Never Gymless: Opinions

While I don't particularly disagree with you, he says all the time that the stuff he preaches is nothing new, it's part of the 'old school' theme. As far as "selling a product" his books and DVDs are an excellent source of info, they are cheap as hell and well produced, it's kinda hard to argue with that. There's nothing really new under the sun, he's just put it into an easily accessible package.

And he's not nearly as bad as a lot of other internet fitness gurus who will charge you just to hear their opinion, he has a lot of info on his site for free and while I don't read his blog with any regularity, some of his longer articles are great.

I think the thing that does irritate me is that the whole "home-made = HARD CORE" thing is really played out. There's a thread over their at the moment about making olympic plates out of concrete. I honestly can't see how that's any easier or cheaper than just buying a few plates, it's not you can't get them second hand, and they're iron, so they last forever. I think that's more of a problem with his dedicated followers than with Ross himself (the organic vegetable crazies are by far the funniest).

If I judged everyone by their facebook posts I'd have a pretty grim view of the world.
I've corresponded with him one on one via email and he's seemed like a friendly, helpful guy, facebook posts aside.

 

I can see your points Mr Small. I found the book useful read but yeh your right its nothing new. I actually liked the theory and write ups before the routines in infinite intensity but once again nothing new. Probably a good introduction for someone like me who wants to get more into the knowledge side of things.

My philosophy on learning anything is to read everything work out what is useful and disregard what isnt.

While we are on the subject maybe some of the ESB gurus could suggest books and sources by other trainers/ conditioning coaches. I was going to post this under another thread might still do actually.

 

Cheers mate interesting thta

 

I have spoken to him a bit there too, and of course he will be nice. But the impression I get from his posts elsewhere, is not the sort of person I'd agree with in other matters of life. Nothing against the training though, and the forum is a decent one!

That's absolutely fine, and it IS an effective system. You could put something together yourself very similar, but its a decent plan to follow (the 50 day thing you mean?), give it a shot! I think I've gone through the Infinite Intensity program more or less, don't really remember the results though.

I found the books to be of good quality too.
oh god, the RAW VEGAN guys. I pretty much agree with you on all the points your brought up my friend, I haven't spoken to him via email or anything. I guess I might be a bit harsh on the guy but some of the stuff he posted was genuinely offensive, I expect that sort of thing from some immature teen, not a guy like him. So I was probably doubly disappointed from that too, in that I held him in regard and then turned out to be a regular douche.

But hey, what do I know? If you get along with the bloke, so be it.

 

Interesting topic, agree pretty much with mr. Small and primate, good posts! :good

 

You certainly could be right - but I've written to him a few times and he's always seemed gracious in his responses. I think Ross's books are amazing - you can't go wrong with his routines.

 

What are you on about? He uses barbell, dumbbells, trap bar, power rack etc etc. Yes he has some homemade stuff on his site but he never claims they are better.

There is a lot of **** in fitness mags and on the internet. When I was younger I had no idea how to train. His books helped a lot.

Again, what are you going on about? He is not pushing anything.

When did he ever claim they were unique to him. He has often stated where and who he got his ideas from.

Again, what are you going on about?
He himself uses weights as do most people on his forum. All he says is just beacuse you don't have weights does not mean you can't get stronger. Look at the workout logs on the site. There are people who just strength train. There is a bodybuilder on there etc.

Ross says there is no such thing as rosstraining. Just principles that work and you should ajust your training depending what you are training for.

The books and dvds prob don't make him much money. Training his athletes is how he earns his money (not just boxers)

 

As for his facebook stuff. I cant say I found anything he says offensive

 

Agree to disagree then on some things mate.
The workouts are pretty solid though, we can all agree on that, and the books are decent too.

 

Its not a case of agreeing to disagree. You are making flat out lies about him

 

Who are you, his lawyer? Why would I make up lies?
I have an opinion, I stated it, that's all it is.
Sorry if you don't like it.
I can disagree with your points and we can go round in circles, but the thread was about the book, which is a good one. People asked me what I thought of him, I said it, the thread wasn't about me liking the guy or not so lets not drag that out any more. My gripe isn't about the actual training, I take it you see that?
You can PM me if you REALLY care that much and we can talk about it more.

 

He isn't lying. What he finds offensive may be different to what you find offensive. Where's the lie?

 

And by selling books, dvds, having ads on his site, he is making money! What was a lie there?

And like fitness mag routines, the followers will defend them to the death as the only way of life! Just like the paleo diet zealots, etc.

And he doesn't encourage barbell exercises at ANY point in his books, he prefers home made equipment or bodyweight stuff, and that's fine, but that IS pushing a certain type of training, that isn't a lie either.

His workouts ARE effective, that isn't a lie.

And people AREN'T very strong with his methods in the scheme of things, but they will be stronger than people that do some bodybuilding crap of 6 tricep exercises, that isn't a lie either.

 

The reason he uses Dumbbell in his book is because not everyone has room for a weight set at home. like he says you can use the principles with barbells or any other equipment. He does encourage people to use barbells on his site. Just that you don't need them.