Eight things I believe but can't prove by Alwyn Cosgrove

Alwyn Cosgrove, if you don't know, is the consumate fitness professional. He is one of the smartest guys in the industry and has authored many pieces, including two hard back books, "The New Rules of Lifting" and "The New of Lifting for Women". This is a piece he wrote some time back that I really liked and agree with very much.
Enjoy!
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"The information presented is my opinion based on over 25 years of experience. I’m not here to argue my opinion versus your opinion. Please ask questions. I’ll explain my views but, won’t change them." Mike Boyle

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A couple of weeks ago I contributed to an article called "Can't prove it" over at t-nation. The premise of the article was "what do you believe to be true - even though you can't prove it". I actually sent it a few more tips (the editors chose what I was to expand on) and thought I'd share a few of them here:

1. I think fat loss is like a thermostat -- you can dial it up and burn more fat, dial it back and burn less. I guess that's why it interests me -- as I always wonder how we could 'turn up the dial'. (That line of thinking led me to create the Afterburn program actually).

2. On the other hand -- I think muscle growth is more like an on-off switch -- your individual genetics tend to determine the rate of growth - and all the "bulking phases" in the World won't change that rate once you have turned growth "on".
You create the need for muscle growth - and provide enough of a positive protein balance - and that's that. You can increase the rate of 'destruction' (fat burning) but I don't think you can increase the rate of 'construction' (muscle building).
Obviously - Drugs can change both of the above scenarios. Which is why it makes no sense to look at programs that involve anabolics or are based on anabolic users when you're natural.

3. The only supplement that I have ever really seen dramatically enhance fat loss has been fish oil. And I include ephedrine in that statement. In terms of pure pounds of fat lost over 12 week I don't think ephedrine did anything that 1-2 extra weeks of dieting wouldn't give you.

4. I think a good personal trainer is usually more knowledgeable than most strength coaches. As Mike Boyle has pointed out - a strength coach gets about 8+ hours per week with genetically gifted individuals who often only train and practice full time - no job and no responsibilities.
A trainer may only get 2-3 hours with someone who is 'athletically challenged' and has a full time job, and a host of other stresses. Getting results in that situation requires MORE ability.

5. The psychological differences in men and women make a bigger difference to programming than the physiological differences. Until you get that -- you can study all the training you want - but you'll fail as a coach.

6. Omega 3's will be recognized as the breakthrough 'drug' of the future - they really do seem to be that powerful. I think curcumin will follow. The research from MD Anderson is pretty exciting as regards curcumin and cancer.

7. An advanced individual doing a basic/beginners program will still progress well. A beginner or intermediate doing an advanced program will halt his progress completely. Most people aren't advanced enough to be worrying about anything more than a basic program.

8. If you train 'chest' - you apply a load to the shoulder girdle. In order to keep the shoulder healthy - you need to apply a corresponding load to the opposite side.
Most people get this part. But you also have to apply loads in the vertical plane and at every angle in between. Every time you do an exercise (e.g. an incline bench press) that applies load in one direction - you need to apply load in the exact opposite direction to keep the body healthy.

So we have to balance horizontal, vertical, incline, left to right and rotation in our loading.
And there's a 'balance' all through the 3 dimensional structure- - like a bicycle wheel with spokes. Actually - think of the shoulder and hip as a 3-dimensional BALL with spokes. It's simple physics really. Anytime you apply a load to one side of the ball in a certain direction - you are "denting" it -- and have to apply a similar load in the opposite direction.

If you don't understand that logic you probably have a list of injured clients. And this is one of the reasons why I can't even bring myself to discuss 'bodypart' routines. If you're programming based on 'bodyparts' - thinking only of muscles - without thinking about the 3 dimensional implications of how the muscle functions - where it attaches, how you are loading the shoulder or hip girdle (remember that ball) -- then we're so far apart in our basic thinking that I almost can't communicate with you.

Like I said -- I can't really prove any of this, as most of it's my opinion. But I feel strong enough to share them with you.
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Thanks Alwyn,
God bless you this week,
Steve