By Brandon Cook

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.”
- Bruce Lee

I hope you’ve been following along with the guest posts on the blog by Mike Westerdal, the co-creator of Lean Hybrid Muscle. If you missed them… well than you really messed up!

Only kidding … here’s the links below:

It’s Time to Get Primal!

Hybrid Muscle Training For Athletes and Martial Artists

The Superiority of Functional Strength Versus Gym Strength

This type of hybrid training is something that a lot of the top strength coaches are moving towards. I, myself, have been using hybrid training in my own personal quest to develop “Super Hybrid Muscles.”

One of the top coaches whose training philosophy I really like is Jason Ferruggia. Jason has trained a ton of combat athletes and even wrote a book geared towards mixed martial artists called “Fit to Fight.”

Ferruggia’s training style  is also very hybrid-like itself (in my opinion), even if he doesn’t refer to it in such a way.  I’ve never really used that term “hybrid” either, yet this is what Mike and Elliott like to call it… and I, for one, am NOT going to argue with these huge behemoths!

So, in honor of the successful release of Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded I decided to unleash my own “hybrid-style” training program that is a mixture of everything I’ve learned so far.  I’m calling this The Awakened Warrior Workout and I’ll reveal it VERY SOON! (more…)

By Brandon Cook

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal- a commitment to excellence- that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
– Anonymous

Are you looking for the perfect workout routine that will help you overcome your hardgainer genetics and pack on 20+ pounds of muscle?

Sorry to break it to you, my friend, but there is NO “perfect routine” out there that that will turn you into a modern day Adonis and have the women ripping your clothes off just to get a peak at your studly male physique!!!

Hey, I didn’t mean to crush your dreams… I’m just trying to keep you from wasting the best years of your life searching for a MIRACLE program that doesn’t exist. (more…)

By Brandon Cook

(The devolution of modern man thanks to Mickey D’s)

Now I know what I’m about to say in this blog post is somewhat debatable, at least according to those people who believe the Earth is flat, only 2,000 years old, and is still the center of the universe! However, I’m going to say it anyway. (more…)

By Brandon Cook

“The narrow waist and tiny joints are actually a blessing, as it will make every pound of muscle on your body look like three pounds. Often slender-boned bodybuilders of 190 pounds are mistaken for 220 pounds or more due to this illusion.” - Ron Harris

As a hardgainer, you should understand that your genetic capacity for muscle growth is not quite on the same level as those lucky, genetically gifted mesomorphs, who can put on muscle just by thinking about bench pressing! Okay maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, but not too far from the truth.

You’re going to have to train smarter, be more disciplined, and have the perseverance to overcome the genetic shortcomings of the ectomorph body type you’ve been endowed with.

Especially, if you are training naturally… which is the ONLY way I recommend!

That being said, you should have no fear… even as an ectomorph you can build muscle and develop an impressive physique. Just take a look at Frank Zane, a 3 time Mr. Olympia who trained in the same era with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, Frank is one of only 3 people to ever defeat Arnold in a bodybuilding contest!

Frank Zane stands at 5’9″ and typically competed at 185lbs naturally. However he was quoted as saying that he has won shows both naturally and with steroids.

If so he was probably using lower doses of steroids (remember this is at a time when you could get them legally from your doctor.) Frank has stepped on stage at a ripped 195lbs during bodybuilding competitions and the extra 10lbs could be from drugs. Although maybe not… Only Frank knows for sure.

Even though he may have used some steroids to achieve his Olympia shredded physique, I want you to realize that he is mostly natural and wasn’t using steroids at anywhere near the same capacity as the pro bodybuilder’s of today do.

To me, Frank represents the full genetic potential of an ectomorph. His body type in this picture would now be considered an Ecto-mesomorph because of all the muscle mass he has added. Also, take notice of his smaller frame, thin wrists and ankles. These are classic traits of the ectomorph as you are about to learn.

Now, if I’m losing you with all the ecto- meso- “morph” terminology, then this article should bring you up to speed. (more…)

By Brandon Cook

One of the most amazing things about making a true commitment to transforming your weak, scrawny framed body into the strong, ripped, muscular version of your ideal self is the impact that this journey will have on your entire life. For the better I might add.

Nothing we do, say, or think in this world acts in isolation from the rest of our life situation. Everything is connected and intertwined and has a ripple effect that moves outward into other areas of our life and even further beyond the boundaries of our own lives.

For example if you begin by making simple changes to your diet in an effort to eat healthier, more nutritious and muscle-building foods, this change will also effect: the way you feel (i.e. your emotional state), your daily energy levels (i.e. your vitality), your interaction with others (i.e. your relationships), your ability to work, focus, and get things done (i.e. your career) and so on. (more…)