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Q & A

© Matt Danielson

I get questions sent to me once in a while, and I try to answer them as they drop in. Some are about training programs, which basically receives the same answer: Talk to a PT or study the basic movements, learn them and do them. Forget about the fancy stuff until you've mastered the basics.

But there's also other questions surfacing, so here's a bunch of them.

Q: I'm 18 and want to start training seriously. How much can I expect to gain the first year?

A: It all depends - if you're a football player weighing 210 lbs at 5'10" you're at a different starting point than the 120 lbs, 6'2" guy who've never seen a barbell before. But assuming you're a normal, 18-year-old guy - congrats! You'll be growing like weed! Right now you have a tremendous flow of anabolic hormones in your body, so all you need to do is eat and train, and you will grow! However, it's hard to predict just how MUCH you will grow, as it's also depending on your genes. Besides, my experience is that you tend to grow in "spurts" in that age.

With all this in mind, it's POSSIBLE, given that you train and eat right, that you'll grow up to 30 lbs in your first year. It could also be as little as 5 lbs. It depends on if you get a "freeride" on a hormone-spurt or not, latent potential for muscle growth and other factors.

Q: When should I take my creatine?

A: The best results I've seen is a split - Take half the dose approx. one hour before your training, and the second half immediately after training (with your fast carbs - as they get an extra push into your muscles)

Q: Alright, what's the truth - will you get a blocky midsection from doing squats?

A: Look at it from an anatomical point of view - the muscles you use during a squat are mainly legs and glutes, and back to some degree. The main job of the abs and obliques (which I guess is what you think about when you say "blocky midsection") is stabilization. What is doing the job here? Do you get lactic buildup in your midsection? Do you get sore? So, I'd say the chances are slim that you'll see any major changes in your midsection.

Q: I bought an - ab-training device - from - company -. I've been using it for 3 weeks now, but don't seem to lose any weight. Have I been ripped off or am I just not using it right?

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