Every day I read on here stats of guys and girls that have made poor progress considering their use of AAS. For example, I'm 6ft, 180lbs, run 5 cycles, you've all read it. I have to admit, I immediately stereotype and assume they are part of the "want it now brigade" and other than pointing out the obvious I feel I can't really help them. What I believe they need to do they don't want to hear. You either don't train hard enough, your diet isn't right or both. Most of the time it's the latter.

This morning I realised how few people really push it in the gym, and I mean really push it. When I was in my early twenties I was lucky enough to train around Dorian Yates 2 or 3 times per week, and the intensity I saw was nothing short of inspiring. He asked me to spot for him, incline benching about 180Kg's, I was flattered but secretly thinking to myself "if he drops this I won't be able to get it off him and he's a legend". I got chatting to him over the time I spent in the gym, and I realised I didn't push myself anything like what this guy did. I was a big lad already at that age, around 225lbs. strong, good shape, but nothing like what I wanted to be, nothing like "Mr Olympia". So I changed the way I trained. It changed my physique dramatically.

Last week a guy I regularly see in the gym asked me if he could train with me one day next week. I don't normally do it to be honest, but we've had a death of one of our friends at the gym and it seemed appropriate to help him out. He joined me this morning for a back workout. He's not the biggest guy, but he certainly isn't lacking in strength. About 5'9", 190lbs ish, ex military so very aerobically fit. We talked about my approach and he said "I've seen you training, you're an animal". I explained I like hitting it hard, heavy and lots of reps. We started. 15minutes in this lad is sweating like a pig. 20 minutes in he's working hard, but losing his grip. 25 minutes in he starts to lose all the colour out of his face and runs off to the toilets to throw up. I left him to it, I've got a workout to do and I'm not even half way through.

I don't often think about how other people train, I do my shit and leave. This made me realise where it goes wrong for so many. This guy is in good shape, but doesn't train with the intensity his goals demand. He wants to step on stage, he won't unless he trains like this regularly. I'm nowhere near the top of the ladder in this game, but I know what it has taken to build what I have. If you truly want to achieve competitive BB'ing status, ask yourself the following:

ARE YOU REALLY HITTING IT HARD?

HONESTLY?

Now get back in there and hit another big drop set.