Customer Reviews

Big Beyond Belief

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The best damn easiest book to follow that gets you all the results you need. I was coming out of high school football, and wasn't talented enough to play in the division 1 college i went to, but i did wanna keep lifting. I did the medium frequency weightlifting program which was once a day, 6 days a week. It was absolutely awesome, and honestly, i only stayed on it for a six week phase of the recommended 18 weeks. You MUST, as is stressed in the book, follow the recommendations of the book as closely as possible but you will most definitely get results. In six weeks i went from weighing 220 to weighing 242 with a bodyfat % that went from 22 to 19, which basically means i gained OVER 20 POUNDS OF MUSCLE in six weeks!!! It doesn't take a genius to know that's awesome. Bench press went up from 295 1 rep max to 365, Squat went from 365 4 rep max to 505, and i was curling a 45 and a 25 on each side in standing easy curl bar like if it was nothing. Needless to say i was incredibly impressed. This book is definitely not for unseasoned weightlifters, or atleast not for ones who don't have someone to stress the importance of sticking to the guidelines. Also, my power clean went up from 245 one rep max to 275 and i didn't do a single power clean during the six week phase. The most surprising thing is that each workout took less than an hour to complete with a partner and in some occassions it was under 45 minutes. It may not make sense now, but read the book. Take it with you to the john, and you'll get ass numbness from reading on for too long. It really grabs you. Lots of the stuff is stuff that most people know, but nonetheless it's good to read it all together in a coherent way that translates into MORE MUSCLE, more muscle, and more muscle. The book is called big beyond belief, but it's also awesome for Strength gains. I've never done any drugs...just protein powders and i had awesome results.

This book is the best that I have found on the subject of getting big and strong. I was in the Army as an infantry soldier and after just a couple of months doing one of the "ramps" I gained approx 15 pounds even with the requisite Army aerobic workout every morning. I was huge -- people in the gym and in my Company accused me of taking steroids I was getting so big so fast. I had previously done several other college football weightlifting workouts with little success -- this is certainly the best -- and it covers a bunch of other related stuff, too. Lastly, workouts only last 45 minutes -- the book explains why -- I haven't lifted in a few years and have since lost this book to a friend, but I have no problems shelling out 49 bucks for this. It's definitely worth at least that. I know that in a few months, I will be a monster again. I don't typically write reviews for books but this one is so good, I had to.

I have completed this program three times now. It is one of the most grueling and rewarding schedules I have tried in my five years of lifting weights. It offers different levels of workouts for all of us who are at different levels of body building. Leo Costa Jr. deserves much praise for this unique approach to building muscle and strength. Anyone who feels they have reached a sticking point will benefit from this program. Complete this program (following all of the guidelines in the book) and you too will be a believer! And to the guy who wrote in saying it was impossible to workout so much, why didn't you try one of the easier programs? I agree, not everyone can workout twice a day all week. My schedule simply won't allow it. Maybe the once-a-day four day workout would better fit your level. There is no need for steriods (as you suggested were necessary). How about work ethic and an all-out desire to build lean well-earned muscle? It doesn't sound like you really tried the program. I never said it was easy, but that is the total opposite of what body building is about. This program is intense. And intensity is what builds muscle.

I am a woman bodybuilder who is all natural (Still look like a girl). This book is excellent. Those that say it doesn't work didn't follow it exactly, that includes the diet. I also bought the book that outlines the diet he recommends called The Anabolic Diet. Big Beyond Belief outlines a very specific workout. Those that it didn't work for, I would be willing to bet didn't follow it exactly. You learn how to manipulate 8 different ways to get muscles to grow. Most workouts only manipulate 2 or maybe three. I have been working out for 15 years the "old traditional way". I made more progress with my physique in 6 months than the previous 14 1/2 years. With this book I was able to win the NPC Colorado State Championship against many women "juicing" (using steroids). They looked like guys. I had phenominal muscle development for a woman and I couldn't have achieved this without this workout system. I highly recommend this book. I also recommend getting the Anabolic Diet also.

I am very new to Body Building, though not entirely new to Weight Training. I bought this book when I discovered that there is very dramatic difference between the two, and that what I was doing would not necessarily achieve the goals I desired. This review will be more of a description of my experience and understanding with the Big Beyond Belief system before and after having used it for several weeks.

I am a 26-year-old male. I stand at 5'11" and 174 lbs, 12-14% body fat and I have a very ectomorph body type (not exactly ideal for a body builder). My chest circumference is only about 40", my arms 14.5", my mid-thighs 21", with a waist of about 34.5". However, I am very strong for my size!

Most recently, I was doing a routine where only a single body part would be emphasized on a single day (i.e. Chest-Monday, Legs-Tuesday, Arms-Wednesday, etc... etc...). Multiple exercises would be used to target the same muscle groups in different ways. However, missing a single day of working out would put you almost TWO WHOLE WEEKS BEHIND from one given workout and the next. As a result, my development was very disproportionate, and irregular.

Now with Big Beyond Belief (BBB), you work nearly every body part 3 times per week. The purpose of this is based on the Physiological fact that Muscle tissue begins to atrophy within 72 after your most recent workout of that body part (my wife is completing her Doctorates in Physical Therapy, and she has verified this fact for me).

Furthermore, the initially prescribed system in BBB oscillates the volume and intensity both within the weeks and throughout the weeks, (you will have to purchase the book to see how it is specifically done). However, the result ensures that your body is never allowed to fully adapt to the specific stress applied, while simultaneously preventing you from entering into a state of chronic over-training. The author describes this as the optimal training zone (a balance between over and under training).

Each work out is supposed to last no longer than 45 min. The author cites Bulgarian studies that indicate a significant loss of testosterone in the blood after 35-45 min of serious weight lifting. Believe me...this program is very serious.

If you are like me, and are not used to working out multiple body parts, much less your entire body in a single day, I would seriously recommend the Preconditioning Workout supplied by the author.

Though I used to workout 6 days per week, 1 ½ to 2 hours per day; I found the 45 min, four days per week workouts much more difficult. Frequently while using BBB, following my workouts, I would go home and pass out on the couch for a couple hours. Though I work out at 5 am in the morning, I had never experienced this level of total fatigue before. In an effort to counter this level of exhaustion, I increased my hours of sleep from 7 to 9 hours per night. Finally, I was not passing out at home or in class.

By the end of my second week, I still had not adapted to this new type of training and I started to feel nauseous about 50% of the way through my workout. As a result, I have decided to start over, and begin with the preconditioning workout before I start the prescribed routine.

However, I am very encouraged by the fact that some (very large) body builders had noticed growth development and toning in my overall physique. They complemented me on it and asked which supplements I was taking. I just replied, "No new supplements, just a new killer routine!"

When I get further along in my training, I will update this review, to help you decide whether Big Beyond Belief is for you. So far, I am very impressed, but also very tired. To all those huge monster Body Builders out there, "I may not have the nuts just yet to complete the program, but I'm sure as hell, trying hard!"

That is what it takes, trying hard as hell.

I have tried several bodybuilding and strength training programs in my time and I must say that Big Beyond Belief is by far the most superior strength training program I have ever used. My body completely transformed from the typical three to four workout per week physique (6' tall and 175lbs.) that I was strutting around with to the true meathead frame that I have acquired now (still 6' tall but now 230lbs.). I used the six day a week, one workout per day program a few years ago and I blew up in a period of four months. I went from 175lbs to 205lbs during that time and got much stronger, leaner and faster. I have yet to grow that quickly in that short of a time frame again. It was just a huge growth spurt from this superior training, my body just went into shock. The best part about that period of training was that before I read this manual from cover to cover and before I started and completed the program I actually thought I knew what I was doing. This program taught me so much about my body and what stimulates the greatest amount of muscle growth and how to acquire true strength. Since that time I have carried that knowledge with me and passed it on to a few "meathead" buddies and we all agree that this is the best workout around. I have moved on to the Titan Training manual and it too is a solid read and a good program. But now I must get back to Big Beyond Belief and re-educate myself about how to get big and strong once agian. I think applying the principles and regimen found in Big Beyond Belief and utilizing some kettlebell traning and old time strong man routines will allow me to get to 250lbs. Unfortunately I have to reorder a copy of the book because one of my meathead friends swiped it from me (cause it's that good). The only problem with this book is that the authors keep making references to bodybuilding. Although you will look pretty buff if you folllow this program, that is just an added extra. The real benefit is being big and strong. It's all about strength. I like to refer to it as a strength training program. .... If you like being big and strong you need this book. ... Good luck on journey to true strength, but with this book you won't need luck.

This book is certainly worth the price. I would recommend it specifically for the seasoned, natural bodybuilder who has reached a training plateau. I purchased the book in 1995 and I still use it today for one simple reason....I continue to get good results! It's been said that the volume is far too great for most people to handle without buckets of steroids. I disagree because when using this program, you only work-out for about 45 minutes as opposed to the hours many spend in the gym, furthermore, you only do one exercise per body-part for 3-5 sets so you never tear your muscles down too far. Also, I like the fact that during each week, you train for endurance(12-15 reps), strength(10-12 reps), and power(5-8 reps). I've been using this program for about 8 years now (including some periods of lay-off) and I've increased my bodyweight from 165lbs to 210lbs in that time. Also my biceps have increased from 14.5 in. to 17 and 1/4 in. My bench has gone from struggling with 225lbs to a full set of 10 reps with 315lbs. This book lays out a clear blue-print on how to work out, all the way down to the rest intervals. What really got me hooked was the fact that I was able to make gains in size and strength immediately, even though I don't work out with a partner. I can't say enough about this book. Do yourself a favor, get it!

I have lifted religiously for over 7 years now, and I have never seen a program that works as well as this one. A body's worst enemy is your muscle's ability to adapt to your workouts, and this program virtually eliminates that problem. It teaches true instinctive training, and is a must have for anyone looking to improve their lifting techniques as well as improve their physiques. You must follow the workouts to the letter, or the benefits decrease dramatically....Give it a shot, you won't be sorry!

This book contains everything that an experienced bodybuilder needs in detail. All three aspects of bodybuilding are addressed completely training, diet, recovery, they are all here. There is nothing about the basics, exercise description or what protein, carbohydrate and fat actually are so if you are a beginner, start lower. This knowledge is already assumed. As everyone says don't change the system, just follow it. I noticed this first hand when I switched from bench press to weighted push ups. Getting your body to move through space when you train is so much more effective than lying/sitting on a bench. Squats over leg press, parralled bar dips over machine bar dips. These are all explained in the book. There's only one problem: the diet. If you can't gobble up enough calories on whichever diet (there's only 2) forget about progress. This can and will be very restricting but the results are worth it. I started at 80 kg lean muscle and after 3 years am 105 kg.

Let me tell you from the the start: this program is not for the beginner or someone looking for a shortcut. You have to be willing to follow the program TO THE LETTER and that includes a proper diet first and foremost. I don't believe in supplements, so the only thing I had other than good (healthy) food was protein powders. We got on the 2x day 6x week program...yeah we took a big bite out of the pain sandwich.
The result: I started at 185lbs at 5'11" and my friend was about 375lbs at the same height. After 9 months on the program, I had swelled to 225lbs with NO FAT INCREASE, and my friend had shrunk down to 275lbs...needless to say, we were accused of taking steroids which says to me that they either didn't know what they were doing or were too lazy to push themselves. One guy at the gym said he saw powerlifters lift more but he NEVER saw anyone lift the kind of weight we did for that many reps. People wanted to know what we did, but my training partner always said "superior training, man". We were freakishly strong. I went from barely getting 225x8 on the bench to a max lift of 475lbs...405lbs bench for 8!!! I was in shock when I got that up!!! Squats went from 315x6 to 500x10...THIS IS NO JOKE, but I can truly say that the first hyperphase (3weeks) was the toughest. Don't fall for the overtraining crap, your body will adapt and once you get through the initial soreness/weakness of the first weeks you will be amply rewarded. Always, always, eat a good diet- that will get you through the first part. If you're not eating right, you WILL overtrain- so drop that cheesburger!
Anyway, after I moved away from my partner and faded out of the serious growth plan (I tried to find an "easier way") I ended up getting bigger, but fatter...which is why I'm going back on this thing. Nothing has worked as well for me. I'm bigger, but weaker and not nearly as muscular as when I was on the serious growth program. To cut through it all, I would recommend the following:
1) Have a training partner that's SERIOUS about working out-so you don't whimp out on the hyperphase
2) You must have a sound diet...you really don't need supplements other than a protein shake and a good multivitamin...LEARN TO EAT RIGHT
3) Don't get creative and make substitutions...do what the program says-it's already tough enough. Your body will adapt to it and get stronger...just like a boxer with calluses on his hands-you gotta go through pain in order to get better.

That's it. Hey, the book doesn't cost that much anyway...the real expense is the hard work in the gym...but it will pay off, so you really got nothing to lose.