Lean Hybrid Muscle Building

(Republished from IronMan Magazine, March 1976 Vol. 35 No.3)

In response to request to elaborate on problems of running in conjunction with bodybuilding: after thirty years in the gym business a man does not have to be very smart to learn a few basic truths. Observation of repetitious failures of successes in bodybuilding problems finally becomes startlingly clear.

Even animals learn through repetition without any outside influence. The first article I ever wrote for a physique magazine was concerning overtraining (Train, Don’t Strain).

Top men from all over the country who consult me on their training problems are all, down to the last man, overtraining! Too many sets, too many reps, too many different exercises. I teach them to simplify their routines and if you can absorb this – train harder. (Train over your head).

Get more work done in the shortest period of time, and stay within the confines of your own personal blood sugar levels. Blood sugar level drop and losing your pump go hand in hand. When this occurs you drop into a catabolic state (overtonis, hormone loss, capillary shrinkage, flaccid muscle tissue and a smooth appearance).

At this point you have over-trained; this happens because the central nervous system, stimulating capillaries to expand, suddenly stops the process so you do not rupture the capillaries. At this point there is a definite muscle tissue loss, which is followed by general weakness and lassitude (Negative Nitrogen Balance).

Abdominal work also produces central nervous system shock and the aforementioned condition if not fully understood by the trainer. Needless to say, running also produces the same state. At this point I am presenting an article from a jogging and running magazine (now out of print) called “Fitness for Living”, November, December, 1968 issue.

The article explains what makes muscle tissue grow and what does not. Also, I am including a page from my newest booklet on ‘Overtonis’ (Vince’s 6-Week Bulk Course).

Increasing Muscle Size:

Many people are under the misconception that any exercise makes muscles grow larger and stronger. That’s not true. Back in 1925 German scientists discovered that to acquire large muscles you must increase the intensity of work done within a given time. That means that it doesn’t matter how much work you do. What counts is how fast you do it.

This discovery has come to be known as the overload principle. Perhaps the most famous experiment which demonstrates it involves rats trained to run at different speeds for varying lengths of time. Rats that ran at 6 meters per minute for 195 miles had smaller muscles that rats that ran at 26 meters per minute, but for only 58 miles.

In another study all rats ran the same speed. One group ran for an hour per day for three months for a total of 35 miles. Another ran at the same speed for 3 hours a day for six months, a total of 207 miles. When the experiment ended, the size of the muscles in both the groups remained the same.

The principle of overload also explains why sprinters have bigger and larger muscles that distance runners. Although it’s more work to run a mile than it is to run 100 yards, the sprinter is doing more work per second. Consequently, his muscles will become larger.

A muscle is composed of muscle fibers, the number of which vary from person to person in the same muscle. The muscle fibers in the upper arm of one man may number 40,000 while the calf muscle may contain 1,120,000 fibers. Another person may have only 946,000 fibers.

Heredity controls the number of muscle fibers present, and it will not change.  It it these muscle fibers which determine how large a muscle can grow. In 1897 an Italian scientist named Morpurgo showed that even though exercise had produced a 50 per cent increase in the size of a muscle, the number of muscle fibers stayed the same.

The reason for the change was the increase in diameter – about 40 per cent – of the muscle fibers. Thus, he developed the principle now commonly accepted that strength development has a definite limitation depending on the number of muscle fibers present at birth and on the fixed maximum size to which any muscle fiber may grow.

That means that people who want to grow stronger cannot expect unlimited development. Heredity has already drawn the line. But, through proper exercise they may reach their heredity boundaries.

The Bodybuilder’s Greatest Pitfall: Overtonis:

Overtonis is a condition caused by too many sets, too many different exercise combinations – in short, overwork, which causes muscle tissue loss, hormone depletion, weakness and a smoothed-out appearance, inability to produce a pumping effect and a general lassitude or weakness.

Overtonis produces a stringy appearance with no healthy round look apparent in a properly worked muscle.  Overtonis is caused by male hormone loss.

Overtonis causes the central nervous system to cease pumping blood into capillaries which might otherwise rupture. To achieve a maximum pump exercise until you notice pump loss.   At this point, check back the number of sets, tempo and repetitions required to achieve this effect. This is your personal exercise requirement level.

——-END OF ARTICLE——-

Related Links to this article:

1)  Maximize Muscle Fiber Growth While Shedding Body Fat in the Quickest Possible Time With Gironda’s Favorite High Intensity HONEST Workout.  Download the pdf for free with this link.

2)  Bitch Slap These 3 Speed Traps to Dominate your Opponnents and Make Your Teammates Envy You!  Click here for a free video on becoming a better sprinter.

Interviewed by Mike Westerdal

Today I’d like to introduce you to Skip LaCour who has established himself as a leader in the bodybuilding world.  In his passionate effort to propel training, nutrition, supplementation, and mental strategies forward, he has authored ten books, produced six videos, and has frequently contributed to several international magazines. He has accomplished all of this and more while simultaneously becoming one of the world’s best drug-free bodybuilders.  After reading his HIGHLY recommended new eBook Simple Bodybuilding Nutrition, Skip was kind enough to answer some questions for us!

MW:  Were you always muscular? I haven’t seen many pictures of you when you were younger or skinny.

SL:  To make it to the elite level of drug free bodybuilding, you must have a combination of very good genetics, an extraordinary work ethic, be consistent with your training and eating habits, and be intelligent in your approach to training and eating. I believe I had ALL of those components working for me—and that’s why I’m known around the world for what I do and have been for such a long period of time.

If you do not have all of those components working for you, you can still build an admirable physique. You just may have a challenge getting to the elite level.

I had a decent amount of size when I was younger, great shape to my muscles, was strong and athletic. So, I don’t have a “Skinny Skippy” story to tell you.

I do have a story to tell of effective and efficient eating strategies—regardless of what your genetic conditions may be. I can help you make the most out of what you’ve been given—and find ways to overcome what you weren’t. And, that should be everybody’s goal: Become the very best YOU can be. You simply MUST NOT make your journey of toward great physical development a contest between you and other people.

I also have a story to tell of effective and efficient mental strategies. I have a story to tell of work ethic, longevity, and dedication. Those qualities are oftentimes  far more important than the specific training or eating strategy a person chooses.

I didn’t even start bodybuilding until I was 27 years old which most people would think is too old to get into bodybuilding and progress as far as I did as a competitor.

MW:  That’s some great advice which leads me to my next question.  You’re also involved with personal development and your MANformation personal development for men. I’m wondering if the lessons you learned from bodybuilding carry over to the rest of your life? Or, did you take the personal development skills that you teach and apply them to becoming a champion bodybuilder? Which came first—or did they develop together? 

SL:  I’ve been heavily involved in personal development even since the age of 21. That’s when an employee I managed at my job took me to a Zig Ziglar seminar. That seminar changed the direction of my life.

Many years later, I really started studying the work of Tony Robbins. I became such a great student of his work that he put me in one of his infomercials as an example of success that ran on television for years.

In was in those seminars and workshops that I made of the ambitious goals and specific plans to become the best drug free bodybuilder in the world, help others achieve their personal goals both inside and outside of the gym, and make my living doing what I love to do. At that time, I was a manager for a large grocery store chain.

After I retired from competitive bodybuilding, I became a motivational speaker and conducted seminars about self-improvement. My seminars evolved into my MANformation courses.

When you become more aware of the Alpha Male Leadership characteristics that I outline in my MANformation courses; appreciate how they can affect the quality of your life; learn how to adopt them into your own personality; and practice these skills, you’ll have more options in life. “Options” are all the things in life you REALLY want—and they are far more than all of those things in life that you merely settle for. Money, power, and relationships/sex are examples of the options in life many that men want, want more of, or a better quality what they already have.

MANformation a combination of all of my life experiences—including bodybuilding. Especially handling everything that comes with putting your opinions “out there” as a leader.

In many ways, MANformation is my personal story striving for success in life. It is a culmination of what I learned from the great peak performance coaches and motivational speakers I studied under—and then translated those lessons into my own life. It’s my journey figuring out how to effectively deal with the up and downs; good and bad; high and lows; and everything else that life inevitably put in your path.

My MANformation Alpha Leadership Strategies audio courses have “struck a nerve” (in a good way) in thousands of bodybuilders at every level—from beginners all the way up to advanced competitive bodybuilders.

MW:  That course sounds life changing.  It’s on my wishlist now and I’m looking forward to learning more.  Switching gears, what is the main variable that needs adjusting if you’re a hardgainer and have trouble putting on muscle?  What would a hard gainer adjust compared to someone who has more fat to lose?

SL:  I really don’t like the “hardgainer label” people choose to brand themselves with. The Law of Relativity states that “nothing has any value unless compared to something else.” So, obviously a person has consciously chosen someone with better genetics to compare themselves to when labeling themselves as a hardgainer.

Why not pick someone who has the same genetics potential as you? Why not pick someone who has worse genetic potentail than you? Everyone could consider themselves a hardgainer if they compared themselves to the “right” person (or, in this case the “wrong” person). Hell, there are plenty of bodybuilders at the elite level who I could compare myself to and then brand myself a hardgainer.

I just don’t see the point of branding yourself with such a disempowering identity–especially in bodybuilding that takes commitment and discipline many times a day and every single day. “Well, I am hardgainer—but I’m going to get to the gym and do this training program—but I’m only going to get average results. Well, I’m a hardgainer but I am going to stick to this diet and stay away from all the food that taste amazing—but I’m only going to get average results.”

Look, we all have what we have. Our job is to make the very best with what we have. You do that by following through with the basics of training, nutrition, AND an outstanding mindset.

The less gifted you are, the more you need to follow through with the physical and mental basics and probably do so for a longer period of time.

MW:  That’s very helpful, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Do you have any suggestions for losing body fat while training for strength in regards to nutrition?

SL:  You can lose body fat and train for strength at the same time. You do not have to make it and “either/or” situation. You must strive to make it an “and” situation.

That takes a lot of focus and discipline in the gym and at the “dinner table”—but I think most people realize that.

What will separate those who succeed from those who struggle are a person’s eating habits. You have to plan your day in advance and be prepared and organized to eat all of your meals. Eating five or six meals a day works. Following through on a consistent basis is the key to success.

MW:  Many athletes want to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat to improve performance in their respected sports. Would you recommend that athletes who practice a sport daily eat in a similar way that a bodybuilder would in order to gain muscle and lose fat?

SL:  Yes. It works. It’s all about feeding the body the calories and nutrients it needs throughout the day to help it run optimally.

Eating all of your meals every day and getting enough protein, carbohydrates, and good fats is what you need to do. There is no secret plan—although some plans are better than others. Do what works like a machine. Step up and get it done. It doesn’t matter what sport you play.

Now, if a person isn’t committed to do what they must to build the maximum amount of muscle, get their body fat down to lower levels, and be string in the gym, that’s fine. A person just needs to accept that and stop looking for easy answers and methods to achieve success. You either need to raise your standards—or lower your expectations.

MW:  Now that’s a great quote!  Skip, is there such thing as a perfect muscle building diet?

SL:  Yes, there is. The one you believe in and follow through with on a consistent basis.

After committing and following through with just about any diet, you’ll have the practical experience, knowledge, and momentum to make the necessary adjustments to find out exactly what works best for you. It’s a process. The chances are great that you are not going to find the “perfect diet” for you in your first attempt. But, rest assured, you will have good gains if you stick to it. If your diet doesn’t “work” it could very well be your mindset, execution, and consistency that are the problems.

A healthy, mentally flexible person should say when evaluating a diet plan something like this: “That diet I tried for several months had some great aspects to it. This is what I like about it and this is what I learned. I can take what I learned and make adjustments from there.”

Too many people complain about their diets when they should be putting most of the blame on the person they see in the mirror. (When they are standing in front of that mirror by themselves, of course.)

I’m not saying all diets are the same and any diet is just as effective as any other. I am saying that people make their search for the perfect diet far more complicated that it has to be.

It basically all comes down to five different variables, gentlemen: How many calories; How much protein; How many carbohydrates; How much fat; and how many meals are you going to break those calories into throughout the day.

You need to get the help you need to figure those variables out without driving yourself crazy. You need to get yourself a “coach” and shave time, frustration, confusion, and overwhelm.

MW:  To really get results with a meal plan do you have to measure your food and count calories?

SL:  I think that measuring your food is very helpful at the very start of your physical improvement journey until you can “eyeball” it.  I suggest that everyone measures their food for at least a few weeks – just for the knowledge and experience you’ll gain.  I, myself, certainly did that at the beginning of my journey.  It’s an extremely helpful exercise and lesson that will provide you with insight that will last the rest of your life.

MW:  Thank you so much for your time and sharing your insight with us.  Hopefully we can do this again real soon.  note:  If you’d like to learn more about Skip LaCour’s nutrition planning visit the link below.

6X National Champion Bodybuilder Skip Lacour Shares His Nutrition Secrets In…
Simple Bodybuilding Nutrition – CLICK HERE

Have you been trying to build lean muscle and lose fat for longer than 90 day’s but have seen very little or NO significant results?

The fact is that even if you are using our Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded system, which will have you busting your ass 3-6 days per week, you may STILL be completely stalled in your lean muscle building results.

So, how is it that you can be beating yourself to death in the gym AND dieting like an anorexic teenage girl from Beverly Hills – yet you’re still softer and weaker than you wish?

This week I shared two very important concepts relating to our nervous systems impact on the release of stress hormones (like Cortisol) and anabolic hormones (like Testosterone).

The first concept was the essential practice of consciously BALANCING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.

The second critical concept was about how the nervous system branches off into “sub brains” in our body called “ganglia”, which when considered as we design and execute our training programs have a tremendous impact on not only our strength and fat loss, but our SEX DRIVE as well.

“No matter how hard you train and diet, if your autonomic nervous system is imbalanced your results will suck!”

If you think that since Elliott Hulse, former meat head and strength geek, seems to make wild yet convicted statements then don’t take my word for it… listen to what this doctor has to say.  (not that I trust all doctors!)

“Most people simply do not understand how to properly communicate with their nervous systems, and as such are missing out on at least 60-80% of the metabolic potential of every single exercise they do. In fact, even advanced trainees tend to be “under-achieving” by at least 30-50%”

Q: So what the hell can you do to correct ANS imbalances, which leads to the over secretion of Catabolic hormones, and finally BUILD LEANER MUSCLE faster than you ever have before?

A: You create balance in your ANS by including “Anabolic Energizer” exercises and lifestyle choices that stimulate the Parasympathetic branch, which calmly invites your body to begin the production of Anabolic Hormones.

Anabolic Energizers are a series of exercises that I use with myself and my clients after each workout (and sometimes before bed) to actively stimulate the production of Anabolic Hormones.

I Created The Anabolic Energizers Video Series And Workbook… And I Want You To Have If For FREE!

 The reason why you NEED this program is because:

1. Without a balanced nervous system, your body will continue to hold onto belly fat and love handles… No matter WHAT you do!

2. These exercise are easy to do and very addictive.  Once you add them to your workouts, you’ll INSTANTLY feel a surge of anabolic hormones and stress release.

3. Becoming the “Strongest Version Of Yourself” means that you not only look lean and strong, but that you have the energy and vitality to maximize your potential in EVERY area of your life… these exercises help you do just that!

4. I have been able to run a gym, run an online publishing company, train like a badass, raise my four children AND keep my wife… well, *ehem* Very Satisfied (if you know what I mean) all at the same time.  Not to brag, but I don’t know too many other 32 year old who can say the same thing.

The ONLY reason why I can do this is because I’ve been using these Anabolic Energizer exercises to keep my testosterone and growth hormone flowing strong for over 10 years!

Sorry, this free offer for this program is closed…

But you still get Anabolic Energizers with this awesome offer — CLICK HERE to learn more! 

If you’ve been studying my writing or videos for some time, you are well aware that the mind and body are an integrated unit.  But when was the last time that you actually experienced the intrinsic link between your mind-emotions and your body?

Now, I’m not talking about an “out-of-body-experience”… I’m talking about being so fully “in-the-body” that you’re aware of how it is responding to your most dominant thoughts at the time.

Take for example how your heart rate increases and eyes dilate when you suddenly hear a loud barking dog!

Your nervous systems response to the external stimulus (dog barking) is instant and almost magical.  With absolutely NO thinking required, literally hundreds of reactions are immediately set into motion to help you survive in the face of perceived danger… just-like-magic!

Another example is how your body digests, assimilates and eliminates food without any conscious effort!

Even before you sit down to your meal, your body begins creating and secreting dozens of different enzymes and chemicals to support digestion and elimination.

Funny, as soon as my wife says “dinner is ready” my youngest daughter automatically has to go poop!  Like clockwork her body recognizes that food is about to be served, so it begins to set the elimination mechanism into action in order to make room for more food!  (It’s amazing how efficient our systems are when we are young)

These automatic responses are governed by a branch of our central nervous system called the “autonomic nervous system” or ANS. As opposed to the peripheral branch of the central nervous system which is controlled by our conscious efforts, the ANS is governed by the subconscious mind or the part of our brain that works without us telling it to do so.

The ANS is further broken down into two branches, the sympathetic branch and the parasympathetic branch.  These two branches are like opposing sides of a see-saw, as one side goes up the other side goes down.

The sympathetic branch is in charge of our “fight or flight” responses, just like when the loud dog barked!  It causes the body to respond appropriately to danger by stimulating the release of “energy” hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.  In martial arts this branch of the ANS would be considered very YANG.

The parasympathetic branch is in charge of our “rest and digest” responses, just like when my daughter hears the dinner bell!  It causes the body to appropriately respond by stimulating the release of “building” hormones like testosterone and growth hormone.  In martial arts this branch of the ANS would be considered very YIN.

Just like all rhythms in life, a healthy individual would have an equal expression of both the yang dominated sympathetic branch and the yin dominated parasympathetic branch of the ANS.  But when any of our basic human needs are challenged,  the ANS will become imbalanced and typically lean heavily on the stimulation of the sympathetic branch, which makes sense because it is designed to save us from “danger” with its fight or flight weapons.

According to Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”, it is only when the basic needs of “safety and security” are met that an individual will become interested in procreation or sex.

In other words, until our immediate safety and security needs are met we will proceed to operate from our most primal “reptilian brain”, which is ONLY interested in securing food and shelter.  It is only when our most basic needs are met that our more evolved “mammalian brain”, or limbic system”, which governs our feelings of love, relationship and emotion is turned on.

It makes perfect sense that Nature created us to first establish our own security before seeking to create more of ourselves!  No safety, no sex.

Modern culture with its fast pace and all of its trappings tends to suggest that “you don’t have enough” and, “there is danger always lurking; a terrorist may come!“  Plus with much of the processed foods that people eat, lack of adequate sleep, dehydration, toxic chemicals in the environment, prescription medication and lack of gratitude… most of us REALLY are in danger.

This sense of danger that is perceived by the ANS automatically stimulates the sympathetic branch and puts many of us into a perpetual state of “fight or flight”.

Another interesting thing about the central nervous system is that it tends to physically branch off into different “plexuses” or nerve bundles in our body. Theses plexuses physically emerge from the spinal chord in bundles attaching themselves to organs and muscles.  Because these plexuses are tied to our central nervous system and brain via the spinal chord, you may also consider that many thoughts and emotions are expressed in these “sub-brains” of the body.  When emotional pain is expressed in these nerve plexuses it is often referred to as “psycho-somatic” pain.

One such plexus, that has extended itself into our legs and lower back, is called the “Coccygeal Plexus”.  If you study Chakras, this is considered the Root Chakra.

Physically and emotionally, the Coccygeal Plexus behaves like the “root system” of the body.  As it is physically tied to the legs, autonomic imbalance in this area manifests itself as tight, weak or painful legs.  As this plexus also leads back to our brain, thoughts and emotions, autonomic imbalance in this area manifests itself as a feeling of “not having enough” or “not being stable“.

As we made clear with Maslow’s example above, if basic needs are not met… if you don’t have enough or are not stable, your body will automatically cease to exert energy for procreation (ie. sex) and allocate all stimulation to establish safety! No safety, no sex.

The first step in rectifying this problem is to bring autonomic balance to the Coccygeal Plexus.  This will allow the open expression of sexuality via the limbic system.  Which in turn will bring energy to the Sacral Plexus, which governs our sexual organs and muscle of the hips.

So, how do we do it?

Since the mind and body are an integrated unit we can work on the psycho-emotional issues that are creating the imbalance – OR – we can address the physical imbalances with exercise.

Since I am an exercise coach and not a psychologist, I will show you exactly how I work to stimulate the parasympathic branch of the ANS, as it relates to bringing balance to the Coccygeal and Sacral Plexus.

I call the following exercises “Anabolic Energizers” since they bring balance to the ANS and cause the body to stimulate anabolic or “building hormones” like I mentioned earlier.  The two exercises seen below are specifically designed to bring balance to the Coccygeal and Sacral Plexus respectively.

Awesome sexual activity and overall sexuality is reserved for human beings that have established a sense of safety and security in their lives.  Low libido and poor sexual performance may be linked to feelings of insecurity and fear forced on us by popular culture and media.  These feelings stimulate the “fight or flight” branch of the ANS acutely, and can become trapped in our muscle tissue and organs where they chronically inhibit healthy physical expression.

Luckily, the muscles and organs that have been “psycho-somatically” inhibited may find release with a properly designed exercise program and use of the Anabolic Activator movements above.

There has been a lot of talk lately about “using your nervous system to lose fat”.

In fact, a good friend and fellow online fitness publisher Dr. Kareem Samhouri is currently in the middle of creating a product all about it.  Since Kareem is killer smart and probably the 2nd best Fitness Video Coach online (with yours truly leading the way of course – I have full confidence in everything that he’ll be sharing in his book.

BUT… I’ve been talking about these concepts for YEARS and most recently published a series about it over on my YouTube Channel as well as including it in my new Superior Program Design course.

Here is a short video, that is actually a segment from the Superior Program Design course, that sheds further light on the idea.

There is TONS of scientific literature available supporting the ideas that we’re presenting here.  I’ll be back later this week with more.

Honest Feedback Request: Hey, please let me know if this type of “Strength Geek” stuff interests you.  Although I get super excited talking about this stuff as it is truly is the root of everything that makes us STRONGER, not everyone is so keen.

Just shoot me a message below letting me know Thanks!

A mentor of mine once said, “If you CAN’T, You MUST!

That quote has been so powerful in my life that I had it printed on the wall in my gym.

The fact that most people grasp firmly to their personal stories or excuses about WHY they can’t do a certain thing is the exact reason why they never achieve their loftiest goals.

Most Common Can’ts

“I can’t squat.”

“I can’t lose belly fat.”

“I can’t get a job.”

“I can’t leave my abusive boyfriend.”

“I can’t move out of my parents home.”

“I can’t get off of prescription medication.”

“I can’t focus and concentrate.”

“I can’t start my own business.”

“I can’t find real love.”

“I can’t OVER HEAD PRESS.”

“If You Can’t You Must!”

When we discover the etiology, or root causes, of our problems or seeming inabilities we also discover the thing we can choose to change.

For example, if you can’t find a good girlfriend… and later you realize that you have horrible breath due to bowel constipation, that has allowed days worth of partially digested food to putrefy in your colon, which has become so chronic that the smell is now emitted from your mouth!

BINGO! — you found the cause of your love problems… Take a shit!

Of course I am being facetious, but the point is that when we “can’t” get something right, instead of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” it may be resourceful to address the reason WHY!

And like my mentor said, “If you can’t do a thing… you MUST find out why and then do something about it.”

Here is an OLD video that I filmed at my gym about 3 years ago.  Please forgive my rambling (which I think I have gotten better at tempering), shouting and the extra 30 pounds of fat I was carrying back then.

Besides all of that… in the video I explain WHY some people have a hard time over head pressing, and what you can do to correct the common muscle imbalances associated with the inability.

Admittedly I am what we call “A Strength Geek”.

I love lifting heavy things, getting stronger… and reading textbooks.  Kinda makes for a cool combination of muscle and brains, I think.

But I usually learn these cool things by studying the work of, well… real geeks like my buddy Rick Kaselj (I call him that with pure love in my heart!)

Rick is a genius when it comes to identifying and correcting muscle imbalances that lead to poor performance, weakness and injury.  To become the strongest version of ourselves it is our responsibility to learn from geniuses like Rick.

Rick has an entire course on Upper Body Muscle Imbalances called Muscle Imbalanced Revealed: Upper Body Edition. that is on sale this week.  I think it normally goes for about $150, but you can get it for less than $99 this week only.

Of course, this is NOT the type of stuff that your average meathead or fitness buff will enjoy reading… but if you’re a strength geek like me, then click here to see why I love what Rick is going.

One of my favorite books of all time is Joesph Campbell’s “The Hero With 1000 Faces”.

In the book he describes how the story of the Hero’s Journey, that has been told since the dawn of mankind, is actually OUR STORY.

Each and every one of us is a “hero” of sorts and as our personal evolution unfolds, weather we know it or not, there is a natural “hero’s journey” which contains steps or levels which we eventually approach and move though.  (IF we develop the awareness and courage to do so)

I thought it would be fun if we took the following “Hero’s Journey” steps and consider where we are, in regards to our strength and fitness, in evolution.

Here is the list as it’s described in his book:

• Departure

1. The Call to Adventure
   The call to adventure is the point in a person’s life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not.

2. Refusal of the Call
   Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.

3. Supernatural Aid
   Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known.

4. The Crossing of the First Threshold
   This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.

5. The Belly of the Whale
   The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero’s known world and self. It is sometimes described as the person’s lowest point, but it is actually the point when the person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. The separation has been made, or is being made, or being fully recognized between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. The experiences that will shape the new world and self will begin shortly, or may be beginning with this experience which is often symbolized by something dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorphosis, to die to him or herself.

• Inititation

1. The Road of Trials
   The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes.

2. The Meeting with the Goddess
   The meeting with the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. It is also known as the “hieros gamos”, or sacred marriage, the union of opposites, and may take place entirely within the person. In other words, the person begins to see him or herself in a non-dualistic way. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. Although Campbell symbolizes this step as a meeting with a goddess, unconditional love and /or self unification does not have to be represented by a woman.

3. Woman as the Temptress
   At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the Meeting with the Goddess does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, this step is about the revulsion that the usually male hero may feel about his own fleshy/earthy nature, and the subsequent attachment or projection of that revulsion to women. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey.

4. Atonement with the Father
   In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. All the previous steps have been moving in to this place, all that follow will move out from it. Although this step is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power. For the transformation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be “killed” so that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, and the earthly journey for that character is either over or moves into a different realm.

5. Apotheosis
   To apotheosize is to deify. When someone dies a physical death, or dies to the self to live in spirit, he or she moves beyond the pairs of opposites to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss. This is a god-like state; the person is in heaven and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.

6. The Ultimate Boon
   The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail.

• Return

1. Refusal of the Return
   So why, when all has been achieved, the ambrosia has been drunk, and we have conversed with the gods, why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes?

2. The Magic Flight
   Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it.

3. Rescue from Without
   Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often times he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or perhaps the person doesn’t realize that it is time to return, that they can return, or that others need their boon.

4. The Crossing of the Return Threshold
   The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult.

5. Master of the Two Worlds
   In myth, this step is usually represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Buddha. For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds.

6. Freedom to Live
   Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past.

** Pretty interesting stuff, huh? **

Well, I’ve got two invitations for you:

#1. If you can identify where you are in your “Journey of Strength”, or even in your every day life… feel free to join our conversation by posting below.  Let us know where you are, what insights you’ve gleaned and how we can support you

#2.  Our buddy John Romaniello, the creator of our LHM phase 3 program, decided to create a new Super Hero Workout Routine.

I’ve been personally using it for the past three months and LOVE it!

If you want a break from your typical workout routine while building a Super Hero physique, give this a try.

It’s a lot like our hybrid muscle workouts, but with a Super Hero twist

Either way, we’d love to know about your Hero’s Journey… so join our conversation below!

Are you making these common mistakes and sabotaging your workout efforts?

In this free PDF report our colleague Shin Ohtake creator of Max Workouts shares with us the, “Top 10 Strength Training and Fat Loss Myths“.

It’s easy to avoid these pitfalls when you know what they are.  It’s time to burn more fat while increasing your strength starting with your very next workout.  Just give a few of these tips a try and you’ll feel the difference.

Direct Download Link:
http://www.leanhybridmuscle.com/pdf/Fat_Loss_Training_Myths.pdf

About the author: Shin Ohtake is the author of the world-famous fitness program, MAX Workouts. To learn more about how you can get ultra lean and toned with shorter workouts, visit http://www.MaxWorkouts.com

I am totally impressed by our Lean Hybrid Muscle training community.

You guys continue to show me, over and over again, how committed you are to becoming STRONGER in every aspect of your being.

Stronger bodies.

Stronger minds.

Stronger life!

When we train like we do and share inspiration to take action and exceed limitations, we are not only getting healthier and better looking bodies…

We are building, what I like to call, our Strength Temples.

The space we’re each given to strengthen and develop in order to enhance the souls expression!  (to become The All-Around Strongest Version of YOU!)

This week as I shared some of my favorite Emerson quotes, along with my personal commentary, with you I had become overwhelmed with gratitude for my union with you as well as my ability to serve and inspire you with these words.

Okay, so here is the deal…  Next week my new book “17 Laws Of Rugged Self Reliance” , will be complete and ready for you to enjoy and use to become stronger with!

And because I love you so much…
I want to give away 10 FREE copies!

Here Is How The Contest Works…

1. Leave Your Most Inspirational Story, Quote or Video (just put the link) In The Comments Area Below.

2. The Deadline For Entries Is Monday 6/20/11 @ 9am EST.

3. On Monday Evening I Will Announce The Winner Of The Most Inspirational Story, Quote or Video And Send You A Copy Of My New Book.

GOOD NEWS!

Even if you’re entry is not one of the 10 winners… keep an eye out for e mails from “Mike & Elliott” later next week where I will show you how you can also get a copy of “Rugged Self Reliance” for free also

Honestly, I believe that this is one of the most important documents I’ve ever created and it is positioned to change peoples lives BIG TIME!

I’m looking forward to your stories!

“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
- Emerson

When we were young we looked to our parents as examples for what to, and what not to do.

If mother smiled when father entered the room, we learned that father was a safe person for us.

If father laughed when the dog licked our face, we learned that it was safe for animals to approach us.

As we grew, we began to experiment.

At first our parents encouraged us to navigate our environment.  They helped us to crawl first and then to walk.

Also, they encouraged us to express ourselves.  They helped us to babble first and then to talk.

But as soon as we begun to master these experiments, take them into our own hands and become creative with them, our parents began to panic!

The sentiment moved from, “Come… get up, walk and talk.” to “STOP! – sit down and SHUT UP!”

Just as we looked to them for approval and guidance with our first steps and words, we continued to look to them for how to use these new tools.

But something has changed for them, they’re no longer in control. This loss of control caused them anxiety!

If you move too much, you might break something “valuable”.

If you move towards the many dangerous obstacles in their home you might get hurt.

If you talk too loud or scream, others will look at you.  Your parents will become embarrassed!

If you talk too much or ask too many questions you parents will become confused and frustrated in their answers.

“Sit down and shut up!”

“You’ll get hurt or break something!”

“No running allowed!”

“Don’t touch that, it’s dirty!”

These are the typical instructive demands we first learn as EXPLORERS. — And so you learned to be timid.

No wonder you are squeamish about your actions!  No wonder you are afraid to carve and navigate a new path!

You are too mentally and emotionally bound by your early learning to ever really experiment.

Emerson says, “all of life is an experiment.”

It has ALWAYS been an experiment.

It still is.

DROP THE RULES!  There are NO rules… only experience!

No one has ever been You, they don’t know what will happen.

No one will ever have your DNA or live your exact experience! — Stop following their rules.

This is YOUR experience! — Not your parents, not your teachers, not your boss, not your church, not your government, not your spouse, not the television, not your doctor!

YOUR experiment!

“The more experiments you make, the better.”

Get up, RUN… don’t walk.  Walking is too slow.

You might fall, but who cares… It’s YOUR experience, you learn.

Run and Shout!

Make noise, talk about the things you see.

Talk about YOUR experiences.

Make it an experiment – PLAY!

Talk about things that others are afraid to talk about.  It doesn’t matter if they approve… this is YOUR experiment.

This is all you can take to the grave!

YOUR experiences glitter the stories you will tell your grandchildren! (not the “rules” you so sheepishly followed)

When you show this type of courage towards experiment and experience you not only bring freshness and joy to the world… you also give others, who are waiting for permission, the green light to do the same.

What experiment have you been considering… but have been roadblocked by the fears and limitations of others?