Beyond-Brawn-2nd-Edition

BEYOND BRAWN
pounds but only 10% bodyfat. Bodyweight alone is not an accurate indicator
of potential strength. Lean bodyweight would be much better. e given
figures are based on male physiques with about 12% bodyfat.
Adjustments for easy gainers
4.71 e significant minority of people who are neither typical hard gainers
nor phenomenally gifted will find the above “outstanding” categories to be
relatively modest. is considers similar levels of effort, time and dedication
among the hard gainers and relatively easy gainers being compared. e
easy gainers need to increase the given “outstanding” poundages by 20–25%.
is will provide more realistic “outstanding” target poundages for the easy
gainers, and produce similar levels of achievement among the two groups,
relatively speaking. Genetic phenomena can aspire even higher.
Classifying other hard gainers
4.72 For the total of the three lifts as shown in the classification table, women get
approximately 55–70% of what a man of the same age and bodyweight lifts.
e higher percentages apply to the comparison of the lightest bodyweight
categories. e relative proportions of the three lifts are not the same for
women as for men. Women are weak at the bench press relative to the squat
and deadlift.
4.73 For trainees in age brackets older than 35 when starting their training, i.e.,
not already strong and well developed before entering those age groups, here
is a guideline for modifying the classification table. If aged 36–40, deduct
8–10% from the 25–35 figures; for those aged 41–45, deduct another 8–10%;
and then make another 8–10% reduction for the 46–50 age bracket. us, a
trainee starting in his or her early fifties needs about 25–30% less strength to
produce the same relative degree of achievement as in the 25–35 age bracket.
As an example, what is “very good” for a person aged 25–35 would be more
like “outstanding” for an older person of the same gender, bodyweight and
training experience.
4.74 is does not mean that if you started training in your teens or twenties you
will get weaker as you move into your thirties, and weaker still as you work
through your forties. If you train properly you will continue to get stronger
so long as you are not very close to your maximum potential. And if you are
close to or even at your full potential, you can maintain your strength and
development until you are over 50 if you train properly.
88