Not long ago I was carrying on in the gym, "pumping some iron," and simply minding my own business (i.e., pushing myself, setting personal records, and pursuing a long term goal one day at a time). Meanwhile, a group of three guys was in the gym. One of the three was the ringleader, while the other two were glued to his every word and dictate. While such a scenario is not by any means uncommon (I've been the ringleader a couple times myself), what I found most laughable about this particular instance was the fact that the ringleader of this threesome appeared the least qualified out of the three to be issuing advice. The other two had more meat on their bones, yet they were somehow entranced by the advice of the third as though he was a fitness sage whose erudition bespoke expertise of the highest caliber.
Now, I'm not one to outright criticize someone for an apparent failure to practice what they preach. Sometimes, even if not outwardly obvious, the people who seem least qualified to offer advice can surprisingly know what they're talking about. But this guru I witnessed in the gym clearly lacked some of the chief qualities attributable to fitness experts. Among the various qualities missing was one very important, if not the most important, component of sound advice regarding all things muscle-building and fat-loss related: the presentation of the importance of setting a long-term goal.
Not only did this would-be "expert" fail to inculcate his pupils with the tenants of sound muscle-building practice (progressive tension overload, dedication to a long-term plan, the importance of tracking progress, etc.), he further sounded like the typical broscientist, advocating such things as getting a pump, attacking the chest from 10 different angles, and other sorts of lore that only serve to distract people from enacting the base fundamentals that have been time-tested and approved by generations of successful weightlifters.
Bear in mind that I'm not making any sort of claim that a "pump" has no value, nor am I saying that it's a waste of time to use a variety of techniques for targeting a muscle group. Such practices can play a role in enhancing results; however, these methods pale in significance compared to the plain and simple art of patiently and consistently adding resistance to an exercise over the course of weeks, months, and years.
So here's my chief advice about advice: Look for guides who teach consistency, goal-setting, and progress tracking, and avoid guides who teach haphazard methodologies. Any nave can go into the weight room and put together a random assortment of exercises that will leave him/her gassed and sore for days afterward, but it takes a pro to set goals, to be patient, and to recognize that personal records, and not pain, indicate progress.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
