Alpha Asian

Q: "I am a 30 year old Asian-American ectomorph in the Air Force. Unfortunately, running is mandatory 3 times per week, since there is a monthly PT test. I want to build some muscle. Can you recommend a workout program? Should I use the one in your article for Bodybuilding.com? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!" -J. Yu My Answer: I don't know which one of my articles you're talking about, since I have quite a few at that site. Since you mentioned that you're an ectomorph, I'm assuming you mean the 10-8-6-15 article . I have no idea what you're doing as far as training, so the 10-8-6-15 program or any of my other programs would help you build some muscle. You need to be more specific about your background. I will say this though: if you're an ectomorph who has to run 3 times per week, then you should eat a lot of carbs and not worry so much about your fat intake. Endurance athletes perform better on a diet that ...

So somebody had asked me, "Do you think the reason Asian males are suppressed (whether in the dating world or the corporate world) is simply because our cultural values does not match those of Western values?" And I replied back that yes, cultural dissonance does contribute to the suppression of the Asian American male.  I also said that racism and limiting beliefs were significant factors as well. But in my reply back ( The Overconfidence Effect ), I only addressed the supposed difficulties of Asian American men in the dating world.  In this post, I'd like to address Asian Americans in the workforce and some of the difficulties we face there. Now keep in mind that I have a rather sketchy employment history , so my observations of Asians in the workforce is a little limited.  I've worked a lot of odd jobs.  I've worked in retail.  I've been a personal trainer.  I was once a reader for the blind.  I've worked for the government.  I've ...

I remember back in middle school and high school, whenever I had approach anxiety with girls, my friends ( especially the girls) would always give me the same advice: Be yourself. I don't know about you guys, but when you're a thirteen year old kid, probably one of the last things you know about is to be yourself. In my junior year of high school one of my final projects was to figure out a "career" for yourself. One of the requirements in that final was to take the MBTI test . I thought that this was such a great description of myself and as a really depressed Asian kid, I took to this like white on rice. I hear this is how cults recruit new members. I joined a now defunct forum for my specific personality type . I had a great time talking to like-minded people online and even met one of them in real life that I'm still friends with to this day. During that time, I honestly thought I was "figuring myself out". But after the the initial giddines...

Q:  My name is Ray and I'm a big fan of your Alpha Asian blog and book. I was checking out your Strength and Physique book on Amazon and thought it looked pretty intense (especially with the super-muscled guy on the cover who appears to have muscles on muscles). Do you think it's appropriate for average guys who just want to look get into good-- but not super jacked-- shape? The term "bodybuilding" actually really turns me off, because I'm not looking to get big. I think the words "lean", "toned" or "fit" are what I'm shooting for. Look forward to hearing your advice and seeing what's new on your blogs in the future. -Ray My Answer:  I'm glad you enjoy my blog and book, Ray.  I really appreciate the praise.  As far as whether or not the Strength and Physique book is for you, don't let the bodybuilding image on the front discourage you.   The book features a wide variety of exercises for you to choose from to develop...

As a strength trainer with an Asian American background, I often get questions and comments from Asian dudes all over the world. A common theme that pops up among Asian lifters is the belief that their Asian genes are limiting their progress in their quest for a muscular physique. I always tell them this: don't let race or ethnicity be a limiting factor in your training goals or any goal. It does not matter if you are Asian or a skinny bastard or a woman. If your goal is to be bigger, faster, stronger, then you still travel the same road that everyone else travels to size and strength. I mean look at Tommy Kono . Here was a Japanese American who grew up in an internment camp, and he became arguably the greatest Olympic weightlifter the US offered to the world.  He was also a successful bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Universe title in 1955 and 1957.  He built a phenomenal physique in an era before steroids. He didn't let race or ethnicity be a limiting factor i...