Embrace your vanity.
This is a suggestion I give everyone when constructing a training program.
My reasoning for such recommendation?
Looks matter.
Below is a video interview done with JC Deen, author of LGN365: A Complete Body-Recomposition Course. (Yes, LGN stands for Look Great Naked.)
For quite some time, I’ve been mingling with the idea of getting some interviews up on this website. When I texted (read: threatened) JC Deen about being the first lovely face on the first lovely episode, he had no choice but to accept. (Unless he wanted shanked at a dark hour outside of his house.)
So I’m proud to introduce to you the very first interview in what is hopefully a long stretch of interviews with people that I believe are worth checking out when it comes to wisdom of athletic fitness.
Audio only version only available by downloading the mp4.
What we discuss:
- How JC dropped out of school and still found a way to fitness.
- Why JC hates “clean” eating.
- Reasons JC summons unearthly demons to fight against fitness marketing.
- Some of JC’s recent training that has him jacked and looking great naked.
- LGN365, which is JC’s recent course that teaches people how to look great naked. More on this below.
ABOUT LGN365 AND LOOKING GREAT NAKED
LGN365 is JC Deen’s recently launched course. As we mention in the interview, the product really is about…well…looking great naked. And as we also mentioned, this is much more than a “program.” JC corralls interviews from the far reaches of the internet, not necessairly the fitness community. For instance, inside LGN365 is an interview with Leo Babauta, author of legendard blog zenhabits.
As usual, if you have any questions about what JC’s got going on, shoot me an e-mail. If I can’t answer it myself, I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.
anthony.mychal -at- gmail.com
Interview Notes / Links of interest:
Don’t complain:
- Audio isn’t perfect, I know. Such is the “feeling out” process of this kind of thing.
- It’s long, listen to it in your car on your commute or something.
- The audio version isn’t available on iTunes, but it can be downloaded here.
LET’S TALK
What do you think about training with means of looking great naked? How much of your training is split between athleticism or performance and looks? Drop your comments below.
I personally think that both are worthy reasons for working out, and I would also add that having both intentions is even better.
I think both intentions would lend to a bit more motivation for sure..
Both are equal and valid intentions, although I would assume that one would look great naked by having a top notch althetec approach to exercise. Something I would like to achieve without the expense of a gym (bodyweight)
Lincoln — it’s possible. Spend a lot of time hanging from things and pulling and pushing yourself from them hah.
I would train for performance most of the time. Good look would follow a good function. An idea of bodybuilding looks stupid to me.
Why is it stupid to you?
Hmm… Gold Medal Bodies also recommend LGN-365, and I really trust GMB, they are great with superb programs like Rings One.
GMB is a class group of people.
Yes, both are worth training for, but personally I feel that training for aesthetics without regard for strength is inferior than focusing on strength, even though they usually come together except in some cases(heavyweight powerlifters for example, they are not aesthetic but amazingly strong).
My opinion.
Why do you feel it’s inferior?
When you see a muscular guy, you immediately think he’s strong, well he is, but then again there could be someone twice as small as him being able to lift much heavier. Of course, that is assuming the big guy isn’t having a bad day/is on cut/is tired. It’s just that I respect the latter a bit more, even though these are extreme cases.
I hope you understood what I just said haha
I understand, but each has their own motivation. Both are “winning” so to speak. I know everyone is different, so I wasn’t knocking you.
I find i lend myself more to the performance side of things so for the big lifts I try to find ones that suit me well aesthetically and focus on progressing on those. For me replacing bench with CG floor press finally has my chest growing. Does this make my approach aesthetic based because my look is improving or performance based because I’m focusing on progressing the lift. In my training i just try to find a good mix between my curls and working on more gymnastic stuff like levers (which i cannot wait to get back to work on once baseball season is finished).
I do the same thing, Kent. I haven’t flat benched in a while. I pick the lifts that I enjoy doing and best suit me and progress them over time. It’s performance but also with the recognition of the ultimate goal, which includes looking nice.
Hey Anthony, I tried downloading the interview, but I couldn’t get the audio going. Any chance you can help a brotha out?
Hmmm. I can send you the actual video file if you want to do it that way? Or are you mobile?
Sure, sending it via email ( nickvukorepa@gmail.com) would most likely be the best option.
It’s drafted in my inbox so I remember.
I recently learned that I care more about vanity than performance. I have a very difficult time gaining muscle, and discovered full-body routines simply didn’t create the muscle I wanted. As you mentioned in your last post, “I killed my heroes”–fitness gurus who preach the “big lifts only, isolation is a waste of time” gospel–because following this just didn’t work, and it wasn’t for a lack of trying (I followed quality full body routines–Starting Strength, NROL, etc.–for well over a year with little aesthetic improvements to show for it. I lost weight, but ended up looking like a damn skeleton no matter how much I ate or how hard I trained, so this just wasn’t going to fly)
I decided to do something completely different: spend a month exclusively working on several areas in this order–back, chest, shoulders, and arms (current routine). Specialize these areas 3 days a week, have one “maintenance day” to hit everything else. Of course, I assumed my strength would suffer for this, but was concerned with vanity, I didn’t give a shit.
But here’s the really weird thing: not only has my physique responded positively, but my strength has spiked as well. I believe this is because of a huge increase in rest and recovery in-between Big Lift days. Taking a full week in between squats (instead of 2-3 days), for example, has allowed me to bring it much harder with each successive workout. Before specializing, I was adding 5 lbs at a time (if I was lucky), but now I find myself able to add 10-20 lb every time. Have my cake and eat it, too? I can live with that!
I guess my message would be: know yourself. Just because someone preaches something as gospel doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for everyone, and if a routine isn’t taking you to your goal (be it performance, or vanity, or both): if you’ve stuck with it an appropriate length of time, don’t be afraid to try something completely different.
I’ve taken some crap from the “eat big, lift big” crowd for my current routine (people on Reddit are vicious!), but nothing can argue with my simultaneous physique and strength improvements, unlike anything I’ve experienced in 2-3 years of training.
Awesome, Daniel. This is just a wonderful reply all around. Should be a blog post in itself.
Thanks, Anthony. Actually, already made one in that vein–not visible as the blog is down for “home improvements,” if you will. I’ve learned a lot since I last talked with you, and am going to “Charge full speed ahead” after I get some things in order. Wish me luck!
Y’know, funny thing I’ve noticed, not just in these comments, but in general fitness discussions. People are forever saying that it’s bad to train for looks without any regard for how strong you are. Do bodybuilders actually do that? Anthony, you certainly seem to know more guys in that realm than I do, have any of them ever said “Yeah, I don’t care if I’m weak and slow, as long as I look really hot”?
Yeah. I mean, bodybuilders don’t really think of themselves as “hot” though. It’s more so they just want bigger muscles. Not really for much outward motivation either. Just for themselves internally.
I think “Look Great Naked” is a goal that everybody can get behind, and that’s what is important. I began training for basketball, then I started rock climbing; now I just like lifting heavy weights. And I’ve looked great naked during each stage. For me, physical training for athletics has always been important, but other people have other priorities. If the idea of looking great naked gets people to put in the hours, i’m all for it! But it’s going to hurt, so pretty boys be warned.
Hah, loved that last part. No, it isn’t easy. Never is.
Yes, I agree that it hurts. It’s less like, “Oh that feels pleasant.” and more like “GAWD THAT HURTS SO GOOD! ARGH!”
It’s more like a grinding hurt that makes you think you’re a masochist because you love the fact that you’re putting yourself through it. Ah, the pain of discipline
. Fun takes on a twisted new meaning. Part of me dislikes it and part of me loves it.
May I get the link to the audio content? I’ve downloaded the mp4, nothing on it. The only thing that seems to be working is the YouTube link. Thank you.
Let me know if this works: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/73802672/jcdaudio.mp4
Tried it, still nothing to it. The YouTube link seems to be the best bet but I’m traveling a lot and there isn’t much in the way of wireless connectivity.
Hrmmm. Send me an e-mail — anthony.mychal -at- gmail -dot- com.
I’ll just send you the raw file. Would that help?