Alpha Asian

"In Trying Not To Try , Edward Slingerland explains why we find spontaneity so elusive, and shows how early Chinese thought points the way to happier, more authentic lives. We’ve long been told that the way to achieve our goals is through careful reasoning and conscious effort. But recent research suggests that many aspects of a satisfying life, like happiness and spontaneity, are best pursued indirectly. The early Chinese philosophers knew this, and they wrote extensively about an effortless way of being in the world, which they called wu-wei (ooo-way). They believed it was the source of all success in life, and they developed various strategies for getting it and hanging on to it." Another good book on the differences between Daoism and Confucianism is The Tao of Pooh .

So I was talking to a former coworker at the gym, and he told me about a book he was reading called The Sociopath Next Door .  He was surprised to find out from the book that 4% of the U.S. population (1 in 25 people) are sociopaths: "We are accustomed to think of sociopaths as violent criminals, but in  The Sociopath Next Door , Harvard psychologist Martha Stout reveals that a shocking 4 percent of ordinary people—one in twenty-five—has an often undetected mental disorder, the chief symptom of which is that that person possesses no conscience. He or she has no ability whatsoever to feel shame, guilt, or remorse. One in twenty-five everyday Americans, therefore, is secretly a sociopath. They could be your colleague, your neighbor, even family. And they can do literally anything at all and feel absolutely no guilt.  1 in 25 people are sociopaths?!  Well that may explain the assholes I keep running into.   I was intrigued by this subject of sociopaths,...

Q:  A couple of years ago you wrote an interesting article on Hypertrophy Training for the Ectomorph.   I need to freshen up my routine, and this one look varied enough to keep me interested.  May I ask a question about the weight used?   Should I increase the weight on the lower reps sets; increase weights as I go; or keep the same weight for all of the sets?   I hope you can clarify this for me.   Thanks Dan My Answer: You will need to adjust the weight from set to set to match the target reps.  So your weight should be heavier and heavier from set to set until you do the 15 rep set where you drop the weight.  Q:  Thank you very much for your quick response and great advice. It's much appreciated. Would it be wise to follow the Low T/Fast-Twitch program outlined in your book for say 3-6 weeks at a time, then change it up for 1-3 weeks of higher reps and things like supersets, giant sets, rest-pause, etc...

A good review of Bruce Lee's training principles.  The main takeaway point from Bruce's style of strength training is that high tension exercises are what build strength.  Maximize tension, and you maximize muscle.

Q:  "Just finished Strength and Physique, Volume One . Great book. I am interested in trying the 6 Factors Program. I have a home gym, but I don't have a leg extension machine or a cable stack. Would lying band curls be a good substitute for lying cable curls? "As for finding a replacement exercise for leg extensions, what do you think of walking backwards on an inclined treadmill? I know it sounds strange, but it really works the quads. Set up is simple. Set the treadmill to a high incline (20 to 30 degrees) and a decent speed. Hop backwards onto the side of the treadmill and while holding the rails carefully move onto the treadmill and start walking. Hold onto the rails the whole time. Its kind of awkward at first, but a minute of this will leave your legs burning. The motion kind of mimics that of a leg extension with a shorter range of motion. "Do you have any other recommendations for leg extension alternatives?" Thanks, Matt My Answer: Backw...

Q:  I have bad nutrition, because I am 15 and can't cook. I eat Asian food my aunt cooks and white rice. I am skinny: 5'6" 128 pounds. I have small muscles and about 10-12% body fat. I have two 15 pound dumbbells, a pull up bar, and 5 resistance bands. Any tips or ideas on achieving my goal? Should I buy anything like an EZ-curl bar or a bench press thing? I'm new to bodybuilding. I don't see [any] gains. -Max My Answer- Well Max, a lot of us have been where you are: a skinny teenager living at home eating whatever's on the dinner table. The good news is that your teen years are an optimal time in which to gain muscle. You've got testosterone pumping at full capacity. It's a wonder how any of us guys learned anything during high school when a boner popped up every minute. Anyway, as far as equipment, what I suggest is that you get a barbell with some plates to load on. If you're able to work out at a school gym, then go ahead and ...