Image by laurasmoncur This is the first installment of the “Shah Training is Not Bodybuilding” series. The name is lame, sorry. And I’m not trying to say that there is anything wrong with bodybuilding. I’m just saying that we’re a little different here. And by different, I mean that the Shah Training philosophy is best suitable for the beginner, or average trainee.

The issue that I have with bodybuilding, if you can even call it an issue, is that the average beginner will start off with a split-body program. You have 120lbers telling you that they train their arms 3 times a week, their chest twice a week, and their legs once a week. There is a BIG problem with that.

It all Started with a Debate

I once had a very “heated” but nice debate with my cousin one time on the phone. It all started when he started talking about how much weight he was using and how much muscle he’d gained on a training program that I did not prescribe to him. I basically started out by saying something like, “Why the hell are you following a split training program?”

After that, we went back and forth on the topic until he stated one thing that still stick out in the back of my head:

“Well, if I’m getting results with what I’m doing, how do you expect me to believe that full body is better?”

I responded: “Because I’m the expert.” That’s almost like saying, “Because I said so.”

Yes, for a complete beginner, any sort of training program will yield gains in lean muscle mass. But absolute gains in lean muscle mass is not what I’m really looking at.

Whatever Goes Up Must Come Down

People come back to me and say, “Oh I put on 10 lbs of muscle real quick, but then I stopped eating and I dropped like 8 lbs.” Well duh!

Bodybuilding has something we call “Bulking” and “Cutting” phases. A bulking phase is where you eat a whole lot of food, don’t do any cardio and let yourself get fat just so that you can weigh more on the scale. And then you cut, meaning that you do a ton of cardio, severely restrict calories, so that you can reveal your six pack abs.

I read somewhere that “almost anything will work with bodybuilders because we’re such a dedicated group of individuals.”

That’s true. I respect bodybuilders because of their dedication. I do believe that they are border line insane to be sacrificing so much 6 months out of the year just so they can don some Speedos and stand up on stage with a whole bunch of half-naked guys for some prize money they may not even win. But hey, the rest of the world are not bodybuilders and you need to realize that.

Follow a Long-Term Approach

• I recently gave this example VIA Facebook to one of my readers: “I have cousins who stay super ripped but they only weight 120lbs. I tell them they should probably stay on a mass gain cycle for about 5-6 years to really build a solid base. THink about it, if you put on 30 lbs of mass over 6 years, so lets say you’re 198 6 years from now, and then you try to drop fat (given that your bf% isn’t above 15), then you’ll look amazing at say, 183-185lbs.”

Do you see what I’m saying here? Take a long-term approach to both muscle gain and fat loss and you’ll be more satisfied in the long run. If my friend were to go from 120 to 125 in a month, can you imagine how much he’d have to eat and train for that five pounds of muscle?

We don’t realize how much our body hates change. If we “shock” it too much, then it’s going to think that there’s something wrong. There is some sort of “danger” there and it’ll adapt for a short period of time. But when things go back to “normal” and when we start to eat normal, then our body goes back to normal. Back to 120lbs.

Based on Experience

• I’ll give you guys one last example: 17 months ago, I was overweight at 25% bodyfat. I was addicted to Taco Bell, Starbucks, and Soda. I no longer have any cravings for those three things now. If I said to myself, “oh for 12 weeks I’m just going to stop all junk food,” then I’m giving myself a reason to get in shape, but then also a way to get out of shape. Do you see what I’m saying?

I want to hear your own stories. What experiences have you had with trying to put on muscle and lose fat? What I want to know is which method worked for you? A long-term approach, or a short-term approach?

Earlier today we talked about four facts, or lessons, that we can learn from Dom’s training. Well, what exactly is Dom’s training?Dom’s training is actually very simple, and reminds of a post I wrote about fat loss: “Three Simple Principles for Easy Fat Loss.”

Principle One: Strength Train

Dominic’s strength training routine changes from week to week. He follows a simple split routine consisting of Chest, Legs, and Back. He’s actually lightened up on the leg workouts, but still trains chest and back heavy. Notice he doesn’t really do much direct arm work. Dom gets most of his arm work from chest and back. And if you ask me, he has a pretty impressive set of arms. Dom doesn’t exactly want to be some freaky bodybuilder here.

Principle Two: Metabolic Conditioning

All of Dom’s workouts are full body circuits designed to push his body to the max. But honestly, we do not use light weights. This isn’t some sort of 15lb dumbbell jazzercise workout. This is hardcore work designed to help you get stronger, faster, and leaner. We use movements that work multiple muscle groups at once, such as the Kettlebell Swing and Hindu Pushup, and combine them with cardiovascular activities such as Sprinting or Jump roping to develop intense, creative circuit workouts.

Principle Three: Eat More

Dom’s eating has improved dramatically over the past few months. His caloric needs are extremely high and all he needs to do to continue losing fat is to eat enough to recover, but not enough to put on weight.

The Decision to Train more Clients

I’m very proud of what Dom has been able to do in these few short months. One of the most important things I can ask for in a client is respect. When I first decided to train people, I had a whole bunch of people come to train with me for free. But no one came back, and I felt like I had wasted my time. Just before I made the decision to quite trying to train people, Dom was on my doorstep ready to workout. At first, he was just a training partner, but as time went on, we developed a strong trainer-client relationship. He respected what I had to offer, and took my advice for facts. We can all see the results he’s achieved.

I have two guys that train with me right now. Training both of them has made me realize how immature I was when I first decided to become a trainer. I’m a new person now, with greater knowledge, better workouts, and improved body composition. I’m now ready to take on the world of fat loss, one client at a time.

Stay tuned for more info.

Neaz Noor asked: “So the Islamic month of Ramadhan is coming up in about a month, which means practicing Muslims like me will be fasting every day from sunrise to sundown for a month.

Now, the fasting has several goals including gaining awareness, discipline, empathy for the poor, etc… The funny thing is, a lot of people actually tend to gain weight (fat) by the end of the month because they gorge themselves on food after sundown- totally defeats the point.

Anyway, I am thankfully not one of those people. However, I have the opposite problem: I drop a lot of weight every year Continue reading