Today we have an interview with Adam Murphy who placed 4th in the Open Category Level 1 in the latest Adonis Index Contest.
Check out his pictures:
Since you are getting in a killer shape, it's a good idea to schedule one studio photoshoot and then one more photoshoot outside the day after.
Today Adam looks at training and lifting differently, they are two different terms. Before finding the Adonis Index Adam was already very familiar with going to the gym and working out. However, just like he said, he was just lifting, not really training and that’s a big difference.
This is an important key factor that will determine what results will you get. We’ve talked about this concept countless times, but let’s go over the basics quickly:
- If you go to the gym to chat with your buddies and staff you are really only working out not training
- If you go to the gym to work on your “mirror muscles” like chest and biceps you are working out not training
- If you focus on lifting as much as possible you are working out not training
- If you go to the gym determined and focused, not minding other people you are training
- If you have a purpose, some kind of goal and plan, then you are training
- If you are hitting all of your muscles from various angles with different rep/set/rest patterns you are training
- If you aim to fully contract your muscle, you are training
Print this list and review it each time before going to the gym, seriously.
Adam’s Journey
6 months ago Adam purchased the Adonis Index Workout and for the first time in his life really started training in the gym. Since he finally had a clear goal (achieving the golden AI ratio) and solid workout plan it was almost inevitable that will get into amazing shape.
The pictures he took are cover model quality, which is why we’ve decided to put him on one of our covers, just take a look:
Free motivation: If you get into really good shape and take quality pictures, you might end up on one of our covers. How cool is that?
Adam has been involved in the fitness community for a while. He has hundreds of magazine issues in his office and even teaches this kind of stuff.
He wanted to achieve the look the models had in the magazines, but despite following their advice, he just wasn’t getting there.
Then everything changed as he found Adonis Index.
And Like Adam said, the program and philosophies made so much sense that he was hooked right after he read it. He finally had a goal to shoot for – Ideal Male Body Proportions. A look that he could accomplish and be happy with.
Getting in shape is not magic and we always try to give you the facts, exact numbers and specific research to make a point, not just what we think is right.
It’s All About the journey
Building muscle takes time, lots of time and effort.
And that’s not the only thing Adam learnt during his AI journey.
He would listen to all of the interviews and listen to how other guys would handle their challenges. And this is really important, you can take a look at the pictures and numbers to know what’s possible and what’s not, but without listening to people’s stories you won’t know how to get there.
The easiest thing you can do is to listen and study successful people and people that have been through what you are going now and learnt from them and how did they achieve their goals.
The interview are what tell the whole story, there isn’t anything better than when people discuss their challenges and what worked for them.
If you want what somebody else has, you have to do what they did to get there, no matter what it takes.
To give you two different examples: If you want to compete in the top bodybuilding contests then that will mean some serious dedication, big sacrifices, and drugs. If you want to get there that’s what you gotta do.
Now more realistic goal. Maybe you like Adam’s pictures and you want to look like him in the next 6 or 8 months. Well, that means you have to do what he did, you can’t expect to sit on the couch and watch TV and just show up in the gym twice a week and get his results.
So, what was his approach?
Adam’s High Frequency Training Approach
Adam shadowed the first contest and then started with the basic AI 3.0 module (link in the section below) and the rages (overreaching workout plans that are part of the AI 3.0 module).
He was a bit disappointed with his results though, because other people started posting their pictures in the AI community and it seemed to him like they were getting to their goals quicker than him.
So, he decided to experiment and see if he can push himself more.
He would hit the gym with his friends and then once he got home, he’d do the same program again (about 10 hours later), but just a miniature version of it. So, after a few weeks, his buddies were still out-gaining him, but no longer as much and as quickly as before.
This may sound like to much to handle and you may be thinking you will overtrain if you do such a thing, but you couldn’t be further from the truth.
This way Adam would get 10 workouts in a week instead of just 5. That’s some serious workout frequency.
Lots of guys are afraid of overtraining so they end up going to the gym 2-3 times a week thinking they are doing good themselves, but then they wonder why the hell do they still look the same even after 5 months.
Well, you have to train hard, but you also have to train often.
If you can’t handle a higher workout frequency it’s not because you are overtraining, but because you are rather underconditioned.
Most athletes train every single day, several times a day. They might know what overtraining really feels like, not you.
If you can’t handle 6 workouts a week, then you need to work on your conditioning, not scale it down like most guys do when they feel a bit sore.
Adam just listened to his body and when it told him that he should take a break, he would just do one workout a day for a couple of days and get back to twice a day after several days of “resting”.
You are stronger than you think, you just need to improve your condition to handle more volume and frequency and then keep it up, the results will come.
Adam’s take home message for skinny guys:
- Don’t stress yourself over things you can’t control
- Listen to your body
- Realize that you wouldn’t get in shape if you were the only person in the world
- Your limits are further than you think
- Push yourself, analyze results, and adjust
- Don’t do it if you don’t enjoy it
- You will come up with excuses if you don’t really want it
- Surround yourself with people who are willing to support you
- If you can’t handle a higher workout frequency it’s not because you are overtraining, but because you are rather underconditioned
- Stop being chubby and unlock your potential
- Even if you are lean, you need to watch your calories
- Play the cards as you are served, everyone has his own challenges
- Don’t compare yourself with other people
- You will most likely find your answers in the Adonis Index Community
- You can always do more
- At some point you won’t be able to hide your progress and people will notice
- If you test different approach, make sure you test it for long enough to see any noticeable changes
- You don’t need to do cardio to get ripped
- If you don’t have healthy functional shoulder, use dumbbells instead of the barbell
- You have time to work out, you just have to find it
- Change your mindset and change your body
Links from Adam’s interview:
- Adonis Index Main Workout – The Main workout program, also responsible for one of the most amazing transformations online
- Adonis Index Specializations – The program that Adam made on the cover
- The Theory of Ideal Male Body Proportions – Adonis Index theory about proportions
- Adonis Index Community – The friendliest and most supportive community in the fitness world
- Golden Ratio Is the Key to Building an Ideal Body Shape – Interview with Vivek that Adam mentions
- Satisfaction With Your Body Starts With the Right Goals – Interview with Pierre that Adam mentions
Read Adam’s experience with Adonis Index in his own words:
This has been a transformation of mind, body and education. I have learned so much about the way my body reacts to foods, calories and training. I am looking forward to the rest of my life with the knowledge and body that I am taking forward. I could look at this as a twelve week transformation but for me it really has been nonstop since the day I purchased my copy of the Adonis Index. So for about the last six months…
Listen to the interview here:
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