7/31/98
Q.
Which is better, free weights or machines? Do free weights build more bulk and machine give better shape?
A.
If you mean muscle size when you say bulk, both free weights and machines will help you gain muscle size if you train intensely enough and give your body a chance to recover. For the guy that trains in his garage and cannot afford machines, free weights are the way to go. What strikes me as humorous, is that whenever you pick up a magazine, you can find an article supposedly written by some "pro" about his favorite routine and in the article he strongly insists that he only uses free weights. But then low and behold, you turn a few pages and there's a photo of him doing machine presses or machine curls or whatever. Walk into any of the top gyms and you will find that 75% of the equipment will be machines. I personally like the feel of a well designed machine much more than free weights but hey, that's just my opinion. Both are effective, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
7/31/98
Q.
How is your back feeling? I hurt my back a few years ago but luckily, I didn't need surgery like you did. Will you be competing again? If so, when? Best of luck!
A.
Hey buddy, thanks for asking about my back. It's actually feeling pretty good. Not totally 100% pain-free but hey, I can't complain. Yes Steve, I do plan on competing again. Probably in the summer of 99. I was right in the middle of my contest preparations this year when my back took a turn for the worst. But, I think I still got a the drive to do it again (the mind is willing---hopefully the body is too…)
Q.
What is your feeling about supplements? I want to put on 10 pound or so of muscle by Christmas and my friend told me about something call 19-norando or something like that. Does it work? What about Creatine and Whey Protein? Thanks for your time.
A.
I plan on writing a rather lengthy column on supplements soon but I won't keep you waiting that long (I tend to update my page at a snails pace). 19-NorAndro is pretty new and has been getting quite a bit of press lately. There may be something to the stuff, BUT at the present time I know of at least one natural bodybuilding organization that has banned the stuff because it can show a positive result in drug tests! You see, just because you can purchase it over the counter at your favorite supplement store doesn't mean it safe or legal for competition. Compared to steroids and if not abused, it's probably safe (remember, I can't advise you one way or another, this is just one guys opinion) and may provide an increase in testosterone, but please be careful with this and other "pro-hormone" supplements. As for Creatine, it does enable one to "pull water" into the muscles causing an increase in bodyweight and since the increase is not fat, it can be considered "lean bodyweight" (after all, muscles are 70% wateranyway). The effects of Creatine do stop when you stop taking it. As for Whey Protein, I use it everyday. I allows me to take in 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight without increasing my fat consumption.