Question about Size:Strength ratio and Testosterone supps

[John Galt]

I'm 5'6" and 170 pounds.

Right now my five rep maxes are

Squat: 315x5 (below parallel)
Bench: 245x5
Press: 150x5
Deadlift: 365x5


My question is, it seems like some of the guys in the gym that have similar lift totals are just bigger than me. Since I started doing Starting Strength after 4 years of bodybuilding stuff, I definitely got bigger and stronger, but it still seems like guys of my strength that I see in the gym tend to be noticeably bigger than me. Do you think this has to do with genetics or would switching to 8 reps or 10 reps per set help with size?


Also, all of the supplements I'ver ever taken are protein and creatine, but I've been looking into using this supplement called Biotivia Bio Forge.

Bio Forge


All of the reviews I've seen say it's awesome and has no side effects. Any thoughts? I am 20 years old.

[John2336]

Who is John Galt?

[RichMcguire]

5'6 and 170 lbs.. maybe you're carrying too much fat? I mean, pictures help with these questions in my opinion. But I will say genetics always have something to do with everything and often people's totals have a lot to do with levers and joints. But the only thing you can say about being bigger or whatever.. is well, to get bigger, lol. I doubt you're going to see an absolute significant difference from going from 5 reps, to 8. That's just not gonna make you balloon up all of a sudden.

And I wouldn't waste your money on testosterone supplements. Many of them have been proven to be ineffective at increasing free-testosterone levels. You'd be better off spending your money on food.

[MikeC1]

Who is John Galt?

I think it's an Ayn Rand character.

[ZenGeek]

And I wouldn't waste your money on testosterone supplements. Many of them have been proven to be ineffective at increasing free-testosterone levels. You'd be better off spending your money on food.

Yes.

Do you think this has to do with genetics or would switching to 8 reps or 10 reps per set help with size?

Yes.
But you will also be doing a size program, not a strength program - and it sure won't be SS.

Also, all of the supplements I'ver ever taken are protein and creatine

You know that the 8 - 12 rep range induces SARCOPLASMIC HYPERTROPHY right? Water and sugar. You don't need supplements for water and sugar. Protein and Creatine would have a positive effect for strength training (Maybe, I'm not a fan of supplements, but they make more sense in this context than they do in sarco).

[Carlos Daniel]

The only testosterone supplement that works is the one you get in Mexico and inject in your muscle.

[Mart002]

the point is - tits n' sports.

I've been trying to explain this to the lady, she dont get it

[John Galt]

tits n' sports.

So spending money at strip clubs would be money better spent huh? I'll have to keep that in mind.

Seriously though, no one believes there are any natural supplements that can moderately increase testosterone levels? Almost all of the reviews I read of this Bio Forge were really positive, and it is one of the most highly rated supplements on bodybuilding.com Bio Forge Reviews

[Carlos Daniel]

So spending money at strip clubs would be money better spent huh? I'll have to keep that in mind.

Seriously though, no one believes there are any natural supplements that can moderately increase testosterone levels? Almost all of the reviews I read of this Bio Forge were really positive, and it is one of the most highly rated supplements on bodybuilding.com Bio Forge Reviews

They don't work, and even if they did there's no guarantee that they improve performance or body composition. You can increase your test by 50% by taking clomiphene or tamoxifene for instance, but in the studies performed they didn't see any improvement performance or body composition even though the guys had a big increase in test levels.

EDIT: You know what increases test and free test? Eating a lot. I'm serious.

[Sean Berry]

I think it's an Ayn Rand character.

But the question remains, who IS John Galt?

sb