Natural Limit or Strength Plateau?

[@AlexLeonidas]

Most guys who claim to have reached the natural limit are simply facing a strength plateau. The truth is that most guys are VERY FAR from reaching their "limit". You would be so surprised how strong you can get naturally, just look at the old time strongmen from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The standards back then were much higher than today, which is a damn shame! We live in a time where exercise science and knowledge is at its highest, yet people keep settling for weak as hell numbers. Let's RAISE the standards and find out methods of becoming the best versions of ourselves. Fuck drugs!

[@emin4704]

AlphaDestiny Amen to that

[@matthewkyle9576]

AlphaDestiny do you not think that the records of strongmen in the 1800/1900s are exaggerated? How could they possibly be more efficent at strength training than modern day athletes who have access to countless articles etc and dont have to rely on trial and error like the old guys would have had to.

[@AlexLeonidas]

I think the numbers are definitely legit, and many have been documented as fact in competition. Some lifts were obviously staged in the circus world, but you best believe that most of these dudes were strong as hell.

[@TheMFingCoo]

AlphaDestiny most of the time the limitation comes from self doubt. The individual doesn't see them self being able to push past the plateau. Sadly most never try. When people have asked me how I made a breakthrough to get into the mid 500s on squat in my mid 40s I tell them that I put weight in the bar that scared me a little and trusted the safeties.

[@matthewkyle9576]

AlphaDestiny when you say "most of these dudes were strong" do you mean the average male in the 1800/1900s or the world class strongmen of the 1800/1900s as both pale compared to modern standards.

[@Julius1997.]

my goals 405 bench 585 squat 660 deadlift 235 ohp 150 db bench 120 db shoulder press gonna take a loooooooong while.

[@MONyxOthefgtxD]

Pepe commando you will get it I know you will

[@AlexLeonidas]

Solid goals my man!! I like the way you think

[@cristiansmistad1823]

You might miss some of those that you're not naturally built for but you'll definitely hit at least a couple if you go balls out and put in some years!

[@jmorel42]

Pepe commando you'll look like a fat fuck why would you want to hit those numbers

[@Julius1997.]

Satisfied Pepe WHATEVER IT TAKES hindenburg modus

[@godwavenexus]

I want a 315 overhead press above all else.

[@3Runner95]

People lift for a year and start to plateau or just get slower gains.. "i'm hitting that natural limit brah"

[@AlexLeonidas]

Haha funny but true

[@cassadycampbellofficial]

If there was a contest for the most jacked man on the planet you would win by a landslide.

[@AlexLeonidas]

lmao your comments kill me Cassady :P

[@patron7906]

What's with the name change? Are you now training to look good in clothing?

[@kaishadowninja5989]

yeeeet

[@Broski458]

Train to look good in shorts

[@jimwalker7569]

Cassady Campbell I think bugenhagen still has him by a bit

[@G4BriEL777]

Keep up this kind of videos Alex! It's nice to see a guy who is not only strong as fuck, but also motivating, mature and intelligent. We need more men like you, in this day and age where men act more like bitches than bitches themselves. Respect & Salute from France

[@AlexLeonidas]

Merci Gaby, je suis content d'avoir des personnes comme toi qui est parti de cette communité.

[@ibrahimismail8670]

I love how this man speaks.

[@mk-19memelauncher65]

Ibrahim Ismail yeah I'm glad I subbed

[@willwebb1934]

Facts!!! I'm 41yo and squat 5 plates and rack pull in the 800. Bench 365 1 rm. my son is 17 and squat 4 plates. I don't have great genetics. I've bro split seriously for 2 years and just started the NE program this January. so rack pulls are new 2 me(fighting 4 that 1000). my body fat is 20%....my son is 5'8 and muscular but slim...but he eats everything. so there are no standard I go by. it's all heart and dedication

[@willwebb1934]

when I say my son squats 4 plates that's on each side...405pds

[@DaukszPSN]

+Will Webb good on you and your son💪

[@mistermiyagi6073]

whats the point of squatting 800 pounds like a mule?

[@willwebb1934]

Moe Ghouti it's some big women who like being tossed around...

[@jeremyfranklinwhitfieldthe2171]

Good stuff will, what were your strength stats before and after NE?

[@BHWpeyoteman]

I'm 12 and deadlift 500lbs. I expect to be hitting 900 by them time I'm 20

[@TheOmz97]

BHWpeyoteman ur numbers are as real as rich piana the vegan natty

[@kevinstone7114]

BHWpeyoteman 50lbs*

[@onry714oc]

BHWpeyoteman lmao

[@kaishadowninja5989]

hshsshahaha

[@CapyDiff]

Pete Rubish?

[@MrSkinnyWhale]

I'm benching a plate a side atm. Pretty sure I've reached the peak of human ability, gonna call it a day.

[@elioavila99]

Alex how you should have said it is, " shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars".

[@AlexLeonidas]

You know I wanted to lol, but I hesitated to prevent cliche :P

[@ButcherTV]

just hit 315lb bench for 10 reps, which was my max exactly 13 months ago :D . bodyweight only increased by 15 lb. im aiming to hit 4 plates this year and my lifetime goal is 5 plates at around 200 lb bw, all natural. dont listen to weak losers setting limits on u

[@ButcherTV]

instagram: lets_bench

[@mk-19memelauncher65]

ButcherTV I think you are stronger than this guy

[@emnaq3]

I' looked at your video, your reps were half reps and your butt came of the bench, still impressive nonetheless.

[@ButcherTV]

i train like eric spoto. constant lockout on high rep sets destroy your elbows and i train my lockout seperately as i did 475lb pin press this week. my back mobility has improved tremendously over the past year, so my lower ass is always on the bench. if it wasnt, then i woulda snapped my lower back a while back. going for 405 in a month or so

[@ButcherTV]

+adhil Habib i specialize in bench. alex doesnt

[@tserings2228]

Discovered Alex from Omarisuf, but now I've been watching the AlphaDestiny channel so often that I just press the like button before I even watch the video.

[@Rhino11111111]

You deserve more subs, I only wish I found your channel years ago, no bull shit just straight to the point advice. I can see your channel being massive in the future with a bigger production

[@ungiftedlifter8617]

Boom just gave you that 100 like man, you deserve so much more subs! One of the only real guys out there...

[@ssj9devil]

I'm 14 and my Prs are Bench- 165 Squat- 240 Deadlift- 275 Rack pull- 365 Overhead press- 100 I would like to get stronger, but I'm dropping weight right now so I'll try to at least maintain. Wish me luck!

[@keiarash5058]

This is embarrassing. I have a 135lb bench, 315 deadlift, and 155lb squat. I've been lifting for 2 years and I want to build these numbers up, but I have shoulder impingement, knee pain, and back pain. So I mainly focus on exercises like pullups, dips, and machines.

[@SuperTank121212]

Keiarash Exactly the same, but even worse deadlift and squat numbers, I get that I'm not even close to experienced but I'm really eating enough and watching after my progressive overload, so hearing about "225 bench after one year" kinda stumps me

[@ninodroid2382]

Keiarash I do 20 pounds bench press and I am 19 yrold 😂😂

[@Broski458]

NinoDroid don't worry bud you'll get stronger just keep trying fuck haters we all start somewhere

[@AL_FARID_23]

well said

[@pantelisgeorgios1]

Keiarash we have the same numbers lmao, i cant increase them too :/

[@talder123]

My first ever deadlift at 14 years old was 300lbs weighing 150lbs. I deadlifted no belt no straps no chalk and double overhand because I knew nothing. Tried 315lbs right after same style and it didn't budge. Didn't start working out for real until I was 16 doing calistentics and started weights when I was 17. Now I deadlifted 675lbs x 2 reps after front squatting 470lbs in just a belt. I know I will get 800lbs no day or even more as a natural. Been training for 8.5 years now too. I know I will make slow gains for the next 5-10 years until I hit my natural limit. At least I've been progressing again after a year of no progress as I was experimenting with programming and it turned out to be a fail. Training has improved now.

[@AlexLeonidas]

More gains are on the way brother, lifts are phenomenal for your training experience too.

[@carlosartalejo2849]

I've been doing your for Novice program for 2 months and is giving me all kinds of GAINZ BRO!! I'm 16 years old, 6' tall and 145 pounds and I went from literary the naked bar to a 185 squad X 5, 225 deadlift X 5, and 135 bench X 5. Thanks for putting up great content, keep it up 💪

[@carlosartalejo2849]

Well it is working for me, I don't see why you can't do it

[@ThePitPony]

The internet is both a blessing and a curse for strength training.The down side is that human beings in general need to be 'led' and are highly suggestible, they also take the easiest road instead of the road less travelled.Also most gym goers are not interested in even spending a couple of sessions ingraining technique,neglecting that alone will limit their ability to train for a lifetime with the least amount of injuries possible. Alan Roberts is spot on with his opinion that most are too scared to go into the unknown with a heavy weight.

[@TariqulkingRS]

I like this guys style. Very straightforeward, no sugarcoating. Real good shit

[@Mike_Marovelli]

So much good content. People go to the gym and spin their wheels for months not making any progress. The people making progress train hard but they also train smart and spend the time to research programs and work within certain percentages of their max

[@infinteuniverse]

I've been lifting on and off since I was in high school. I used to religiously train with bodybuilding style lifting for the majority of the time. I was convinced that I was at my limit at least twice(strength and size). I pushed through without ever realizing how. I remember I would do 5 sets of 10 on all my lifts, then I would stop being able to increase the weight. Then I remember I'd get discouraged and I'd go to the gym and only lift heavy, and low and behold, my strength would increase all over. Then I'd plateau for another year.. wash rinse repeat. When I found your channel, I put two and two together, and I realized why I broke through my plateaus each time I did. I was only left feeling a bit frustrated knowing that I could have been much much stronger sooner with much less frustration if I had known all this stuff. My last plateau on bench press was 275(even with bad programs, you can reach decent lifts, and I'm what people call a hard gainer), I recently decided to take your advice and made a program for myself with full body concurrent periodization. 300lb bench by december, why not?

[@DNO_Fitness]

19" arm 450 pound bench natty crew checking in. It took 15 years of consistent hard work and intelligent programming. This was some real talk. I'm stronger than the majority of people I know, however, I know that strength far beyond mine is possible without drugs. I went to elementary school with a guy who played in the NFL for 15 years. Without working out he was stronger than most grown men by 12 years old. Genetic freaks exist. I also know an undefeated wrestler, State champion, etc. who smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day and ran a 5:30 mile with ease. He didn't even exercise outside of practice.

[@AlexLeonidas]

Very impressive Dominic

[@tamasmezei5074]

Q&A: Top 5 favourite workout and PR crushing tracks

[@Kian_Mansour]

You're looking great Alex! As a young aspiring lifter, your videos really inspire me. Keep at it man!

[@hollis218]

Randomly stumbled across your channel and you've just reawakened my gym drive! The level of accuracy in this analysis is so high. Anyone watching this video and reading this comment should apply it to all areas of life. Social constrictions of your mindset will hold you back; 'oh you'll never make money doing that...you'll never be as successful as X because Y couldn't do it either...you'll never lift more than that without drugs.' Break the cycle bros 🙌🏽

[@freedom7475]

So true bro,I got sucked into this,until u recommended fullbody! Been doing this for 2weeks and already beating my PR lifts! Thanks Brother for the Real advice!Keep on with helpful videos! Hello from New Zealand

[@skywalker2402]

Hey Alex, I'd love if you made a video on music for working out. I really love music Eric is listening while attempting pr's, but I dont know what are they fucking called, shazam won't do shit for me, and also I'd like to see what you personally like except dbz themes.

[@DreamFlightStudios]

I really like your message and videos man. I also like you mentioning oldschool bodybuilders as examples because when writing articles or trying to motivate others they are who I use for example as well. I also really love this video on natural limits being used as an excuse, I see that everyday and am glad you made this. Getting into training I always wanted 20 inch arms. It was something i obsessed over, I trained everything equally but the arms was were it was at for me because when I started I was just sick for 7 years, weighed 91 pounds (I'm 6,1) and my wrist, forearm and upper arm were the same size and it embarrassed me. I did the typical bodybuilding split of today's Bros and hit about 16.5 ,17 but I was stuck there for a long time and people told me that was probably my limit and I believed them partly. But then I reached out to Bill Pearl for a interview, and he ended up helping me develop a routine and in a year I had 19 inches, 19.5 pumped. I haven't got to 20 inches yet because I fell very ill again (I suffer from a reoccurring chronic disease with no cure just treatment) and could not eat solid food a year so dropped 40 pounds. But I'm recovering now and getting back. Before I was sick I'd watch KZbin videos all the time, read constantly and learned everything I could and training. But when I fell ill again I fell out of the industry, stopped writing, doing interviews ect. Your videos are the first ones I've watched and enjoyed again. You are a great representative of the industry and example for people.

[@kotallysavage6496]

Alex, my strength standards for intermediate are 1.3-1.5x bodyweight bench, 1.5-2x bodyweight squat and 2.2-2.5x bodyweight deadlift. What do you think of this? The reason I made these is because I don't like how your standards are based on absolute strength. They're obviously not for people who are abnormal and they're open for changes depending on how achievable they are.

[@Myrmecia]

Hi, AD. Thanks for this video. I hope it has the desired effect. Three suggestions: (1) You consider changing your benchmarks from pounds to % bodyweight. For example: Every man without illness or disability should be able to deadlift 2.5 x bodyweight (2) You make some allowance for age for older lifters. From my experience "old" cuts in some time in your 60s. In my case, I had to begin wearing gloves at age 68 for bench presses because my hands were losing padding and this led to painful popping of blood vessels. Wear gloves -> problem solved. (3) You set some tests so guys know what it means to push themselves as hard as you recommend. I watch them in my gym grunt and put on a show and yet I know they have no idea what it means to put in a decent effort.

[@THESYNTHBARD]

The natural limit is in the mind. There is no way to know what you can achieve until you put in the work.

[@JDWALLACE23]

No homo but these beard gains and a fresh haircut are making alex look awesome.

[@Nvdhem]

I'm supposed to be lifting real heavy weights but this one dude keeps kicking my ass

[@therose7728]

INaDheMI What Legend27? I saw him in my gym and her kick my ass on the one arm landmind pres.

[@Fortress333]

I'm reading articles online by Bill Starr. That's the real deal. Can you do a video on Bill Starr? Or maybe you already did, as I think you improved your posture by following Bill's advice on overhead work. You said so in one video I watched. The other suggestion I want to make is information on healthy shoulders and such, because overhead work usually feels awkward to me and maybe to others as well and on overhead work I have a weird (tendon) slipping over my right elbow on the eccentric way. No tingling, but just a weird movement. I often have this during dips, too. I haven't fixed this, but want to and the advice for strong shoulders (rotator cuff too) is often to do overhead work or dips. Of late, I am doing something in between (incline barbell and dumbbell bench), next to the flat bench with a barbell. I digress. Thanks for all the information you provide. Keeping it real.

[@OMGEB]

He Changed His Shirt He Listened To Me!!💪🏼!

[@crazydude7160]

So I workout at a college gym so there's gym bros and "experts" fucking everywhere. My ohp is by far my worst movement so I've been doing z presses and ohp with bands and a few people that I see there every time I go workout literally laugh and point when I do these movements. Well today I went back to traditional ohp and got 165. ( I'm a lanky kid so overhead sucks for me) Then one of those kids asked what I do for shoulders because they've blown up...... Couldn't of done it without your advice Alex keep up the good content

[@frikenchiken3202]

Im currently in the 11th grade and my bench personal record is 235 , ive always thought this was good for 17 but not good compared to the people who go to my gym who hit 3 plates + on the daily

[@Orkling]

honestly I hang out with lots of genetic freaks. I am above average genetics but because I compare my self to my friends I work harder. I'm 5'9 175 I overhead press 170, I bench 230 for reps, I can deadlift 405 once, I can squat 315 for reps. My numbers were much lower because of bro splits but then I hopped on full body 4 times a week and I am making gains fast still

[@TonyDrs]

Awesome video man, bottom line we gotta set the standard higher. Exactly why I love this channel

[@yigitesen5549]

I'm gonna turn 17 in a bit and my bench is 225.I thought I was strong when my bench was 180 lol then I really started watching you're videos.In gym people always bench 135 or less lol. They think like I'm kinda godlike even though 225 bench is weak af

[@AlwaysTimo]

you are looking happy man, happy for you!

[@depravedregime5288]

Great video Alpha!

[@mk-19memelauncher65]

the way he talks is just captivating af

[@seaneymcdermott7524]

The content just keeps getting better and better! Zero youtube plateaus 😂

[@cleomensxliv3605]

You know Alex if you are still interested in increasing your military press I have some advice for you. 1) take 135 and practice doing the clean and Jerk with this weight until you can hit a squat clean followed by a split jerk very explosively with decent ass technique...the best way to work yourself down into a squat clean is to power clean a barbell loaded with a bare minimum of 135 descend into a full front squat after fixing the weight-before coming back up- and then to follow this with a front squat immediately upon standing from the first squat position-drop as fast as possible into a full front squat after standing from the initial power clean to squat. Do this exercise every workout for five or six singles-this is actually in my opinion the best assistance exercise for the squat clean even after you have achieved the ability to drop into an ass-to grass squat clean and at that point you may want to do say three front squats after a full squat clean but this is less relevant to you as the only goal is Military Press and not hitting a max squat clean. This specific exercise was a favorite of Vasily Alexeev who with 80 world records is by far the most successful O-lifter of all time in terms or setting world records. Many O-lifter focused trainers will tell you just to do the first part-power clean a weight and then lower yourself into a full front squat then repeat but this is much much more inefficient in reality and in stark contrast useless as a lift later on. A worthwhile although seemingly off topic evidence for this is how some lifters, Such as Antonio Krastev all-time record holder in the snatch, front squat huge weights, 800lbs all day for singles in his case, and have tremendous trouble recovering from the squat clean, in his case he never managed 257.5kg in competition preventing him from world Gold against the soviets despite his eventual dominance in the Snatch and some like Pisarenko, the first lifter to Clean and Jerk 265kg when Krastev still couldn't do 250 yet (all-time record is 266kg) and at a 265lbs bodyweight (making him the most impressive Superheavy of all-time in my opinion..the 266kg was done by a 365lbs lifter four years later) literally cannot Front Squat off a rack their best clean and Jerk!!! Piseranko actually did back squat instead of front squat for assistance and used literally A LITTLE LESS THAN his jerk for volume in the exercise. He famously once failed with 260kg in a back squat only on monday only to clean and Jerk it on wednesday. Pisarenko despite a 265kg Jerk could never front squat off the rack 265kg and Krastev who never managed to stand from a clean with more than 255kg despite repeatedly attempting to do so regularly did singles with 800+lbs in a front squat off a rack (360+kg). Anyway I go into this to provide compelling suggestion that doing Jerks or Push Press off a rack is not nearly as good an assistance lift for the strict Press as is a Jerk from a full squat clean-don't worry about maximizing the clean and jerk just make sure you can do it cleanly at will with 225+ and this will pay dividends for your purposes/strength level. 2) Push Press off a rack for singles after having hit up both press and clean and Jerk in that order but being a little conservative with resistance so as to focus on bar speed and limit the metabolic fatigue the lift causes you while giving Press itself the most challenging exertion. I mentioned before giving you advice that the push Press was not really a legitimate lift on its own in the same way as Press and Jerk but if you are performing those both with good technique you can in fact get a lot out of it with and with a very modest amount of exertion- there are actually numerous world class olympic lifters who can in fact push press off a rack more than they can clean and jerk and in some cases significantly so-even relatively shitty world-class lifters with no chance of medaling at worl'd's or the Olympics can often easily Jerk off the rack more than the "unapproachable" 600lbs that no one has even attempted to C&J in competition, except a russian lifter in 2000 who obviously had no chance of getting under the clean anyway, and several top notch O-lifters have actually bested this in a Push Press off the rack with Paul Anderson being the first and doing this at a time when the C&J record was 485lbs-he is often a quite extreme exception though so not the best example. You can see a vid on youtube of Klokov push Pressing 225kg easily when in fact he often failed in competition with 227.5kg and not infrequently had significant trouble holding onto 225kg. In any event you never find others who can push Press or Military (Strict no back support-which actually makes it incline BP anyway) more than O-lifters that seriously practice these lifts with strongmen who specialize in that movement, albeit with axels or other awkward equipment in competition, being obviously unable to equal weightlifters in poundage using a standard 45 pound barbell as they do not actually often use/hit more with that equipment that they are able to do in the log lift itself. Anyway man I Pressed 270 at 185-190 at 23 years old almost as a byproduct of training the C&J seriously and going through the motions on Press-although this is somewhat an exaggeration and I did turn my attention more fully to Press for about a month before hitting that number specifically. I have never however been able to equal that lift without being in a good groove for the Clean and Jerk and although I did manage a double with 245 after a significant layoff without any O-lifting at all it was a bodyweight lift at that point making it way less impressive and more to the point I never managed to get 270 again training that way and I am sure these three lifts used as described for assistance will almost certainly give you a 250-255 Press within three to four months of being able to use them with good technique....

[@vinnylepre98]

Is it possible for deadlift weight to go up while cutting a lot of weight? Ive lost 35 pounds (I'm 225 now) over the past almost 4 months and my deadlifts is still having good progression. The most I've hit recently is 460x10 and 555 for a max and month and a half ago. Think I could cut down to 200 and be a 3X BW dead lifter before July 24th (when I turn 16)?

[@AlexLeonidas]

........You did all of this at 15? To me it sounds like you are a genetic elite. Like you have top of the cream genetics. 555 deadlift at 15 years old while cutting? You need to set some world records dude.

[@daviderculj3169]

The best video you have ever made

[@Billythakid1221]

Literally gained 60 pounds in one week on a rack pull after watching ur video I don't even kno how that's possible but it's awsome thanks man

[@elwero6093]

These videos inspire me because I've had the worst luck with deadlifting being stuck at 315. My bench is 235 and squat 320.

[@AlexLeonidas]

Happy to help bro, my deadlift also sucked ass for the longest time. With proper programming you can correct these issues

[@brandons4092]

16 Sophmore 325 Squat 245 bench 365 dead I wanna hit squat 405-450, bench 300-315, and deadlift 450-500 by the end of senior year

[@brycerush98]

There's a huge kid in my weight training class who cleaned and overhead pressed 145 with ONE HAND

[@frikandelkroket9335]

I have more plateaus due to injuries.

[@20137120]

subscribed because you're a real talker

[@Naregmusic]

This was motivating. Thanks Alex!!

[@xSneakybeast]

I don't know what to do with my life. I'm 18, smoking and drinking every weekend with friends and going to the gym are the only things in my life atm. I'm watching motivational videos now and I WANT TO WIN IN LIFE, But I just dont know with what... I like working out and I excell in that but I dont know if that is the thing that is going to fill the rest of my life. I like to inspire , help, to lead and always improving myself. Does anybody here have advice (or books) on finding what you love, that thing that you always think about day in day out. I WANT THAT. I feel like im blindfolded and putting my hand in a bin full of pieces of paper with professions, jobs and hobbys in it and im trying to find the golden one. But always when i have the thing I like I always think there is a better option that I can choose. Peace, love and positivity. Rick Boers from the Netherlands.

[@cosplayfitness]

You are a beast! Thanks for your videos. I just started working out neck for the first time this month because of you.

[@LuisCruz0138]

Bro ever since i've started increasing calories and started doing cheat rows, my gainz have been unparallel.

[@svenjensen600]

The realest fitness youtuber

[@zee4125]

I haven't been paying attention to your sub count for the past 3 months. Just looked at it again right now and holy shit bro, those rack pulls above the knee have given you some serious channel gains!

[@amit4rou]

Zidan Mozumder he doubled in the past 3+ mnths... hoping 150k by this year... all the good luck to him

[@zee4125]

Amit Patel Absolutely. Very well-deserved considering the quality and quantity of content being put out by this guy.

[@Ezmody]

I agree with everything u said. I personally have very very bad recovery and started stalling on novice program with lifts people would rep out when they are 14 years old and I couldn't even bench the bar when I started training but that doesn't mean that I wont ever reach respectable numbers if I train long enough. I don't start calling everyone stronger than me fake natties just because I progress very slow.

[@mauspad6938]

Im 14 year Old i have been liftning for 6 months and i Weight 176 lbs.Im 6'3 and 12-13% bodyfat.I still have the skinnyfat look.Ive gained 10 pounds on my clean bulk.Alex when is my skinny fat look going away Bench: 150 lbs Deadlift: 280 lbs Squat 205 lbs

[@nicoconcepcion1027]

Just hit a 715 + two Doubled Micro Mini Band(I don't k ow how much that adds at the top-50lbs maybe?) Hack Rack Pull below the knee, at 5'6", 135 lbs, all natty! It was frickin' insanely hard! You're right Man! Us natties can and will achieve great things if we set the bar high and put in the work!

[@38Fanda]

do you have brain damage

[@evancarmean2698]

I've been a novice for almost three years now, and next week I will be starting your novice program. I thought that I was just hitting my limit, but watching these videos made me realize that a 185 bench, 275 squat, and 315 deadlift is nowhere near my natural limit. There are guys that have laughed when I told them that a 225 bench isn't elite, but I don't give a shit. I've been recovering from a deep hip abductor strain for a little over a month now, but next week when I'm healed I'm going balls to the wall. Screw that beta mentality shit. It's time to be a damn alpha in the gym.

[@tommydreamer101]

I'm 11 and deadlift 750 all natty vegan diet

[@MadZilla33]

great point about joining a gym with real power lifters. Im looking for one now. 24 hour fitness in my area is terrible for power lifting I can't even find a reverse hyper machine. My numbers are weak with 325 bench 365 squat and 405 deadlift at 5'9" 220lbs I'm 43yrs old been training about a year, but in 24 hour fitness not many are bettering those numbers. I have no program at this point but I know I need one if I want to continue to progress injury free. Thanks for all the info Alex and I'm going to look into your novice program soon.

[@danimarre8409]

Beard is growing but the mustache seems to be on a break

[@AlexLeonidas]

Yeah it kind of plateaued. Want more growth on the sides

[@tommyguglielmo1194]

AlphaDestiny use a toothbrush to rub it in. break the skin down. my connectors have gotten so thick after I started using that. I have a foam minox, and it feels like it takes a while to sink in. after I used toothbrush I feel the tingle immediately. try it

[@Hufflepuffstickle]

You need to use mustache periodization my dude

[@thisiskonypony]

Or has it reached its natural limit?

[@sadtbh2]

It needs more linear periodization, maybe some GPP work or Bulgarian light.

[@aleksi.niemela]

this is motivation video for everyone!

[@maresarbaizaj]

This is the first video I see from your channel. Dude your great and I totally agree with you. I've learned many things today so i'd like to thank you! Good job and keep updating new vids!! @AlphaDestiny

[@CDelasaux]

It's bloody tough to get strong. I've found that there's just no room for error anymore. Night out on a bender, 2-3 nights of little sleep, not enough food one day, cold or flu, I won't progress. Good thing is you come to know your body so well you can just predict before you've even hit a gym whether you'll get a PR or not, so it's not frustrating when you plateau, you know the reason/s why. What do you think of the Wendler 5/3/1 program?

[@Hellboy-wt7jq]

your beards looking on point str88 viking

[@onry714oc]

definitely agreed. I'm shoot for the stars !!!.

[@AlexLeonidas]

That's what's up!

[@therose7728]

AlphaDestiny Bruh, can u make a video how to stabilize a 3plates landmind press? I know I can do it but it fucking hard to hold the weight while moving and shit.Btw one arm.

[@kaimilliken]

Hey Alex great video as always. So you discuss the concept of strenght plateuing and people just getting discouraged and stopping all together (due to their perceived natural limit). I stumbled across this article by Greg Nuckols that looked at the potential of increasing muscular growth with an extended layoff. He goes deep into the science of myonuclei and muscle memory and extensively covers muscular atrophy. He discusses this concept called the Repeated Bouts Effect where muscles are not damaged as easily as when we first started lifting, due to repetitive adaptive responses over time. This subsequently leads to less myonuclei accrual and thus impedes future growth. Basically he states that trained lifters could potentially benefit from planned periods (1-3 weeks) off from the gym to create a favourable (biological) environment that could potentially stimulate new muscular growth, akin to when we first start lifting (newbie gains). I will link it below and was wondering if you cared to do a video on this and just cover all the bases (it is a really interesting read). Do you think that individuals who have been training for ~ 5 years could potentially use extended breaks as a tool to come back bigger and stronger? www.strongerbyscience.com/grow-like-a-new-lifter-again/

[@AlexLeonidas]

The science does make sense, and based off my experience when I came back from breaks I did surpass my own strength. This is how I overhead pressed 225 actually. I was sick so had to take time off from the gym, but when I came back I literally hit an all time PR on the first week back which was very weird. At any rate I don't know how significant the science is, but I can tell you that I approve of Greg's work. He provides no bs, objective information for the most part so I'd see him as a valuable source.

[@johnm9311]

I'm already at 405 deadlift 275 bench 185 over head press and 345squat and I've been lifting for almost 2 years and I'm 17 years old

[@cancer2680]

Hell I've been lifting for 2 months and 20 days and I can Bench 190, deadlift 315 (with a belt) and I can't really squat for shit, did 180 all while being 135 Lbs and 5"4 in height, also im 19. This was through hard fucking work. Fuck everyone's strength plateaus, push yourself and quit doing the same shit and keep adding weight.

[@Tronfon1999]

Finally someone makes a video about this! people used to tell me that 315 wasnt possibly at 140bw now i weigh 150 and deadlift 500. For some reason people think thats like a crazy number I don't get why everyone thinks its impossible to lift big weights.

[@Tronfon1999]

and im 17

[@ingaz6565]

I recommend that everyone get their testosterone level checked. Im 27 years old and Im at 850. My workout partner who always complains that he is not seeing the gains im seeing got it checked and he is at 145. He has no health problems, eats healthy and works out regularly. make sure its not a testosterone issue before going balls to the walls in an attempt to break a plateau.

[@PsychokoreUndergroundRap]

You are right.. i`m nowhere near my true potential..

[@consiousrevolution5433]

Good content bro !

[@shakhawatalam5344]

Thanks bruh! great motivation! 😀😀😀

[@views40]

Great video Alex! Love the bump in quality too man. Would you mind sharing which mic you are now using? Thanks and keep up the great content! Did the waiter's carry for the first yesterday. Loved it!

[@StructuralIntegrity.]

just hit my 415 deadlift yesterday, im 7 months in.

[@poesRoos]

Are there any bands that are good quality and affordable for the average student? keep it up Alex!

[@HammerBlow500]

I mentioned to a friend the other day (who also lifts) about me being a novice and he said "dude you're not a novice". I was like yeah I am, and quoted your novice strength standards (2 plate bench, 3 plate squat, 4 plate deadlift). He was like "you've been lifting for two years, you're not a novice. And a lot of people never reach those standards in their lives". Just goes to show how low the standards are in terms of general lifters. Anyway I'm enjoying your novice program bro 👌🏼

[@AlexLeonidas]

Keep it up bro

[@problematic7993]

video is looking AESTHETIC

[@autotheist]

shit i'm not even getting close to those "elite" numbers. i need to do my research

[@avb19d6]

I remember I hit my SP about3 months ago....started getting down on myself and shit.... but once I realized it was an SP and not a "limit" it was so easy to just start killing it and getting heavier weight. Never set a limit or you will fail everything you work for

[@Nomadicv1]

Brilliant mate great vid 👍🏻

[@johnp6295]

Oh, I'm 15 years old and I have a 360 squat and a 405 deadlift @ a 152 pound bodyweight. I always thought that I was mediocre xD

[@TheCodeMaster191]

I just recently got 300lbs for my one rep max at 18, weighing 180. I think theres still tons of room for growth.

[@AlexLeonidas]

On bench press? That is awesome dude, keep pushing your gains

[@tommyguglielmo1194]

the gym I go to I see this big Russian dude, he probably like 5"10 230, and he benches like 365 for 2 reps, squats 500 pounds, I never see him do any other lifts besides high rep volume work. he doesn't look jacked or unnatural at all. dude never speak, he just grunts on his squat. never does a full body, seems like he does the same lift for like 3 days straight, doesn't come in for 4 days, and then does bench three days straight. I think he practices MMA honestly. he saw me looking his way when he was benching and I shook my head and said god damn, he laughed and knew I appreciated his hard work. i can't wait to put up some big numbers, just as a personal goal. 275 bench for 8 reps, squat 300 for 10 reps, and deadlift 460 are my goal for the next few years. and I want to be 200 pounds, somewhat lean 15- 20%

[@allterrygo5207]

Hey dude. Check out the movie Whiplash. I think you'd enjoy it as it shows what it takes to be great. Spoiler alert: (it's not steroids!) it's the champion mindset.

[@stephenhennessy4220]

i did a 140kg trapbar @61kg bw after a year of regulated training and consistent good eating

[@thegoldenrules9370]

the beard helps (even though it looks gross) but putting weight on ur face really helped you out more i believe. you have a naturally narrow face and mouth/jaw so it gives the illusion of width. after seeing your before pictures I don't think you should ever cut again

[@naits95]

All my lifts are increasing except my poverty bench. Even my OHP is increasing. Wtf. Been stuck at 80-85kg for 3-5 reps for a while now and i'm eating 3500 calories a day with 180-200g protein. Stuck at 82kg bodyweight too. Will have to eat fucking more food wtf.

[@ixspectre]

Alex, i tried cheat shrugs and heavy ass rack pulls and i can say that my upper back hurts like fuck everytime and it definitely works!!!

[@natsudragnir4131]

Yo Do some life style video , what do you eat on the daily , do you do home training , since you are in the gym only 2 days ?

[@randomboy123ify]

I'm gonna stop lifting and do yoga.

[@marlonfreiha458]

Hey, alpha im gonna start ur novice program but atm im at that stage where i need to add 5 pounds/2.5 kgs to my bench (i bench 90 kg or 200lbs for 5 reps and i feel i need to bench 92.5kg the next week) per week to ensure linear progression, but my gyms plates only go as low as 2.5kgs meaning ill have to jump to 95kg next week, and 100kg after that. idk if that is possible as i feel im nearing intermediate stage. What do i do ? Thank You