It seems the question I get asked most often is: “What’s the best program for (insert goal here)?” To which I almost always reply: “Well, that all depends …”

At which point the individual asking the question usually wanders away either pissed off or confused (usually both), reinforcing my belief that the typical gym-goer isn’t really looking for the truth but rather quick sound bites that will help make ‘em ripped, stronger or HEEYYOOOOGE. Unfortunately, folks with short attention spans and unwillingness to learn usually end up spinning their wheels, doing the same 10 year-old program their buddy’s cousins’ next-door neighbor did!

See, everyone is looking for the secret. That one tidbit of information or workout program all the really massive guys use to look the way they do. Ultimately, there’s no such thing. Believe me, I have wasted what seems like years and thousands of dollars on magazines promising to make me grow like a weed. I listened to so-called guru after guru who looked great but almost always led me down the wrong path. Fortunately, I didn’t give up and I continued to study and read and learn until I found what works.

Here’s a story that clearly highlights this phenomenon. A few years back I was training with a buddy who was in the throes of a brutal pre-contest diet (read: he was miserable!) After a particularly difficult workout, we were approached by an eager, young fellow who was looking to glean “the secret to getting big.”

“What do you guys do to get so big?”

Now, before I could start into my practiced response – “Well, that all depends …” – my buddy jumps in and points to his post-workout carb meal of mashed yams and says, “Carrots, lots and lots of carrots, at least a pound a day!” Thinking the young guy was going to realize it was a joke, I didn’t say anything, but watched him walk away with a quizzical look. Thinking nothing of this, the weeks went by till one day we were approached by this fellow again, only to see his skin had taken on a distinct orange coloration!

So what’s the moral of the story? (other than: don’t bother dieting, bodybuilders!) There is no secret program. There is no magic tool. It’s all about finding what works for you as an individual. There exists infinite variations from person to person and body to body to suggest somehow a magazine-published workout performed by an Olympia contender with freakish genetics can build you a similar physique. No matter how diligently you follow his plan, this is ridiculous! Everyone is different; what works for him will not likely work for you.

What, then, is an eager, young aspiring athlete like you supposed to do? Simple – read, listen and learn everything you can. However, make sure your BS meter is well-calibrated and turned on. The old adage about things seeming too good to be true, will serve you well here. Ask questions of everyone, especially someone who claims to be an expert, including myself! A genuine expert should be willing to take the time to answer your questions regarding his or her advice and not expect you to blindly follow it ‘cause he or she is always asking questions of others! To that end, join me at this same spot next week where I’ll do my best to answer your questions and provide some basic tools to get you started on your quest for a lean, powerful and muscular physique!