind that is weak."

We often limit ourselves based on preconceived notions of what we think is or isn't possible.

 

[AlwaysBulking1]

How much did you weigh at the time mate?

 

[MikeSnow]

Great write up. You are completely right. One of my favourite quotes is:

"The human body is strong, it is the mind that is weak."

We often limit ourselves based on preconceived notions of what we think is or isn't possible.

I must agree, most people I train think they are struggling with the leg press when it's not even their bodyweight.. They could easily do more but mentally they are scared and weak

 

[Kman61]

I was not in the least offended by the questions. I have answers!
1. 1987 I was BB competitive at 174.
2. 1990 I entered the doc program and went on a diet tear to grow to 220.
3. i agreed to help my training partner grow if he would help me finish the doc program.
4. I hit 710 whilst I weighed between 217 and 220. At 5'8"I could scarcely go from the bedroom to bathroom without a glass of water.
5. I wore a power suit and use marathon double gold line wraps. Five spotters but they were bumpkins because I blasted up and down twice.

I will never be afraid to answer questions here because I will never lie and I owe my success to people who gave me much for free!

 

[gearhead]

bro you've been competing since 1987!? ...amazing

 

[Kman61]

Actually since 1986~

 

[Kman61]

Actually since 1986 to be specific. i am an old fart! LOL!

 

[muskate]

What did your diet look like when you were competing? That's what I'm the most curious about.

 

[Kman61]

What did your diet look like when you were competing? That's what I'm the most curious about.

Interesting question because I had little to no knowledge in 1985-6 about macros. A girlfriend was a nutritionist and she gave me a book on food. It had protein counts, etc. Calories per serving... SO as I embarked on preparing for my first show I ate 3 to 4 eggs and a piece of pita and a glass of oj every morning. I worked with steel so I got a lunch break at noon every day. I ate 1 pound of baked chicken, and two helpings of steamed vegetables for lunch. At dinner after my workout I would eat about like lunch but sometimes I added red meat. I also ate as much brown rice as I wanted, anytime I wanted it. I learned the rice thing from John Paul Guillaume whom my trainer trained when he lived on the west coast. He ate like 8 to ten cups of rice a day so I figured if it worked for him it would work for me. After I met the man who would agree to train me in the GA Championships, he tweaked it some because he knew his way around. Contest week we completely de-carbed starting Sunday night and by Thursday I was a walking Zombie so I got one bowl of oatmeal Thursday night. Friday at noon I started carb loading one piece of fruit per hour until bedtime. Morning of contest, tuna, pita and continued fruit by the hour. I think my diet sucked but I ate so clean and lean that I dropped to such a low bodyfat that my belly button literally popped out. I have no idea how low I got but I was shredded all the time. If you had asked me what a calorie deficit was I would have looked at you like I was dumbfounded. I went totally by how I looked and how strong I was. If my energy levels dropped I increased my intake.

These days I eat 7 times a day and really monitor macros but I lack the general resilience I had in my 20s so I really have to keep diet tight to keep my waist thin which I prefer.

I know the diet I shared is very unscientific and it was to a degree guesswork. I think the thing it taught me was to really pay attention to and listen to my body.

 

[aggirl]

Omg, I could talk to you for hours. Your story is great. I was born in 1986....and you were competing. A lot has changed over the years for you I'm sure. I got involved in this sport almost 12 years ago....things have changed so much and it's hard to revert back to old ways. ...I'm sure it's even more difficult for you.

I hope you stay on this board. We can all learn from you.

 

[Kman61]

Omg, I could talk to you for hours. Your story is great. I was born in 1986....and you were competing. A lot has changed over the years for you I'm sure. I got involved in this sport almost 12 years ago....things have changed so much and it's hard to revert back to old ways. ...I'm sure it's even more difficult for you.

I hope you stay on this board. We can all learn from you.

Probably some of the nicest words i have read in a while. Thank you. There are people here with so much more knowledge than me but whatever I know I will give away. Dan Stone offered to train me for the 1986 GA championships. I wanted MR. GA but AAU owned it. I did compete there but I wasn't ready. When the GA championships came along I was. Tom Armor was the main judge and I did well. My point though is really that I was making like ten bucks an hour and Dan knew I could not afford much so he trained me for six weeks for 150 bucks. he shaved 10 years off my learning. So he paid it forward so now I try to. Sadly I find people at my gym less interested but here in EVO people want to learn and hear from all types of experiences.

 

[MikeSnow]

Probably some of the nicest words i have read in a while. Thank you. There are people here with so much more knowledge than me but whatever I know I will give away. Dan Stone offered to train me for the 1986 GA championships. I wanted MR. GA but AAU owned it. I did compete there but I wasn't ready. When the GA championships came along I was. Tom Armor was the main judge and I did well. My point though is really that I was making like ten bucks an hour and Dan knew I could not afford much so he trained me for six weeks for 150 bucks. he shaved 10 years off my learning. So he paid it forward so now I try to. Sadly I find people at my gym less interested but here in EVO people want to learn and hear from all types of experiences.

Agreed man, a lot of people have great stories and some great knowledge !