Is Michael B. Jordan natural?

[lespaulultra3]

Of course he isn't natural. People take roids to be ripped that's not even in Hollywood, myself included. He isn't big at all. I'd say 6 foot 190. A simple test cycle with a personal chef and Hollywood cameras could get this. Still, i find that the people that ask this question are not in shape. Make excuses. Whether or not he uses, it takes an insane amount of discipline to be this ripped at his age.

 

[Turbulent]

"Way less time" you say?

Either they're using (pointless as a total beginner), they're genetic freaks, or they're naturally big bodied.

But I got to see it to believe it. Got any links?

Details for 1.5 years but says in the beginning he was a novice and from summer (doesn't say the specific month) to October he got to 225.

 

[CW_1991]

Details for 1.5 years but says in the beginning he was a novice and from summer (doesn't say the specific month) to October he got to 225.

Nothing too unusual honestly. The novice bit in the beginning just tells me that he was already lifting beforehand.

Does he ever mention how much he weighs? That plays a big part as well.

 

[Turbulent]

Nothing too unusual honestly. The novice bit in the beginning just tells me that he was already lifting beforehand.

Does he ever mention how much he weighs? That plays a big part as well.

Started as a beginner on stronglifts. Did it for 7 months and got to 275 1RM

 

[Budda]

This thread is full of non athletic nerds who never played sports

 

[Budda]

Seems like the coli is full of people with bad genetics.

 

[CW_1991]

Started as a beginner on stronglifts. Did it for 7 months and got to 275 1RM

That's not too bad. I think I did a novice linear progression strength program as a beginner for a year to a year and a half and at the end I could deadlift 405x1 squat 315x2, and bench 225 for like 6. Weighed about 175 ish at 5'6 (bulking all the while.) The guy in this video was at 200 pounds basically. And the first guy was like 230.

Different variables determine these things. It also goes without saying jumping from 275 on a bench to a 315 isn't as quick as easy as it sounds. The stronger you get, the slow progress becomes.

 

[Turbulent]

That's not too bad. I think I did a novice linear progression strength program as a beginner for a year to a year and a half and at the end I could deadlift 405x1 squat 315x2, and bench 225 for like 6. Weighed about 175 ish at 5'6 (bulking all the while.) The guy in this video was at 200 pounds basically. And the first guy was like 230.

Different variables determine these things. It also goes without saying jumping from 275 on a bench to a 315 isn't as quick as easy as it sounds. The stronger you get, the slow progress becomes.

Props to you for getting these numbers. I agree that 315 is a big jump from 275. I also agree that there's a lot of variables (weight, height, length of arms and legs relative to torso, genetics, etc) that go into this. The point i was trying to make is that going from beginner to 225 for 5X5 in 9 months isn't that far fetched if you follow either of these programs.

One thing i might disagree with you on is that 225 or even 235 (as this is where our exchange started) for 5X5 doesn't automatically translate into 315 1RM. Either way, I'm just glad more people on this site are fitness conscious and hitting the gym either for strength, endurance, health, or even just to look better.

 

[CW_1991]

Props to you for getting these numbers. I agree that 315 is a big jump from 275. I also agree that there's a lot of variables (weight, height, length of arms and legs relative to torso, genetics, etc) that go into this. The point i was trying to make is that going from beginner to 225 for 5X5 in 9 months isn't that far fetched if you follow either of these programs.

One thing i might disagree with you on is that 225 or even 235 (as this is where our exchange started) for 5X5 doesn't automatically translate into 315 1RM. Either way, I'm just glad more people on this site are fitness conscious and hitting the gym either for strength, endurance, health, or even just to look better.

Yeah, maybe not a cut and dry 315, but if you got the strength and endurance to do 235 for 5x5 then it's not a stretch to assume you could do 235 for about 8 which roughly translates to about 290 which is fairly close to 300.

I don't even think buddy in the video who weighed 230 got to 300 lb in that whole year and a half of training. But then again maybe he did. 230 is pretty damn heavy

 

[Turbulent]

Yeah, maybe not a cut and dry 315, but if you got the strength and endurance to do 235 for 5x5 then it's not a stretch to assume you could do 235 for about 8 which roughly translates to about 290 which is fairly close to 300.

I don't even think buddy in the video who weighed 230 got to 300 lb in that whole year and a half of training.

I didn't watch his whole video. But number 1 that's a lot of "rounding up”. Number 2 not everyone is trying to go up forever. I got to 2 plates and i just said fukk it and stopped cause i wasn't trying to compete at a powerlifting meet and i wasn't trying to get injured either. Not everyone has the same goals, not everyone is trying to increase their one rep max and again, I'm not sure it translates to a 1rep max like that for everyone.

When i did 225 5X5, from what i remember, the 5th rep was close to failure on each set (took 60 to 90 seconds rests in between sets). So already there, I don't think i could have done 1 set of 8 reps. That's where we disagree cause your logic is if you can do x that means you can do y which means you can do z and z is close to a. That's a lot of "ifs" and i don't think it's that simple of a calculation with all the variables. Ultimately that's too many translations and it's not straightforward math like you seem to imply (in my humble opinion)


Edit: also, one thing I learned lifting weights and it applies to a lot of things beyond exercise is that the best way to get good at something is to replicate that exact thing. In other words, to get go at one rep max, ultimately you gotta go to lower rep ranges, triples and even singles. Doing higher rep range will translate some. But ultimately, doing 5x5 will make you better at 5x5, doing 1x8 will get you good at doing 1x8, and so on. It won't translate perfectly with the same proportion for everyone.

 

[CW_1991]

I didn't watch his whole video. But number 1 that's a lot of "rounding up”. Number 2 not everyone is trying to go up forever. I got to 2 plates and i just said fukk it and stopped cause i wasn't trying to compete at a powerlifting meet and i wasn't trying to get injured either. Not everyone has the same goals, not everyone is trying to increase their one rep max and again, I'm not sure it translates to a 1rep max like that for everyone.

When i did 225 5X5, from what i remember, the 5th rep was close to failure on each set (took 60 to 90 seconds rests in between sets). So already there, I don't think i could have done 1 set of 8 reps. That's where we disagree cause your logic is if you can do x that means you can do y which means you can do z and z is close to a. That's a lot of "ifs" and i don't think it's that simple of a calculation with all the variables. Ultimately that's too many translations and it's not straightforward math like you seem to imply (in my humble opinion)

I'm coming up with those numbers based off of 1rm calculators. They're fairly accurate as long as you stay under 10 reps.

As for the 5x5 with the 235, unless you're taking like 10-15 minutes breaks in between sets or something a lifter should be able to bust out more than five reps if he's 100% fresh.

If every set is a huge grinder towards the end you would likely be too fatigue to do it all again for 4 more sets. To be able to do 5x5 with that kind of weight you have to already be able to handle it reasonably well. Certainly well enough to be able to do about 8 or 9 reps with it in one go if you're fully rested. At least in my opinion. But everybody's different

 

[Turbulent]

I'm coming up with those numbers based off of 1rm calculators. They're fairly accurate as long as you stay under 10 reps.

As for the 5x5 with the 235, unless you're taking like 10-15 minutes breaks in between sets or something a lifter should be able to bust out more than five reps if he's 100% fresh.

If every set is a huge grinder towards the end you would likely be too fatigue to do it all again for 4 more sets. To be able to do 5x5 with that kind of weight you have to already be able to handle it reasonably well. Certainly well enough to be able to do about 8 or 9 reps with it in one go if you're fully rested. At least in my opinion. But everybody's different

I don't know breh, the calculator might say something else, i can only speak from my experience. Like i said, i didn't have 3 more reps in me on the first set. Also, for example, on my squat i only got to 245 for 5x5 because of my hip pain. Now im sure the calculator would say i could do 315+ for a 1rep max and i guarantee you i could never do it (would probably fukk up my hips completely). So again, these translations, calculators, rules of thumbs, etc, you gotta take with a grain of salt. They might not be as accurate as you would think.

 

[BrothaZay]

I can bang out 225 easy and MBJ not built to bench 315. The guys at my gym who bench 315 are easily 260+ lbs. People who think MBJ is massive don't go to the gym often IMO.

Huh ? My uncle was benching 365 at 220…

 

[Turbulent]

Like i said earlier, if i had to guess, I'd say he's on something. Assuming he is, it still doesn't discount the hard work and discipline it takes to achieve this physique even on PEDs. PEDs don't magically give you muscles and definition. You still gotta put in work and diet.

Also i call bs on the program and diet he says he did.

 

[Wildhundreds]

Huh ? My uncle was benching 365 at 220…

Your uncle isn't in "my gym" or the gyms i frequent.. I know there are 200 lb dudes benching 315 in america. Calm down.