The game of MUSCLE isn’t just about lifting weights or building strength. It’s about navigating a complex, manipulated industry that preys on your insecurities and desires. To truly win, you must understand the rules, reject the traps, and focus on genuine progress.
Step 1: Withstand the Seduction
The first move is to build mental armor. The fitness industry thrives on seduction, using everything from supplements to social media to exploit your weakest points—your ego, pride, and subconscious. The original products of the muscle game were simple: iron weights and sand-filled plastic spheres. These durable tools weren’t profitable enough for the Milkmen—the businessmen who control the fitness industry—so they innovated.
They created the “magical food supplement”, promising to turn anyone into a muscle-bound hero. These products attack your sense of self-worth, making you believe your dream physique is impossible without their help. Resisting this seduction requires stepping outside the illusion and activating your real brain. Once you see through their tricks, you’ll realize you don’t need powders, pills, or synthetic crutches.
Step 2: Focus on Progression, Not Gimmicks
At the core of any effective workout program is a simple, often overlooked truth: progression is the key to success. Not exercise selection. Not the latest supplement. Not magic formulas.
How Progression Works
- Get Stronger Over Time: Add weight, reps, or difficulty to your exercises consistently while maintaining good form.
- Track Your Progress: Write down your workouts, weights, and reps. Progression doesn’t happen by accident.
- Cycle Your Intensity: Push your limits for a set period (e.g., 6–12 weeks), then reduce intensity temporarily to recover before building back stronger.
Example of a Linear Progression Cycle:
- Week 1: 15 reps with 100kg (220 lbs)
- Week 2: 10 reps with 120kg (265 lbs)
- Week 3: 8 reps with 140kg (310 lbs)
- Week 4: 5 reps with 160kg (355 lbs)
- Week 7: Peak with 190kg (420 lbs) for 2–3 reps
Repeat the cycle, starting slightly heavier each time. This simple approach builds strength and muscle while avoiding stagnation.
Avoid the Common Trap
Many lifters chase external modifications—new exercises, fancy equipment, flashy routines—without addressing the fundamentals. Real growth comes from improving the “engine,” not decorating the “vehicle.”
Step 3: Understand the True Motivation Behind Muscle
Building muscle isn’t just about aesthetics. For many, it’s a deeply rooted attempt to reclaim something lost.
- Manliness Under Attack:
In a world where traditional masculinity is often devalued, lifting becomes a way to assert identity. The gym offers a space where strength and effort are still respected. It’s a place where men can express themselves without judgment. - The Weight Room as a Battleground:
Every lift becomes a statement. You’re not just training your body; you’re proving your worth. But beware: if this desire isn’t grounded in genuine self-respect, it can lead to insecurity masked by muscle.
Step 4: The Perfect Rep Range
Every workout boils down to two key elements: tonnage and intensity.
- Tonnage: Total weight lifted in a session.
Example: 3 sets of 10 reps with 100kg = 3,000kg (6,600 lbs). - Intensity: How heavy the weight is compared to your max.
To maximize gains:
- Start with higher reps (more tonnage).
- Gradually increase intensity (heavier weights, lower reps).
- Cycle between these phases for sustainable progress.
A classic progression:
- High reps in the beginning build endurance and tonnage.
- Lower reps at the end build strength and intensity.
This method strikes a balance between sustainable effort and long-term gains.
Step 5: Steroids: A Conscious Choice?
The elephant in the room of bodybuilding is steroids. The question isn’t whether they’re “good” or “bad”—it’s whether your decision is informed and genuine.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself:
- Are you using steroids because you truly want to?
- Or are you caving to societal pressure and unrealistic expectations?
Steroids, when misused, can turn you into a slave to an image—a constant cycle of injections, anxiety over muscle loss, and dependence on external validation. But some users approach them with clear goals: competitive advantage, career gains, or enhanced physical performance.
The Bottom Line: If you choose this path, do so consciously and responsibly, not as a reaction to industry manipulation.
Winning the Muscle Game
To truly win at MUSCLE, you must:
- Resist Seduction: Reject the marketing ploys and focus on real effort.
- Master Progression: Track your workouts, aim for consistent improvement, and cycle intensity.
- Stay True to Yourself: Don’t let insecurity or societal pressure dictate your path.
- Balance Tonnage and Intensity: Use a structured plan to combine volume and strength.
- Own Your Choices: Whether it’s natural training or enhanced, make sure it’s your decision—not someone else’s manipulation.
At the end of the day, the true measure of success isn’t the size of your muscles but the strength of your character. Lift for yourself, not for the approval of others. The iron doesn’t lie—and neither should you.
