Bucking Conventional Wisdom With Visual Impact Muscle Building

First, let’s talk about conventional wisdom – just so we’re on the same sheet of music.

Muscle building conventional wisdom tells us that we “must” focus on compound lifts that stress major muscle groups.  In short, the core movements “must” be bench press, squats, and deadlifts.

Who hasn’t heard this?

Actually, if you go through all of my recommendations, I basically tell you the same things.  The progression is simple:

• Bodyweight workouts to -
• Full Body Resistance workouts to -
• 2 Day Split to -
• Multi-Day Split to being the next Mr. Olympia, or not!

Because you start with the basics and as you advance, as your body gets stronger – you hit it more.

The strategy is sound.

Unless you look at it from Rusty’s point of view – and it’s been an eye-opener for me.  In fact, as I read about this guy and started corresponding with him via his blog – by the way, he runs a tremendously popular fitness website, The Fitness Black Book – I realized I needed to rethink the last 30 years of exercising.  Oh, and by the way, he gets about 3 million visitors a year to his site - not too shabby!

Here’s a simple analogy:

• You’re climbing the ladder.
• You get to the top.
• You look around.
• You went up the wrong ladder.

The ladder was fine.  You did a great job climbing.

It’s a parable about effectiveness versus efficiency.

Climbing the ladder is about efficiency

Having the ladder up against the right building is about effectiveness

Rusty questions the muscle build conventional wisdom in the same way.  His Visual Impact Muscle Building is about effectiveness.

His program is about building muscle where you need versus where it ends up.

So, how do you know where you need it – and conversely, where you don’t need it.

The Hollywood Look

I let Rusty explain:

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But just to digress for a sec, I remember back in the mid 70′s; someone talking or writing about the “Apollo versus Hercules” physiques.  Of course, I was 5’4″ and 120lbs soaking wet; so this talk about the Apollonian build versus the Herculean look was beyond me.  I justed wanted muscle.

I just wanted to be big (and no longer geeky).  Whether it was a Frank Zaneish Apollo or the Columbu Hercules may little difference to me.  I just needed to be bigger than the mop that I was.

Can you relate?

I mention this because for some (of us), the goal of building huge muscles and getting freaky strong is the end goal.   Some of us would be pretty stroked to look like some of those guys that Rusty talks about in his video.

And if getting massive is your thing, there is no shortage of experts, guru’s, neighborhood studs, and glossy magazines more than ready to help you.

Look at the magazines and the tons of internet sites out there – everyone’s got the secret recipe that can pack on 50lbs in 3 months, 26lbs of lean muscle in 8 weeks, or 2 inches of cold, hard steel muscle on your arms in 30 days…and on, and on…and so on!

But is getting big and freaky worth it?  That’s fundamental question that Rusty wants you to think about.

Again, conventional wisdom is to focus on the big three – bench, squat, and deadlift – to get big and strong.  And why not?  It’s all about stressing and challenging your body to crank up and out as much growth hormones as possible and nothing gets it done like those three!

But unless your goal is to be powerlifter, then I get that focusing on lifts like squats and deadlifts may not ultimately be the best ones to do.

Case in Point

This is a great article on deadlifting. It showcases 3 of best and strongest deadlifters around today.  That said, take a good look at the bodies of those 3 guys.  Those are bodies that comes from doing the powerlifts to freaky levels.  Nothing wrong with that – more power, literally, to them.  But are those the bodies you want to wear; strolling down the boardwalk?  Take a particular look at that monster Dan Harrison in the last video.

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/deadlifting_for_strongman

Some time ago, I wrote the following:

“Bodybuilding purist aside, muscles bulging out of a guy’s body every which direction have not always brought ooohs and aaahs of admiration.  Leaving the very small percentage of Ronnie Coleman’s’ and Dorian Yate’s aside, big slabs of corded muscles piled high on every body part should not even be that all desirable.”

I went on to say that:

“Whether in a polo shirt and a pair of slacks for a casual night out or strolling along a boardwalk; the guy with the great shoulders, tight abs, and great calves always brings admiration.”

So, I’ve always felt the same way as Rusty.

In essence, Visual Impact Muscle Building is Rusty’s platform for advocating a physique that’s all about looking good, feeling good, and being good.

It’s all about where you put the muscles, not how much muscles you put on.  It’s a targeted and focused approach.

The Program:

Rusty’s program for sculpting the Hollywood look revolves around a 6 month program that is broken into 3 phases:

Phase I – Building Muscle Size

• Add volume to muscles that need it as quickly as possible
• Develop Mind-Muscle connection
• Lay Foundation

Phase II – Building Strength and Density

• Transition to muscle strength training
• Condition nervous system with “positive feedback” to build stronger lifts
• Just get strong

Phase III – Building Maximum Density and Definition

• Increase muscle fiber tissue – create hard and dense muscle
• Simultaneously shed excess body fat

Additionally, Rusty has a fourth phase called, “Shrink Wrapping,” a techniqued used by actors like Taylor Lautner to get that full, yet ripped look.

Rusty also goes where most will not.  He includes an upper body specialization module that gives you a way to work his 6 month program without hitting the legs.  For most gurus, not doing legs is a crime against nature.

This is a well thought, well designed program – no doubt – I use it – I give it thumbs up…

But…

I have some concerns:

• Lower Body – I agree that having tree trunk legs is not all that desirable.  And doing full squats now to eternity may not be a good idea.  But a strong, well-developed set of legs is a good thing to have.  Visual Impact by design isn’t big on leg development.  I get it but I think it’s important.
• Training Frequency – Phase I is basically a 3 day split with a decent amount of (too much?) sets per bodypart.  For a someone who has been working a while, this is no problem.  For the flat out beginner, I have concerns this may be too much, too soon.  That line between productive training and overtraining could easily get trampled here.  Yet, Rusty doesn’t really differentiate between the two.
• Cardio – The main – the only – cardio is HIIT.  HIIT is good but can easily translate into pulled leg muscles.  It’s a good way to crank up the metabolism but for, again, beginners; you need to be careful.
• This is a gym workout – Yes, you can modify it for home use.  But if you only have a barbell, a set of dumbbells, and bench – you will need to be flexible and adaptive in what you do.  Of course, I use resistance bands and those are very adaptive.  I only have to minimally tweak the exercise selection as laid out by Rusty.  But with only a basic set of barbells and dumbbells, you will need to be creative.

Still, with those concerns noted, I do like:

• How to Fish – Throughout the program, Rusty has a “teach a man how to fish” approach that is so important.  You have to be able to tweak and adapt to your situation.  But to do that, you have to understand the principles of what, why, and how.  Rusty really gives you all that.
• Design -  This, as I have said before, is a well thought out, well designed program that logically takes you from muscle building to strength building to looking hard.
• Exercise Manual – Included with the program is a mammoth, 227 page EBook that explicitly shows, with pictures and descriptions, every exercise and variation know to man for every bodypart.  It’s comprehensive to say the least.
• Nutrition/Diet – Not fancy, just good basic information you need to run.  Rusty’s not out to impress anyone with a doctoral dissertation on dieting and nutrition – he just gives you what you need to know.  I like that.

Who would benefit? I’d say guys:

• Look Good for the Beach – This program doesn’t promise 50 lbs. of muscle in 6 months.  It’s not going to turn you into Dorian Yates.  But guys who want to have good looking shoulders, square pecs, decent arms, etc. for the beach – this will work.  Start in Jan, be done in July – Sweet timing.
• Back in the Game – Been in shape once, want to get back in shape; this will work.  Especially, if you have an athletic background; Visual Impact gives you the framework.  And the motivation to work out again.
• Older Guys – I think for anyone over 40, this is a really good program.  Rusty probably designed for the 20 and 30 year olds, but I’m over 50 now – I’ve been using this program, or a variation, for the last 7 months.  It’s focus on getting that male model – Hollywood – look works for me.  I love the squat and deadlift, but sometimes my joints – not so much.

Conclusion

I’ve been using this program at home for the last 7 months and I like it.  It works for me.

But let’s be clear – Visual Impact Muscle Buildingis not about piling the beef on.  If everyone you know is constantly asking you, “where’s the beef?” And you need to add on 50 pounds of something in the next 3 months – This ain’t it (and good luck with that).

Is This The Ideal Male Body?

If you want set the new deadlift record – this ain’t it.

If you want to be the new freakazoid, gym monster – this ain’t it.

But…

If you think Brad Pitt or Robert Downey Jr. looks good and that’s the look you want – then – this could be for you.

If you think the Hollywood look is where it’s at – then – Visual Impact Muscle Building could be for you.

If that’s the case, then take look at what Rusty’s suggesting.

You can check him out at his site here.

Hyo

PS – let me know what you think.

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