What I Changed To Keep Growing

[@FitOneswithVarun]

I think your new approach on failure is spot on, appreciate your ability to adapt and think critically as always

[@Ask-Ali]

100%. Always learning

[@ReviveStronger]

Thanks a lot Varun!

[@mattc4266]

Varun why you covering for hersoyvac?

[@Wealth.is.Health]

4:33 Bro's arm looking crazyy Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us man!

[@ReviveStronger]

Appreciate you!

[@VasardoPT]

This video sounds a lot like you applying some of what GVS preaches, and somewhat diverging from Dr. Mike's thoughts on failure and periodization. I think they are both great sources, but on those specific topics I very much am on the side of GVS!! 😊

[@ReviveStronger]

And my thoughts will probably slightly differ from both :) of course both are fantastic.

[@uplandarch697]

Everyone wants those gvs gains

[@ReviveStronger]

Gains please!

[@uscmhudson5504]

That's an excellent technique for the sissy squats, using the rope attachment on the stack. I'm going to have to try that! - Thanks!!

[@ReviveStronger]

Just posted these on my IG too!

[@MasoNowa]

I think he said he likes the metal bar better FYI

[@zafi3054]

I like a TRX Suspension trainer

[@ReviveStronger]

@@MasoNowa Correct

[@Mbstr1]

I feel like there is a huge difference between perfect form and acceptable form, and while it is always good to strive for perfect form, as long as your form stays acceptable you are still in the green zone. I try to fight form breakdown induced by fatique, yet some form breakdown is inevitable when you are trying to push past your previous limits.

[@ReviveStronger]

Yuppp

[@hoops133]

arms are lookin insane! love the breakdown of how ur training philosophy has changed

[@ReviveStronger]

Cheers dude!

[@poppatroller]

Good video :) Higher volume is only to make up for lack of effort. I train 95% of my lifts to 0RIR but never on leg compounds, they’re always 3-2RIR.

[@ReviveStronger]

Yeah I think that can lead to problems if you go too far down that route too!

[@poppatroller]

@@ReviveStronger Yeah definitely, like a lot of things there’s a grey area or middle ground that’s usually a better place to be.

[@m3th0d30]

This is a phenomenal video Steve. I love to hear the thought process you've gone through and the conclusions you've come to after following these philosophies for so long, being in tune with yourself and continuing to question yourself and trying to improve your process. That's what it's all about!

[@ReviveStronger]

100% thank you!

[@mikelmao8849]

8:00 the insight on how you train certain things (biceps/delts) closer to failure due to less overall fatigue cost than a squat session to failure is golden. RiR can vary between muscle groups if you understand what cooks you and what doesn't. Hearing someone much more advanced say that outloud was an "aha!" moment for my training.

[@ReviveStronger]

Love that man!

[@gerym341]

Fantastic advice. Thank you

[@valentinemakedonski1622]

Great video.

[@farzadterm]

From when i started watching your yt channel 19/20, your arms/shoulders look insane now!

[@ReviveStronger]

Thanks for following!

[@zNervouss]

I agree on deloading.

[@AlexM-YNWA]

Thanks for this Steve- very similar changes recently implemented in my training, about 4 yrs of lifting now and starting to plateau across multiple lifts. Have made the change from very technical strict form/tech failure to a more explosive athletic approach and going beyond failure/drop sets on smaller muscle groups. Frequency had to change officially from 4 days to 5 days, 3 weeks into first new Meso and feeling an immediate difference.

[@AlexM-YNWA]

And also the deloads** that has been huge for me, when I implemented a dealod for the first time a couple years ago, it was a God send (I hadn't ever taken a training break minus illness etc) and after that I loved being able to take a deload about every 5 weeks. Then I told myself I needed one every 5 weeks. Over the course of about 12-18 months started to slowly get the sense of maybe leaving some gains on the table, then started feeling like it was a mind game. One bad session in week 4 and I'd think "yep that's right I'm close to my 5 week MRV" and it became a self fulfilling prophecy. I currently have no scheduled deload and I am going to really push through a few weak sessions (if I have them) to really find out when progress officially starts to decline for multiple sessions in a row

[@ReviveStronger]

@@AlexM-YNWA Love hearing about people's own lessons and journeys, keep it up!

[@leo_lopes_augusti]

your shape is looking craazy

[@ReviveStronger]

cheers dude

[@dilipbhammar115]

Spot on 🎉

[@patriknn1]

Totally agree on everything you said. RP has done a lot to create structure and apply science to bodybuilding but a lot of their advise has been way to generalised. For example, Why would someone who has trained for 5-6 months need to deload as often as someone who has trained for 5-6 years..? And what is failure? Failure on a pressing type of movement is pretty straight forward and it’s also quite easy to access when you almost certainly won’t get another rep. Pulling is trickier though. Is failure REALLY when you can’t get another full rep? Or is it actually after you cannot perform another full rep and has added a partial or two? And why start a meso with 3-4 rir on everything? Doesn’t make sence. Starting with 3-4 rir on squats and deadlifts are fine. 2-3 on pressing type of movements. But a calfraise? Or a sidelateral? In reality those type of movements where you fail in the contracted position schould probably be more like 1 rir, then 0 rir, then beyound 0 rir, then even farter beyound 0 rir…

[@sassanskate]

Great video! Articulated very well, and coincidentally aligns with similar experiences I’ve recently been discovering within my own training. Especially as my emphasis shifted from more of a strength background to a more hypertrophy based style where overall load and compound movements were no longer as prioritized and the execution is slowed down, paused, and thinking about the muscle as opposed to the movement. Thus, I am able to do more volume with less “systemic” fatigue with more stable isolated exercise. ie low bar squat vs narrow hack squat, bench vs incline smith, etc. Enough about me, you’re doing a solid job on all your content, Keep it up 👍🏽

[@ReviveStronger]

Thanks man and for sharing your success!

[@HumbleDictator]

I have had the same arc this year with my coach. I used to deload every 6th week but this year I was able to go for 10/12 weeks mesocycles. We had to, however, deload a certain muscle group from time to time. So far this year Ive had great gains.

[@ReviveStronger]

Nice!

[@poppatroller]

Why did you deload muscle groups? Injury?

[@HumbleDictator]

@@poppatroller nope, my triceps fatigue quicker than my other muscles. So after a few weeks of training progress starts slowing down so we deload them for a session or two and usually my performance starts skyrocketing again (fitness fatigue model).

[@poppatroller]

@@HumbleDictator Wth I didn’t know that was a thing. I thought people just deloaded certain muscles because of injury. Were you feeling overlapping soreness in your triceps before deloading them? The fitness fatigue model usually refers to systemic fatigue as fatigue masks performance.

[@HumbleDictator]

@@poppatroller My triceps dont get too sore and soreness isnt really something that informs you about your recovery 100%. I've had amazing Hamstrings sessions while they were sore. It's just that my progress was stalling (2/3 weeks of the same number of reps with the same weight or even losing a rep when micro loading...) but right after a light week/deload/devolume - call it what you like - I was getting PRs left and right. I do believe that local fatigue can also mask fitness.

[@johnstenin13397]

good one STEVE!

[@ReviveStronger]

You got it!

[@pouyaraha]

One thing that i have started factoring as of late- is viewing the progression or regression, of a muscle across multiple lifts and sessions of the week. For example if on my first upper session of the week i couldnt match or beat my previous bench number instead of thinking somethings wrong- like i use to previously, ill see how i perform on my next movement ( flies for example) ill then aswell see how my performance is on the second session of the week. I think this is a more logical appraoch as ive often found compounds especially press's stagnate in progress, whilst the isolations / machine movements are still showing progression and training feels pretty good. often i find the following week my compound movement will progress.

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

Knowledge bombs

[@ReviveStronger]

Cheers man

[@Metalkake]

Thank you for the insights sir 🙏 always valuable!

[@ReviveStronger]

You got it brother!

[@jonathansmith8006]

I used to have a planned deload week, now I just do 3/4ths my maximum recovery sets and go until the wife plans a holiday weekend or week. 😅Sometimes that week 12 deload really hits the spot and I’m rearing to go starting week 1 again

[@ClumpypooCP]

This sort of thing is what makes me think that the over-reliance on the "science" and following some specific rule-based methods to train is just over-intellectualizing the whole thing. Just train, hard. Repeat.

[@uttih]

Sure, but the "just train hard bro" mentality leads to really stupid stuff also. Blind unfocused effort, which is a nice substitute for psychological therapy for many guys, but isn't the best thing for progress either. It is actually possible to work hard AND smart at the same time.

[@sunnylo5756]

I personally think understanding the fundamental principles of muscle is very important. However not to limit ourselves under rigid boundaries. As long as it is not completely against scientific principles we shall explore or test our own set of rules / boundaries. Keep an open mind and try to learn from different perspectives is as important as learning science.

[@ReviveStronger]

@@sunnylo5756 nailed it sir!

[@jesseslone8714]

I needed to hear this today!

[@ReviveStronger]

You got it!

[@MrTas44]

Sorry if you addressed this before but are you natural? you look jacked well done

[@ReviveStronger]

Yes sir I am natural, thanks.

[@esembee7717]

I had a strange experience with failure in the gym this week. Did 11 reps on chest press machine matching previous workout. Second set I could only manage 5 reps then completely failed. Well short of previous. At the end of the workout, I went back to the machine as was annoyed with performance. I pushed out 10 reps. Not sure what was going on. I added either reps or weight on all my other exercises that day.

[@jordanjacobs157]

It looks like you’re wearing Versa grips in some of these clips. Can you comment on the efficacy of these compared to regular straps

[@ReviveStronger]

Far more convenient & generally work better, I highly recommend them.

[@jordanjacobs157]

@@ReviveStronger cheers man. I found your channel through your podcast with GVS and I’m lovin the content :)

[@jeffbunnell9961]

some movements like RDLs I find it hard to measure how close I am to failure. Usually if I'm doing more than 12 reps on RDLs I feel like I need to increase the weight.

[@martinguerra2142]

Just increase it till you can´t. At some point you will find the 12RM.

[@ReviveStronger]

Film them & progress them slowly overtime, you'll get better. You can also get a coach or educated eye to give them a once over. I also don't like to go much above 12 reps on hip hinges, tends to lead to my low back kicking in.

[@jeffbunnell9961]

@@ReviveStronger yes exactly my lower back and even my grip with straps starts to slip a bit. All in all I'm just like I need to rack the bar, but maybe I can do more.

[@scottrogers1493]

Re: no forced deloads, i think that is totally true but only for the explicit goal of physique, and then only with lighter weights. The heavier ranges for strength training really tax your joints and connective tissues which are poorly innervated. Relying on feeling is a poor gauge to determine recovery, while microtears accumulate.

[@m00nkiid]

Is that a captain Levi tattoo?

[@ReviveStronger]

Shinzou Wo Sasageyo!

[@CharliePersonalTrainer]

You look gigantic, peak natural physique

[@VideoGerm]

Do you ever do lower rep ranges on machine or isolation movements (5-8 range)? If so, what exercises? Great video, I needed to hear this 👍🏼

[@ReviveStronger]

I do not, maybe if I start say with 15 my reps will drop off closer to 8. Cheers man.

[@VideoGerm]

@@ReviveStronger Why do prefer higher rep-ranges? Is it mainly for joint health?

[@abdulhalim520]

Yoooo that Captain Levi tattoo is badass!

[@ReviveStronger]

Thanks my man!

[@kiddfamilyfarmllc9962]

At 63 , I have to be careful.

[@ew-zd1th]

Would you say DB fly was Worth for you?

[@ReviveStronger]

It's great, another tool in your tool box.

[@wrusst]

Be fair there was literature stating absolute failure was slightly worse on muscle growth also

[@ReviveStronger]

There was?

[@wrusst]

@@ReviveStronger one example is Skeletal Muscle Fiber Adaptations Following Resistance Training Using Repetition Maximums or Relative Intensity - Caroll 2019

[@wrusst]

@@ReviveStronger another on strength backs up the idea also . Effect of Training Leading to Repetition Failure on Muscular Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - 2015 "No significant effect was found for the volume-controlled studies, although there was a trend favouring non-failure training.'

[@ReviveStronger]

@@wrusst I guess it's why Zac's analysis was quite interesting

[@wrusst]

@@ReviveStronger don't get me wrong if volume matched it's probably a wash if you can keep overall volume up but leads me more to the idea on failure on last set to cover both bases

[@DJcs187]

If you're aware that a certain word might illicit a negative reaction, why not put in the miniscule effort that is required and find a different word instead? Suggestsions to replace pussy (in this context) with: Wimp, weakling, baby, coward. I'm getting really tired of people bemoaning "woke culture" and in turn becoming softer and more of a crybaby than any of the actual people who react negatively to certain expressions or issues. It's the main reason I stopped listening to the Improvement Season podcast and only check in for interviews now, Pascal had just become insufferable to listen to at times.

[@DJcs187]

Otherwise great video.

[@ReviveStronger]

Thanks for your feedback-I totally get where you're coming from. Language can be powerful, and I agree that it's important to consider how our words might impact others. As you know my goal was to convey a shift in my training intensity, and I used 'pussy' in the way that many people commonly understand it in that context. That said, I can see how it might not sit well with everyone, and I appreciate your suggestions for alternative words. I take these very raw & it's just popped to mind, I am not saying that's OK & clearly I was aware of that too, definitely not perfect here. It's never my intention to alienate anyone, and I'm always open to learning and adjusting where needed. I hope you continue to find value in the interviews and other content, and I'll keep your feedback in mind as we move forward. Glad you stuck with it & could derive some value.

[@DJcs187]

​@@ReviveStronger Appreciate the thoughtful reply Steve. 🤜🏻🤛🏻 I grew up in the 90s, worshipped Eminem when I was a teenager and I was yelling f***ot at others while playing online before woke ever had an entry on urbandictionary. So, admittedly, the last decade or so has definitely been a challenge, but turning 40 this year, I feel that I've grown from it without losing who I used to be or compromising any of the values I used to hold, it just takes a little effort tbh. As far as content goes, you're probably the best interviewer in the fitness industry and consistently have great and interesting guests so I've no doubt I'll keep watching them for as long as you make them.

[@originalruckuscrew]

How much testosterone are you taking as part of your weekly routine and what do you recommend people just jumping on for trt?

[@Wealth.is.Health]

@@originalruckuscrew dude's natural bruv

[@originalruckuscrew]

I believe he did say he was on trt or something along those lines

[@Wealth.is.Health]

@@originalruckuscrew nah you misheard him. Used to be on trt in his early 20s for medical reasons. Haven't touched that in at least 5+ years.

[@jakubchrobry3701]

In Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice, are you a girlie man?

[@ReviveStronger]

@@originalruckuscrew I haven't been on TRT for over 10 years, I was only on it for a short time due to a head injury & otherwise wouldn't have had any need for it. I do not recommend it because I am not a Dr.

[@redstorm474]

you don't understand what triggers muscles to grow that's why you're chasing failure. Failure isn't an effective way of training. Of course, It works, but it's not smart way of training, because as you said failure gives you systemic fatigue! So you can achieve the stimulus without this fatigue. If you're Yates with a strong nervous system, you can train to failure.

[@ReviveStronger]

I assume by this comment you've got more muscle than me & have better client results too?

[@redstorm474]

@@ReviveStronger First of all, I appreciate your opinion and your wish to share it. And you seem a good person. But you chose the wrong tactic - referring to authority. Because I can show you famous bodybuilders who did the opposite. As a scientific expert on hypertrophy I tell you - you don't need failure, you need volume instead, it's smarter way to train! There's a negative relationship between volume and failure. That's why Yates didn't do a lot of volume with his failure training!

[@javig9346]

@@ReviveStronger Please avoid a conceited approach and try to be more open-minded, more eclectic. Regards