"Powerbuilding is an Abomination" | Natural Hypertrophy VS. Bald Omni-Man

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

Boy there was some trauma behind that barbecue monologue

[@TBlev215]

Most likely Rippetoe Texas Cafe classics had a role in that.

[@IppoCrypto]

100%

[@stevenbaeyens2652]

Yeah that kept going on

[@jonathanchigges7658]

😂😂😂

[@-Jesse.C]

That's a man who spent a good amount of time in BBQ fourms online lmfao Anytime you get super into a hobby that's about what happens without fail lol.

[@lindabarnes5299]

I'm a 76 year old woman who loves strength taining. Your video on deadlifts showed me what I was doing wrong. Will I ever deadlift 500 lbs....no but I can deadlift and farmer carry my weight! Thanks for your channel! I never miss your videos.

[@KIKKAAA685]

76 and on youtube with comments? not passible

[@zsahe21]

Awesome!

[@PauIdenino]

Impressive 👍🏼

[@jeymey9440]

Awesome to hear Linda! Keep it up!

[@manspeej]

you are an inspiration

[@Give_Me_Rent]

Alan is still the most real dude in the fitness industry after all these years. Never sold out or changed who he was to get approval. Respect

[@ns2304]

Cause he didn't need to

[@xullass]

Train however you want, just go to the gym, the only thing that matters is your end goal then use specificity towards your goal. Its that simple

[@C0ckfuck]

Yup that’s what Alan said.

[@firstname4337]

"Train however you want" -- just as long as its UNTAMED

[@iangraham-white5717]

"But I prefer chocolate icecream"

[@MarcoIsBig]

I just stick with old school high volume bodybuilding training 💪🏻 I hit 40 to 60 sets per session quick pace, gives you crazy pumps and gains 🔥

[@ChristianTurnerLifts]

This is an acceptable response @@firstname4337

[@josfps]

I liked the answer of "just deadlift 700lbs and you'll have all the muscle you want" I remember hearing you say that years back, or something along those lines, so I chased just building my deadlift as much as possible, I did build up my back and got very muscular, but the love for chasing that number overtook my love for wanting the muscle, so I started powerlifting. Years later, I have deadlifted 700, I have all the muscle I want, and I've found love for powerlifting

[@phoenyx_6146]

That's actually the perfect ending to this story nice to hear !

[@JulianHarmless]

Sure your lifts are no doubt impressive but I've been lifting for years and been in many gyms. There's so many guys with physiques comparable to you that are nowhere near as strong as you are. 700 lbs DL is also out of the realm of possibility for many trainees even if they are around your size. Alan himself is not some mass monster despite being stronger than 99 percent of gym goers. Even in his current form, he's not going to turn heads based on his physique if he walks into a big box gym where he can out lift literally everyone. There's also a ton of guys who are strong with subpar physiques. It's great if you enjoy PL as a sport but plenty of guys end up with good physiques without ever focusing on 1rm strength. A block of strength training without going under 5 reps is probably more than enough for someone who is hypertrophy focused.

[@BasementBodybuilding]

Hell yeah pumped to hear your thoughts

[@domepiece11]

I like how he says powerlifting has bled into bodybuilding, not the other way around. Great point and I totally agree. He also had a good point about hypertrophy being a harder target to measure than strength. I think Alan ultimately agrees with you at this point.

[@DONQUIIIXOTE]

BOM is also someone whose approach to fitness I identify with. I want to get swole but I also want to push my strength to the limits. It’s great to hear you all put your 2 cents in.

[@travishowrish6805]

When you injure yourself you will wish you just did pure bodybuilding. Nobody cares how much you can lift

[@BaldOmniMan]

@@travishowrish6805I think you misunderstand my position, I am also a pure hypertrophy trainee, and outline my thoughts comprehensively in my vid.

[@DONQUIIIXOTE]

@@travishowrish6805 you know you can get injured during bodybuilding style training, right? There’s safe and healthy ways to engage in all lifting modalities my guy.

[@MasoNowa]

​@@travishowrish6805no one cares how jacked you are either

[@PBJG5]

​@@travishowrish6805dude if he trained for pure strength he would def place at a powerlifting meet, it's bcuz the dude is strong af plain and simple.

[@danilopedraza]

I like your always empathetic stance on these things. You always invite people to go out of their echo chambers and get some fresh perspective. Keep up with this!

[@ns2304]

Well put Props!

[@DrewbattleTheGreat]

I like the idea of powerbuilding even if it’s not “optimal” for both. Some people just like maxing out there lifts and axing out gains. If your trying to be a pro power lifter or bodybuilder your probably going to need to focus on one or the other but for most of us powerbuilding is going to be good

[@abhisheksathe123]

agreed for average joe i think powerlifting has more benefits

[@Kaizan27]

I disagree, with powerlifting it's about lifting the most amount of weight as possible while neglecting form. Bodybuilding is safer and focuses more on muscle building instead of ego lifting@@abhisheksathe123

[@fitnesse1288]

@@abhisheksathe123 Not really TBH. A regular bodybuilder is strong compared to the general population.

[@DrewbattleTheGreat]

@@abhisheksathe123 I think both are equal. Cuz body building still requires you to gain strength. Bodybuilding has a slight edge because no muscle groups are neglected

[@domepiece11]

If you care about numbers, sure. But if you care more about hypertrophy, just do bodybuilding.

[@calebthompson2730]

I think it's an interesting window into human nature when you think of how small a percentage of the gen. pop actually has sincere passion about training. Bodybuilders, powerlifters, weightlifters, strongmen and everything in between have mutual passion for training and have much more in common with each other than we do with the rest of the world. Yet, there is always this powerful temptation to distinguish ourselves from each other so we can feel superior rather than embracing a mutual love for training and always pushing our limits. Fascinating.

[@Qwerty8790]

Well said!

[@notashton.]

Yea, that's all cool, bro. But I asked how many sets you had left.

[@jetsum]

Well Said

[@keenan3364]

Watching untamed strength when I first started lifting taught me more to start than I could have imagined, and later on getting into Bald Omni Man, GVS, and others has helped me just as much. To see you guys essentially peer review each other is great, even when you don't agree. All of this helps to deepen understanding.

[@RockMonsterDad]

The og Hodgetwins reference did not go unnoticed.

[@FitFatFit]

Fitness OGs right there

[@williamtolbert5011]

I am a 70 -year-man that started lifting in the 1960's when I was 14-15 years of age. been a gym rat ever since. I have done body Building bench pressing 450l bs squatting 550lbs, leg pressing 1000 lbs. Arm curls 250lbs. that was in the early 1990". Today I am trying to move into kettlebell, heavy clubs and mace and sledgehammers because i am trying to give my body a different feel and i want to build a stronger cord and back. i am also including landmine work outs. I am through with body beautiful cause of my age i need the strength not so much the looks. been there done that. this is for long life and health. Strength training will give you that edge if you are willing to put in the work. MOST PEOPLE HAVE FAR TOO MANY EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING IT BUT WANT THE DOCTORS TO GIVE THEM A PILL TO LOOK GREAT OVERNIGHT. PLUS. FOR ME IT IS TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN GO AS I GET OLDER. THANKS FOR THE FLICK.

[@iangraham-white5717]

The more and more this fight goes on the more I realize it is like chocolate versus vanilla icecream arguments in kindergarten

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

Man...and its been years already since this started

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

@HandsomeTouchdown what? I mean the powerbuilding thing...i have no idea what are you talking about

[@HellBoy-id6ss]

You're not late to the party..you just gave a reflective, well thought out, reasonable response..HOW FUCKING RARE!!..this is why people love your channel..

[@ijustlift901]

Well said! I think a big part of the "discussion" is - what in the heck is powerbuilding and why do we even need another term? Does anyone walk around actually saying they are a Powerbuilder, or if someone at the gym asks what they are doing do they say "I'm not working out....I'm powerbuilding"? Unless you are competing, you are just working out. I guess you are free to call that whatever you want, but seems silly to me to even use that term.

[@JackgarPrime]

As someone who mostly trains powerbuilding style, I just say "I lift" and that's usually enough for most people to get the idea.

[@domepiece11]

It’s mostly used as a description for programs available for purchase, such as Jeff Nippard.

[@JeeeezBub]

Reminds me of the time I got my first smoker and then did some research/asked around for cooking advice. Holy hell! I was not ready for the avalanche of BS...arguemnts, gatekeepers, and extreme confliction. And yup, my powerlifting journey has been filled with the same. Through all this I've learned to just do me and tune the rest of it out as much as I want. I have the mainstays that have never failed me, and Alan, you are one of them. The rest of it is just chatter in the wind. Edit: spelin

[@ArmanKanonas]

Powerbuilding is my favorite way of training, as someone who doesn't look to compete in either category I feel like its the most balanced approach.

[@NicholasVillalobos-zl5dw]

Me too! I love maxing big weight every week for my first lift and then building muscle after with high volume. Conjugate all year baby.

[@Fitness_Lorenzo]

Honestly , speaking to the general public. Any exercise is good exercise. The best exercise is the one you enjoy the most. However! The biggest problem with the fitness industry is that most trainers & fitness entities lie about the results that they could truly provide. Example: Zumba , Herba life, dr oz, athlean x, spinning, CrossFit, bootcamp, etc. That’s not even talking about the many other fitness influencers, mens health, etc. That’s why you get a lot of people who get discouraged, demotivated, and frustrated. It’s really up to us to change the fitness industry. Because it really is that bad.

[@ghfjfghjasdfasdf]

As always, Thrall coming with a level headed response to what’s going down in the fitness community.

[@NateC4]

As a random guy on the internet I'll share my thoughts. From what I have learned, if you want to get as big as possible, AND as jacked as possible, taking a phasic approach to training (alternating strength focussed and hypertrophy focussed training blocks) will be a little bit better for maximizing results . However, if you enjoy powerbuilding, do it, because if you enjoy your training you are more likely to stay consistent for years on end and end up jacked and strong.

[@paavoilves5416]

I'll vouch for this 👍🏻 I alternate strength blocks (powerlifting/strongman) and hypertrophy blocks (kinda like powerlifting hypertrophy) but if one likes to take a middle ground approach, I guess it'll work almost as well!

[@jeremyzenkar8996]

This is the value of hearing an argument, thinking and pondering, formulating a well thought out opinion and then speaking about it. I love Alan's philosophy....."Do whatever you want, you are an adult."

[@Mastobog]

This debate was really only spawned because Natural Hypertrophy is a philosophical extremist. He believes a narrow band of things are "correct" and an ego that lets him present those views as undeniable fact, so he presents his training methods as the be all end all for anyone without empathy for others who might not think the same. The truth is it isn't a debate. Different training serves different purposes for different bodies and different goals. To put it in metaphor, saying powerbuilding is an abomination is like saying a Subaru is a useless vehicle. Why not just get a better/more efficient car if you want to drive in the city? Why not buy a more powerful off-roader if that's your goal? Well maybe I only have the resources for 1 vehicle and I want it to be pretty good at both, and for that the Subaru is perfect.

[@BaldOmniMan]

There’s no debate in actuality, at least not from me, I was just talking about what I thought effective training was. First few seconds of my vid was “I’m not arguing for or against anything, I just wanna talk training” just like Alan’s vid.

[@Mastobog]

@@BaldOmniMan Perhaps debate was too strong a word and I should have used discussion.

[@slee2695]

Nah he was just taking another shot at Blaha..since the fake merc is a long advocate of power building

[@TheAyatollahofNofappollah]

Yeah, MMA is an abomination 😂

[@demoncore5342]

What if I could afford both smart car and a Toyota, but I still want a damn Subaru? You're correct, it's not even a debate if I want neither of the two options.

[@masonthomassax]

Alan, you’re one of the smartest and most insightful guys on the platform. Everything you say is so well-articulated and well thought-out. Always appreciate your perspective

[@U.F.O_0908]

Didn't expect a Narwuar reference there. Awesome vid my man. The general population is not out there to "optimize" anything. They just wanna get fitter than they are. From a lifter's perspective, It's easy to try and offer advice but in the process inadvertently piss on someone's parade.

[@mohammadkhaldi687]

Alan is the wise voice of fitness industry

[@transmundanemusic]

Great video. Only one thing I would personally add: Powerlifting and bodybuilding can and do go hand in hand. What doesn't get talked about nearly enough these days is Phase Potentiation. Powerlifters have hypertrophy phases and bodybuilders often have strength phases. The idea being that one phase will help potentiate the other. As a natural lifter, nothing helped me put on more size than getting stronger in the big 4 and then using that increased level of strength to push bigger loads with my bodybuilding work. Everyone these days talks about it being a "one or the other" and "them not belonging in the same sentence", but I think this is a narrow sighted perspective that leaves gains on the table. Put simply, ignoring strength work will hinder your ability to build muscle, but focusing solely on strength work will also hinder your ability to build muscle. Ya, I'm a fan of Powerbuilding, both as a singular focus, as well as a phased approach.

[@transmundanemusic]

@@antiwufei553 you clearly know very little about the topic. Bodybuilders absolutely have strength blocks and powerlifters have hypertrophy blocks. The purpose is to “potentiate” the other. Go research phase Potentiation and then we can talk. Strength and hypertrophy absolutely go hand in hand. If you don’t agree than you don’t understand the most basic and important muscle and strength building concept of progressive overload.

[@qalih]

I really hate that about old youtube. He is so right about Power Lifters - they always "prescribed" how to lift. I ended up with various injuries because of that, they were often dogmatic and had ZERO nuiance.

[@ronthompson2366]

Very well said. I remember as a youngster seeing the add in every comic book. The bad guy kicking sand in the face of the skinny guy... and after following the ATLAS training program the skinny guy showed up at the beach... Weight training... has been around forever. You were either sculpted and viewed as a circus freak or just a big corn fed giant. Gyms had weights barbells and dumbbells. But people did calisthenics and "exercises ". To stay "toned"... look good in a suit and tie. Don't look like "Grandpa " on the beach or at the pool. Look at the military fitness program. A combination of everything. Bodybuilding took a turn in the 70's.. Strongman around the same time when WSM competition aired on TV. But the debate as you so well stated has gone on and will go on. Free weights versus machines... and aerobics !! I think you summed it up best.... JUST DO SOMETHING ! run, walk, lift, calisthenics.... GET OFF THE COUCH AND EXCERCISE. WHEN YOU DO..TRAIN UNTAMED ! You will feel better, look better, sleep better... and just be better. Jack La Lane.. was the standard for getting up and getting "in shape ".

[@Megaduckatron]

I started working out consistently about 6 years ago. Ngl, I fucked around for the first couple of years. I gained a little. But it wasn’t crazy. After I learned the definitive difference between power lifting and bodybuilding, I started making strides. I’ve never had a coach or bought a plan. But I realized that focusing on one goal at a time can be a game changer. More importantly, if I take a few months to work on weak points and hypertrophy, that would make me feel better on my strength training. When I got back to strength training, I didn’t lose anything, just because I haven’t hit a one rep max deadlift in a while. And pushing up those strength numbers lets you do better hypertrophy work. I’m sure none of this is news to anyone. But knowing it and “feeling” it are just two different things that a lot of people don’t really understand.

[@atlaspowershrugged]

The world of online barbecue sounds like a fun battleground!

[@perhedman7050]

Me being a former powerlifter, managed to get into the "elite" category before army life, after half a decade in the army i come out with having broken my clavicle , knee injury , torn shoulder muscle that required surgery as well. Not to bad compared to some friends but after a year or two of rehab i realizing that powerlifting my old weights will not happen. Though being able to squat today 450 pounds and pull 500lbs deadlifts is probably my max before old age takes me , powerbuilding gives me motivation to keep training while still seeing progress outside the big 3. You do what works for you, life just happens and you'll have to adjust to it.

[@BlahBlahPoop617]

It’s dumb how some ppl say “there is no such thing as training for hypertrophy, only strength, because in both bodybuilding and powerlifting you’re trying to get strong.” Sure you’re trying to get strong in both sports, BUT in one you’re prioritizing strength over growth and in the other vice versa. It’s on a spectrum.

[@lukaslanger8077]

I think at this point, many content creators like NH just try to be controversial, for the algorithms sake. They tend to overanalyze and overthink certain topics, lay out pseudo-definitions, just to argue upon them in a straw-man type of monologue. Powerbuilding is a legit term, because it means you pursue strenght in the big compounds more than a conventional bodybuilder would probably do, but you also value isolation movements, mind-muscle-connection and a fun pump. If i talk to three guys in the gym and the first one says hes a BBer, the second one says hes a PLer, and the third calls himself a powerbuilder, i have a pretty destinct and distinguishable vision of what their training may look like, and what they goals are, and that alone makes "powerbuilding" a legit term. No need to make science about everything, just to circlejerk about it indefinitely, in order to create cheap, controversial content, only for the sake of it. Just do what you enjoy the most, dont let anyone tell you your sport of choice is not a real thing.

[@Nomadbyfate1465]

Well said. Do what gets you results. The end.

[@gregoriomiller8241]

Exactly natural hypertrophy is all about clicks ever sense opening a Patreon lol

[@DarkMuj]

@@gregoriomiller8241 i think you're being harsh bro he's always been a hypertrophy purist. His whole thing is that strength goals (and strength standards) can distract people from why they wanted to lift in the first place (usually to look swole!). but I think he doesn't take into account how people's priorities change as they grow older. Sometimes strength is cooler than being swole tbh.

[@gregoriomiller8241]

@@DarkMuj What natural hypertrophy gets wrong is that peak natties have always focused on powerbuilding at a foundation for their physiques just look at how the old timers trained before steroids were created they all focused on the big 3 lifts and also Olympic lift to build their dense quality muscles. Everything natural hypertrophy promotes is all wrong and that's why he's built like a noodle

[@gregoriomiller8241]

@@DarkMuj And look at Alex Leonidas and Bald Omni man they all do a lot of strength focused exercise with hypertrophy the opposite of what natural hypertrophy promotes and they are way bigger.

[@longlostkryptonian5797]

Another factor is age, different people have different goals at different times in their lives. From vanity to health concerns, we all have our own motivations. Another great job Alan!

[@weoddity8622]

2:40. That's a lot of examples. Sounds like Thrall has had extensive online arguments about barbecuing.

[@datfarmboy]

Gotta say Alan, some great analogies in this video. Always liked your vids but watching your personal growth over the last few years has really been neat. Keep doing your thing bruthah :)

[@willhemphill]

For a novice or beginner, trying to figure out bodybuilding programming is overwhelming. Powerlifting programming for a beginner centers around three movements and probably a handful of accessories (or maybe not). It also gives you a concrete goal - lift more. Bodybuilding or physique training is much more ambiguous - what are you trying to achieve? What's the best way to get there? It's not always as simple as gaining weight as progressively overloading a handful of lifts. It takes some programming knowledge, experience under the bar to understand effort/movement, and self awareness to push yourself day to day.

[@ciarfah]

I remember when I was doing 5*5. I started enjoying the "accessories" more than the main lifts, so I modified the program quite a bit to accommodate more isolation. It's nice starting from a simple base and building up rather than jumping straight into more complex topics

[@marcoalexande]

You can get pretty strong on "bodybuilding" training. At my peak (20 years ago) mostly training 6-10 rep range, I was able to bench 375 for a single. probably could have done a little more weight but wasn't obsessed with one rep max. Back in the day most gym goers went for size and strength. It was mostly "bodybuilding" but we did max out on squats and bench from time to time.

[@Isaiah-ft5nx]

So glad to hear you’re into bodybuilding (natural style). It was my first and only love in the gym. Only thing I gained from powerlifting and strongman was injuries. Never got injured doing bodybuilding aside from occasional mild tendinitis from fast pull ups or curls.

[@filipedecastro4718]

I hate the way we name these sports in general, it's usually not the most accurate. Powerlifting should call Weightlifting (that's the sport where most of the weight will be lifted) Weightlifting should call Powerlifting (that's the sport you really express "power") In my native language (portuguese) they use: Levantamento de Peso Olímpico (Olympic Weightlifting) Levantamento de Peso Básico (something like Base/Basic Weightlifting)

[@metalleffe]

I wish more people were like you Alan, using common sense. Keep up the good work.

[@raymondjurado9203]

I love the death metal merch style. Do Not Move The Barbell.

[@jordanschmidt9772]

Excellent point about bodybuilding not having immediate feedback. I always take something from your videos!

[@lauravo3355]

Could it be that most of us are frustrated with our lack of progress because we are frustrated with ourselves period? Practice a little more self love and suddenly progress is not so important for us to think of ourselves as decent lovable beings.

[@NeverAlone5]

The gaming comparison was spot on, (especially as someone who loves lifting and gaming).

[@lionelhutz123]

Very much appreciate this. (1) thinking about this as a conversation is good; (2) no one's way is the only way; (3) people's goals and preferences are constantly changing.

[@crasnicul3371]

I honestly dont see why there is such an overcomplication of the science behind working out nowadays

[@alexandruS_]

Because people want to get all the results with none of the work

[@alburaq3290]

Because Fitness KZbinrs have to get views they keep making up videos on minutia

[@homegymr.e.c9784]

Ego and science elitism, people can feel like they know more by watching Mike israetel (just an example lol)

[@dimoire]

@@alexandruS_ I don't think anyone wants to get away with 0 work when the current consensus is getting to 1-3 reps in the tank to maximize hypertrophy - this feels fucking tough

[@MarcoIsBig]

I just stick with old school high volume bodybuilding training 💪🏻 I hit 40 to 60 sets per session quick pace, gives you crazy pumps and gains 🔥

[@EuropeanBeerisBad]

This new-ish Alan Thrall era is the my favorite. Keep it up champ

[@paulboucher1815]

I love Alan that Alan has entered the deep end of the home gym life. I know there are advantages and preferences on where to work out, but I remember Alan's video from 3 years ago about why he prefers commercial gyms and now I feel like Palpatine cackling

[@jeremiahleasure4301]

Alan u r spiritually advanced and I am healed in your presence. Thank you for your majesty, content, thought and genius.

[@archmaesterofpullups]

I disagree with powerlifting being a disgrace to strength training. People cherry pick the couple people capable of doing zero ROM benches and such but the vast majority of lifts in a meet you'd attend are more traditional/legitimate displays of strength. The exception doesn't make the rule.

[@pbalazs]

I don’t think that anyone says that the OG powerlifting is a disgrace to strength training. It’s more like the direction where it’s heading doesn’t seem to be about absolute strength anymore, it’s more like finding loopholes to increase your maxes

[@dsoul1305]

If you are late to the debate, so am I. I saw some stuff about it yesterday and love that you are reacting to it, no matter "how late".

[@albertpaxton4855]

Taking time to consider your response is the right way to go Alan! Great video!

[@jumpbodyfitnessjbf870]

Alan you still smart as usual and informative since that video you posted on how to do romanian deadlifts

[@ns2304]

I think you can be a powerlifter, do something like 5x5 and include accesories that can give you a decent physqiue. Mehdi who basically popularized 5x5 through stronglifts has a great physique along with his strength. After 10 years of middling experience with the Gym, starting with my time in the military, I finally jumped into a consistent gym routine over the last year. I decided to start off with 5x5 to build back a base of strength and I assumed I''d 'naturally' get a physique; Was not the case. Ultimately I landed on Candito's 6 Month Beginner Program as it essentially was a Powerbuilding program. I can tell that it definetly works: To the end that I have a decent Beach body. However, do i look like Scott Herman? no, But do i have an otter bod, hell no. I have a decent base of strength, going from beginner level lifts to now intermediate in a year (partly due to muscle memory) Not to besmirch anyones opinion, but ultimately I believe if you know how programming can effect your outcomes, and you have some experience (even if it isnt what you wanted), you'll eventually build and understanding of how to mould and shape your own body.

[@SuperIce6374]

I am so glad someone finally made this point- those who want to bodybuilders are always forgetting who they want to be, and turn into powerlifters. Powerlifters know who they are. This is probably also why we don’t see many impressive natural bodybuilders in the mainstream KZbin space. Only recently have podcasts like Longevity Muscle come out and shed some light on natural bodybuilding. And thank god for that - because for someone who is natural and looking for aesthetic physiques that rival those on anabolics basically had no good models to look up to- it’s all just Powerlifters and powerbuilders everywhere. Bodybuilding is what most of us got into this for- and somewhere along the line everyone starting chasing the powerlifting carrot on a stick. 🥕

[@albertosara416]

Sounds like it's time for Alan Thrall's Untamed Barbecue second channel to me!

[@pahimakas5961]

Bodybuilding is strength training (getting stronger on all lifts). Powerlifting is a specific type of strength training (1 rep max on squat, bench and deadlift only). Bodybuilding is maximalist while powerlifting is minimalist and I think this is where the "non-optimal" side of the debate comes from. There's nothing inherently wrong with it but if you want to be advanced whether it be bodybuilding or powerlifting you eventually have to choose one training style.

[@palabrajot505]

Can't I just go to the gym and lift weights without worrying about what some influencer says?

[@agg8355]

Currently going through this struggle right now. About 3 years ago, I was benching around 350, deadlifting 650, had deadlifted 500 for 12 and squatting 500x5. Never competed in powerlifting a day in my life, I just did it because it was addicting. Fast forward to now, my child is almost 3 and I have far less time to dedicate to chasing numbers. I feel like a bum because I’m not where I was before, but I’m still trying to build muscle. Have been slowly transitioning away from solely doing competition lifts and their specific variations, to much more variation. It’s more relaxing, feels like less pressure (that I put on myself) and is much more enjoyable. Still trying to figure out a way to schedule my training though. I work 12 hour shifts and I’m up at 4am and usually get home around 7:30pm. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to structure/plan my training? Great video as always, Alan!

[@ricottalaw]

I have had a similar time situation (no kids, though) I would recommend working out 20-30 minutes every day. Pick 2-3 exercises to focus on for each day make sure to hit each muscle you work twice per week, and increase difficulty (#reps, more weight, #sets if time allows) each week. You can do a set 1-2 intense sets per exercise and go home. This will at least help until you start getting more free time.

[@GenMark27]

You should compete. It's really fun.

[@danielprest5887]

I work permanent Night-shift, so I am in a similar situation. I found after experimentation 4 days a week optimal due to my sleeping arangements. I program my heaviest day (legs)on my day off work. I follow that with a lighter day for Upper body as my CNS takesa hit the previous day. This includes variations of main lifts so the weight is lighter anyways. My other two training days are done post nightshift, I finnish my shift at 7:30am, my gym is between my home and workplace, so its optimal time wise and saves fuel(petrol/gas isnt cheap in England😂) I find going to bed after training improves my sleep quality also.

[@sandeepjayakumar3680]

Ohh! that video game channel comparison thing was legit! I've always though that way!!BTW love your channel❤

[@mr_wright_official_]

Great video, the thing is just lift how you want, but evaluate your goals & be honest with yourself, adjust your training accordingly just make sure you enjoy it.

[@Kirby12352]

Natural Hypertrophy thinks he's the arbiter of all truth and wisdom. I can't stand listening to the guy, especially since he has to upload hour long videos regardless of what he's talking about, and has no idea how to be concise. He's an egomaniac LARPing as a philosopher.

[@basamortua8791]

Agreed, dude is super annoying

[@lapio8222]

If you actually have the patience (and sanity/insanity) to watch his videos fully, you can pretty quickly realize he does not think he's some kind of a carrier of truth and wisdom. He voices his opinions, which are meant to always be in the context of bodybuilding (hypertrophy). I find his philosophy and anime videos cringe and he indeed has no idea of how to be concise. But he has a lot valuable bodybuilding information.

[@Lagato445]

As gym hobbyists I think it’s ok for everyone to focus on anything they want, I do powerbuilding myself, though I’ve learned to not try and max often and take reloads by doing volume work. If you’re training for a specific sport then it’d make sense to focus on one over the other

[@mhurley782]

Yeah. My problem with bodybuilding is the subjectivity, where am I going and when is enough, enough. How are you setting your bodybuilding goals, Alan?

[@rbarreira2]

If you lift with consistent form, you can set bodybuilding goals by simply having strength goals in each movement you do. Not saying it's the only way, but it works. In the long term, muscle growth is what drives strength gains (again, assuming form is kept the same or similar).

[@lesterthurtle9621]

Wise words as always from Alan , someone who understands the training game and has years of experience with training people , The main point is too get more people training properly long term with sensible programmes , most people over a long training career will dabble/switch about at some point and that’s great , it’s not a contest , the key is to keep training and professing

[@DCJayhawk57]

Steve Shaw popularized the term powerbuilding when he was still writing for magazines. He used it as a term meaning pursuit of strength and size, and the pursuit of getting strong on a many movements as possible. By that definition, a lot of hypertrophy focused lifters on KZbin who have a heavy focus on aesthetics are powerbuilders, including Alex, BOM, and Hersovyac. By this definition, it's also very possible to accomplish both goals since the rep ranges you use for hypertrophy and strength overlap at the lower end of hypertrophy training. My other big issue with the takedown of powerlifting is the effect on beginners. Bodybuilding gets really complex and granular. Training someone to get strong on a bunch of compound exercises is much more straightforward and usually the way to go for beginners. I think a person needs a certain base before they can really even pursue bodybuilding, and that doesn't come from doing a bodybuilding program that is built for intermediate to advanced lifters. Most IFBB pro bodybuilders started out with the basics as well. CBum was a football player and did the usual high school weights program and got strong on a bunch of compound movements before transitioning into bodybuilding. You still see it in his training, he'll do deadlifts in the offseason even though they're not really necessary for him anymore. He still likes to lift heavy. Would anyone call Chris a powerbuilder? I don't think so. I train at a public gym, and I see far too many skinny teen kids who are obsessed with bodybuilding focusing their training on "finishing touch" movements, meaning structuring the training around isolation movements and having no concept of intensity. Bodybuilding is so popular right now, I think just as popular with Gen Z as powerlifting. A 5'10", 140 lb guy isn't going to get great results unless he knows how to push on compound movements. I'm not saying they should all do the big 3, but big compounds like those are easy to progress, teach coordination, and more importantly teach being able to handle feeling uncomfortable. Bodybuilding training is very uncomfortable, and very few regular gymgoers train close enough to failure. Having a strength training background and knowing how to push to a 1RM with good technique carries over very well to bodybuilding. I should know, I spent nearly the first 20 years of my lifting career chasing performance goals over aesthetics. I've spent the past 7 years with more of an aesthetic focus, but still like getting stronger (much like Alex and BOM). Am I wrong for this? My development is very similar to the rest of the natty KZbin fitness crowd, so I guess I wasted my time building a base and falling in love with hard training.

[@cliffonator1111]

Powerlifting might appeal to more people than bodybuilding as a sport since most people have no interest in getting on stage but in my anecdotal experience most people care more about getting bigger than the weight of their big 3

[@ricottalaw]

I think any good strength-focused program includes a significant amount of bodybuilding style training.

[@rbarreira2]

Yeah because muscle produces strength (together with neural adaptations). Something that tons of people would like to ignore 😂

[@kkobawski]

You can still hit PRs in bodybuilding, I don't see why not. I always aim to get 1 more rep or to lift more if I hit the top range of my rep range. Sure it's not as drastic, but you still feel good chasing after that 1 extra rep.

[@str3ngthinallf0rms23]

You're first point is the most important. All fitness advice is contextual to some degree. Some people push their bodybuilding or powerlifting goals on individuals interested in fitness, and it ruins the experience for some. For example, I told an 80 year old training client of mine that he did not need to include triceps extensions and curls in his program, as he was just interested in general health. Bottom line, context is vital.

[@canererbay8842]

Being the easily-bored hater that I am, I've sat through this video with no problem and there's not one thing in it I disagree with. Amazing.

[@spanishcastlesinspace2899]

Powerbuilding sounds like an "I want it all attitude" that I love. Never settle for your dreams.

[@yungsteazy]

I’m going to just do the Allan thrall and grow my hair out powerlift and eat 10,000 calories a day than one day realize that I want to build muscle when I’m 34, cut my hair than I’ll become a body builder sounds amazing to me

[@koolkeithsdad]

I forgot completely about NH until this lil cycle... And now i will work hard to forget him again... Those SUPER long self-righteous tirades are so silly

[@daltonmason62]

@2:40 as long as it's smoked low and slow, and brisket it's superior to all. Also sauce, while a delicious addition, usually is just a cover up for mediocre meat @5:25 my man! You read my mind!

[@beyondbaykar]

Hodgetwins reference of yours made me smile gratefully for the fitness journey of mine and the fitness culture of past times. Thanks Alan, you were one of my inspirations when I started, matter fact, you still are.

[@davedoodledude]

Great video as always. Also happy birthday brother

[@Freynightwalker]

Another great video Alan, as an educator, I appreciate how you use your analogies to illustrate your points clearly

[@muppy9053]

I think the argument with BBQ, powerbuilding, strongman, powerlifter circles around this notion of identity politics. "As a powerbuilder I...." or "As a strongman I...." which ends up seperating people into groups that argue over points that really don't matter. It all comes from the consumer mentality because the marketing of today calls you a thing and therefore you buy this associated set of products. Truth is we all love fitness and for the moat part have more in common than differences.

[@punxsutawneyphil3944]

14:39 So does bodybuilding. Hypertrophy work is strength training. You said it yourself in the beginning. Now saying that powerlifting is more addictive because you can see the numbers going up is a contradiction. You also see your numbers going up in bodybuilding. 🤷‍♂️

[@archaon593]

Love your more nuanced and mature perspective

[@itsviibes5854]

It seems like NH’s video got taken out of context like you said. It’s not that powerlifting is a waste of time but people who want a good physique would not call themselves bodybuilders because of the fluff and pump stigma. Whereas the big 3 and strength training is associated with power building. But NH’s point is that doing strength training on these big lifts IS bodybuilding if you alter technique towards hypertrophy and not optimise leverage for weight. This had all stemmed from his hatred of the new bodybuilding stigma not powerlifting!😂

[@diogo5963]

well said, i feel like the deep root of all this "debates" is the drug users that hijacked bodybuilding and got jacket cuz of the drugs and now gives the term a bad name and people have a bad image of it, hell its pitting natural lifters agaisnt each other which is sad, sounds corny but as natties we should all stand together wether we focus on strength or hypertrophy.

[@vidguru0062]

thank you for the levelheaded video Alan. and the oldschool hodgetwins reference. those are always good.

[@jamesflynn8149]

Feels like Alan is making an Avengers cameo in the Noble Natties, couldn't be more for it

[@tom420guitar]

I think another factor to consider in powerbuilding over bodybuilding, or even calisthenics over bodybuilding is false modesty. We all want to get jacked. But, I think admitting that we want to do it with "bodybuilding" - a sport that is purely focused on aesthetics - can feel a bit vain. "Power lifting" is a sport, it's about being strong in specific lifts, and you can be super strong without being super jacked - and that's where the false modesty comes in. "I dont care about being jacked (even though that was why I started working out), I just want to be strong". And then you can look at old mate doing bicep curls staring at himself in the mirror and feel smug as you deadlift 500 pounds and rest for 10 minutes between sets with a steadily growing powerbelly. Sort of the same with calisthenics too. "Functional movements" yadda yadda, "I don't just want to get jacked I'm improving my proprioception and now i can do a handstand for 15 seconds and my workouts take 4 hours because of all the skills I have to learn". But secretly, deep down... I think we all just want to get jacked, and a good bodybuilding program is the fastest way to do it. Now that I've accepted that, I can just go to the gym for 45 minutes, smash out a workout, and not worry about injuring myself by pursuing another 1RM or spending half my workout just trying to learn a new skill that'll take me 6 months to perfect. All examples above are from my own experience, no hate on anyone's training style (except I could never deadlift 500 pounds...).

[@joeysung311]

I agree everyone likes being jacked but some people do care way less about it than getting good at strength lifts etc

[@KurokamiNajimi]

You can’t necessarily be strong without being jacked. Examples ppl reference for that are outliers not the rule or they’re comparing ppl who take less drugs/no drugs to bodybuilders who do and thus have terrible relative strength, let me repeat that RELATIVE strength. Look at Will Tennyson vs Chris Bumstead benching and OHP for example. Will is natural and Chris is the Mr Olympia weighing up to 260 in the off season while Will only breaks 200 at the peak of a bulk. Will doesn’t do any strength work ever. For Will to have 90% of his strength with the difference in lean mass and overall weight simply doesn’t add up and it’s not just these 2 a comparison like this is the norm. Most pro bodybuilders have similar strength as advanced naturals Strength has a genetic component and the comparisons are fucked up because you’ll have people comparing a sumo dead with a deadlift bar (from what I know these are red and bend easier let’s you move about 5% more weight like 600 vs 570) to narrow conventional dead standard bar. Wide grip touch and go arching up the ass bench to medium grip little to no arch pause bench etc. And that’s not even factoring in the difference leverages could be making. What if you both weigh 180 except your ROM is double mine or in the case of deadlifting someone with long arms has an easier time touching the bar and keeping their back straight. Or you could be 180 and the other person with worse leverages 200, the weight difference here doesn’t necessarily make up for it all of it

[@JustinOwings]

Here because I love the nuance of this kind of discussion from Alan.

[@JackgarPrime]

Nuance, you say? Jordan would be proud.

[@XanderYTV]

I think people overthink this stuff sometimes. Myself included. Right now I am simply going in and doing my fahvess on SBD depending on the day and then go destroy my arms, back, whatever it may be and leave. Technically this is Powerbuilding. But I want to bench 315 and look like I bench 315. Just like most people. So yes I think that Powerbuilding is the right approach for a lot of people. Nobody wants to get jacked and then have to answer the "how much do you bench bro" question with "well i actually don't bench because it's not optimal and if you look at stretch mediat-..."

[@Justobserving9291]

There is only one way to train. That’s to do whatever the person with the largest social media following has to say about training. Do what they do they know how to get numbers up!!

[@Sonic_1000]

NH is the LAST "influencer" I'd take advice from.

[@LokkesBoerlin]

Would be interesting to hear why? I find him engaging but interested to hear critique

[@jakes1881]

I really want to delve into online bbq arguments now.

[@tommyddurand]

been a long time subscriber, but the video feels a lot more like powerlifting vs body building rather than "powerbuilding is (or isn't) an abomination"... not sure if that was intended. Either way, I think powerbuilding is great. Sure you won't get the strength gains on compounds as you would on a pure powerlifting specific program, and sure you won't have the arm measurements of a pure body builder, but you will be well rounded with a good physique and still enjoy the measurable progress that powerlifting provides on your compound lifts. I actually think your point about powerlifting being more addictive / attractive to new lifters is extremely applicable to the concept of powerbuilding. Most people will probably begin on a powerbuilding journey in my opinion before they let others taint their views. Powerbuilding is an extremely attractive concept to a new lifter. What do I want to achieve? Well I want to get stronger and have a good physique. That is powerbuilding. The end :) Love the videos as always Alan.

[@fokker1138]

I must have been doing it wrong for the past 10 years. I was powerbuilding without giving it a name. I just considered it training for strength without focusing on bulking.

[@mi6597]

Lol, I was convinced "Bald Omni-Man" was a diss on dr Mike :D

[@doseofreality100]

Like everything social media touches, people will overcomplicate everything.

[@tuh774]

I have the idea that powerlifting and bodybuilding cannot exist without each other. And i am 100% sure any beginner lifter finds this out sooner or later, at some point you can't get stronger without building muscle its just logical. So why would it be bad if you want to keep your strength progression while also building muscle? They are very much interlocked. Powerbuilding is a good way of training if you prefer it imo. Also i think one very important thing to consider is, everyones body works different. A program that works for someone else does not work the same way for me. This is tied to many things, like my sleep being different, my nutrition being different etc.

[@tribunaldude]

if it is general/dummy strength (with zero context) you seek, look no further than the Bloatlord.

[@RicheUK]

Exactly, for some reason people now are just over thinking/over complicating training. The whole fun part of it is the journey to find out what works for you . BTW, Thanks for the multiple tips on BBQ !! :)

[@jaybanks7718]

A video on when enough is enough would be interesting. Been a subscriber for years, but missed it if you ever talked about it. I'm all for improving, but at some point, a person just isn't going to be able to lift any more weight. What's next after that? Maintenance mode? I dropped out of CrossFit, but I still think the principle is sound. I just try and do a wide range of stuff, from walking/running/biking, to body weight exercises, to lifting...and yoga. I've been lifting for probably about 7 years. I just feel like if I go any heavier, there is a potential injury on the horizon. Trying to avoid that.