The0Self

Natural Hypertrophy This is one of the most reliable free sources on the internet on how to get fit and jacked and healthy and strong, inside and out, naturally, so I thought I'd share it on this forum and help anyone out who has questions about exercise. It might be hard to believe, but most PED/steroid-users who run popular fitness channels actually have no idea how to train, because PED's are essentially injectable training. Link to a very useful playlist of his; this particular video doesn't hold any special significance: There are also plenty more gold standard channels but it takes experience to identify them. I'll list a few: Bald Omni Man, Basement Bodybuilding, Geoffrey Verity Schofield.

Training minimalism in any form can increase injury risk due to the muscles strengthening in specific (rather than global) fashion when training within strict parameters, such as overly-primarily using isometrics, or calisthenics. Generally you want to use both weights and calisthenics in a way that is challenging and produces real rather than artificial progression: Example of artificial progression: adding 5 lb per session to 3x5 bench while needing to decrease pause at the bottom and possibly even widening the grip. Example of real progression: 2x/wk 2 sets of 8 paused squats (pausing at parallel) for a 1 second pause with x weight, the last rep being very challenging, and adding 1 second to the pause every week until 3 seconds, then adding 10 lb and starting over at a 1 second pause. But you want a wide variety of exercises and rep ranges ("training maximalism") to minimize mileage on the system. An example of a high-mileage (minimalist; poor) routine that still technically works all muscles would be just doing: squat, bench, deadlift, and pull-up for 5 rep sets. I'd advise against falling into that trap as well. For instance: Technically, the most effective reps/set range for growth (assuming 0-3 reps in reserve on each set) is indeed 9-15, however this does NOT mean that you will maximize progress with only this rep range, as you get hardly any CNS adaptations above about 6 reps/set once you're relatively trained (and you need CNS adaptations for maximum long-term increase in tonnage -- the primary driver of muscle growth in the long run), and you leave some more gains on the table by not training in the 16-30 rep range as well. It just means that if you want the fastest progress, the majority of the work should be in the 9-15 rep range, not the entirety. Consistent and careful exercise execution -- pausing/holding the stretch; same bar path each rep; controlling the weight on the eccentric; etc -- is also crucial. The most effective isometrics are pauses in the stretch position in the midst of full-ROM sets. Also weighted planks -- though they are outmatched by hanging leg raises for growth. You simply need a full contraction-relaxation cycle to maximize progress of either strength or size. Which is why the reverse hyper is so highly-regarded in the strength world -- it's one of the few exercises that do this for the erectors. And you eventually want to choose whether to focus primarily on strength or mass, since the lower the systemic fatigue, the quicker strength progresses, and the HIGHER the systemic fatigue (up to a point), the quicker mass progresses. In other words: deloading necessary for maximum strength, and not-deloading is necessary for max size. This took me years to finally realize -- that strength and size are extremely different pursuits -- though for the first 1-3 years of hard training they're almost in lockstep... it's temporary.

Then why’d you ask? Zero exercise is not a tenable strategy for even reasonably decent health.

Here is the mechanism: The more energy that flows through an organism, the more the organism adapts in its capacity for more energy to flow through it in the future which of course can and does directly and indirectly involve increased life-span and various other elements of health and longevity. Simple as that. Therefore, challenging physical activity, specifically the kind that would require significantly more energy/calories to fuel its progression, is incredibly important for a clear mind and good health. And increasing muscle mass requires far more energy flow than increasing cardiovascular conditioning, the reason for which could be described as: you’re “increasing your engine displacement” and therefore “decreasing your gas mileage” when adding muscle mass to your frame, therefore cardio without resistance training is not nearly enough to optimize health. It may seem like cardio burns more calories than resistance training, but it only does so at the time, which is a small part of the day… and it only does so marginally anyway, if at all, if the resistance training it’s compared with is circuit/multi-superset training and thus essentially void of rest periods.

Lmao tell that to an individual suffering from low endorphins due to opioid use. Of course that’s a temporary scenario that heals quick, especially with intense exercise, but still. Tons of things can reduce sleep. And some people have no issue falling asleep even with tons of blue light — it will likely negatively affect their sleep quality, but for many people blue light is not at the top of the list of things that negatively affect their sleep, even if it is high on the list.

The feeling? It’s the body assigning a higher pleasure response from rest than activity. Usually involving tension behind the eyes. Fatigue itself is simply buildup of recovery need.

Samatha is often translated as Calm. But really it's Samadhi plus joy, tranquility (fulfilment), and equanimity. And Samadhi is essentially in-distractibility.

Yes, that's what Ingram says. It should be noted that Culadasa adamantly disagreed, steadfastly, on this point, and politely left it at that. Your last sentence above is perhaps true, but TMI past early stage 8 is pretty much the wilderness for anyone because it can get rather crazy -- it can involve pretty much everything that Ingram talks about... But Culadasa aptly does not script the experience, he just says the places you go will be unimaginable and thus it's pointless to try to describe how it'll be because it's impossible. TMI doesn't take longer. Not whatsoever. At least not as a rule. Where this disagreement comes from is perhaps Ingram's recommendation to sit for 10+ hours a day, whereas Culadasa says 2 hours can be sufficient. But the idea that this means TMI must take longer is a total misunderstanding, because it doesn't take into account that you can just do TMI for 10+ hours a day as well... in fact Culadasa even heavily implies that this would be faster. Also it perhaps comes from thinking that TMI is pure samatha. It's samatha-vipassana. Ingram recommends doing samatha and vipassana separately for the most part, whereas Culadasa doesn't as much. In the end they have to combine anyway, even in Ingram's model. The 1. intensity, 2. frequency, and 3. volume, of the training are going to be what dictates how long it takes for the requisite neurological changes to take place. So train diligently and consistently if you want to succeed, no matter the method. Past early stage 8 TMI you'll want to broaden your horizons past TMI anyway though (which is even implied in TMI).

No-Fap in the end just makes you even more animalistic. So still be very careful with your porn consumption (most preferably no porn), but don't stop masturbation and especially sex. If you're not having sex, get your butt in gear and get that need met, whatever it takes -- Your best self depends on it, unless you're asexual, which you're clearly not if you have a high libido. Eventually, once you at least have the ability to get laid, you can get by on sex as little as once a month or two, or even less depending on your disposition, once you've gotten in out of your system (if there was a major lack).

Ask yourself: "Who cares if Leo is the most awake person on the planet?" It will be the ego that cares. Awakeness can neither reject nor accept the sentiment, because it doesn't even compute -- the cosmic joke just blots out the sun.

TMI is more down to earth and straightforward and detailed and comprehensive as far as actual techniques i.e. the actual stuff you’re supposed to do. MCTB2 is broader but far more open-ended, albeit it more extensively describes what to expect (imo something that should be avoided in excess). So I’d go with TMI 100%.

Yeah NH is more of a philosopher. Which is why this is a good place to share the channel. After all, Plato (“broad shoulders”) was not the guy’s real name but Aristocles’s nickname given because he was not only mentally but also physically strong, via training.

Sometimes, the right thing at the time is a stronger identity. In fact, until you “know you’re on the right track” it’s the right thing. So ask yourself if you’re on your definite path yet. If there is any doubt, you haven’t found it, and you might want to favor a growth stimulus or strength building mindset over an acquisition mindset. Dead giveaway for needing a stronger identity to progress further, is para-social relationships, of any kind.

That’s the arising of piti. For your further research.

Exponentially increased conscious power is adequate. To the extent that spirituality is a means to an end to bring more of that, it’s at least a valuable tool. But I disagree, I hear some spiritual teachers give the sentiment that you indicate here you never hear them say. Maybe I just read from their words things that aren’t there but fortunately I really don’t have to wonder… because I have that sentiment… and I’m not even really a teacher. So surely some teacher besides you also understands. Angelo Dilullo’s vids for instance indicate that he is liberated to the gills, fwiw. I wouldn’t be surprised if with all this immense spiritual development you have (let’s call it what it is, not that it’s all you have but it’s there), you end up 10 years from now with so much more development, finally do a k hole (and it wouldn’t the the sort of k hole most people have, it would be absolutely epic total God Realization of a sort you’ve never seen) and after that you’ll be practically an alien even relative to where you are now. Just to say, this is indeed very loosely held dialogue serving only as potential growth stimulus. There are all sorts of different paths, but the one that seems to shine brightest to me is that one where you continuously recognize how you’re slowly sloughing off the comforting delusion that you aren’t all-powerful. Not saying you should use ketamine. It is horrible for the bladder and if it’s toxic to the bladder epithelium I can’t imagine it being good for the cardiovascular system either. Other methods are perhaps superior.

Every awake being is the most awakened being on the planet. Nothing comes into being and nothing moves. But the only awakened being is the awake one. Language is not sufficient unfortunately to get this across.

Set of submaximal (>3-6RIR) full-ROM (for you) pull-ups Set of submaximal full-ROM dips Set of submaximal hanging leg raises Set of submaximal 45 degree back extensions (Optional) calf exercise (slow tempo, stretch, feel burn) to pre-fatigue calves for stair climber Stair climber for 5-15 minutes, checking and logging heart rate with the machine Repeat 1-4x Keep HR well above 130 bpm for at least 15 minutes at least 3x/wk

Just monitor urine concentration. If you take riboflavin it will be brightly colored but otherwise it should not be overly concentrated/yellow.

You better have a very healthy physique before even considering it. Have you lifted consistently with sufficient volume+intensity+frequency to make steady progress for at least a year? Is your bodyfat % below 15? You can’t really expect to have high testosterone if you haven’t at least done that. Remember the hard life is the easy life in the end.

@Schizophonia Dude if you’re racist then why are you wondering why you don’t succeed with women? (I’m remembering your past comments; wish you would’ve mentioned this so you could’ve been helped sooner.) You have to be a good man first. It’s pretty much impossible to be a good man and racist.

When I sent it I thought “oh yeah table sugar has a rather low GI doesn’t it? Oh well.” ? Reason I didn’t edit it is bc he seems particularly dogmatic and crazy and anyone recommending that kind of “supplement” to anyone who isn’t a world class athlete doesn’t really know what they’re doing. I can’t remember the reason I stopped listening to him at all, but I definitely saw some kind of weird dogmatic stuff going on with him. He really doesn’t like PUFA’s… ?

Mr. Brightside ? ?

Oh and another thing. Do you fall asleep at the gym? Meditation should be no different, as it’s just as intense training — if it isn’t, fix that. If you don’t lift, fix that too. Body and mind both need to be strong, especially as a man, today. Try TMI if you need a massive amount of structure to your meditation.

@Schizophonia @Michael569 If anything, Ray Peat would love a high glycemic index considering he recommends table sugar as a supplement. Rice is easy on the digestive system and therefore a great source of calories/fuel for training. It’s awesome for that. If worried about the glycemic index, jasmine has far lower/better than basmati.

Then you need to rouse more energy. Always maintain balance in the middle between relaxation and energy. “Relax all that can be relaxed, alert all that can be alerted.”