Exercise Scientist Critiques Louie Simmons & Westside Barbell Training

Mike explains that in raw lifting, you can build strength effectively using doubles and triples without maxing out. However, in equipped lifting, the gear is designed to store and return energy only when the bar is heavy enough to deform the suit/shirt deep into the movement. If you try to train with 70-80%, the suit either doesn't stretch at all on the descent, making you unable to hit depth, or doesn't provide the usual pop on the ascent, leading to a completely different technique. Therefore, Louis Simmons' insistence on frequent heavy training (what he called 'circumax') wasn't reckless; it was a necessary solution to the physics of specialized equipment. The Westside method's sustainability came from rotating exercises and using accommodating resistance (bands/chains) to manage fatigue while still exposing lifters to peak forces.

Mike admits that he used to call out Louie's bullshit when everyone was drinking the Kool-Aid, but now he's leaning into positivity. He argues that everyone, including himself, has bullshit, but Louie's contributions to equipped powerlifting are undeniable. The change is partly a personal evolution, partly a recognition that relentless negativity attracts well-deserved backlash. He aims for a balance, reserving occasional shit-talking but primarily highlighting what can be learned.

Mike emphasizes that studies repeatedly show strength increments of about 10-15% above natural potential, while muscle mass gains are more dramatic. For example, a natural 220 lbs lifter who can bench 400 after a decade is unlikely to reach 500 on steroids; the base had to be there. He recounts his own powerlifting to bodybuilding transition: he did impressive lifts drug-free on very low doses, and when he started steroids, his strength increases were 'very modest' because he was training higher reps. John Haack's journey—breaking records drug-free then adding ~10% more after going on—illustrates that steroids scale from an already elite baseline, not create one. This message is partly aimed at young lifters who might risk side effects for delusional gains.

Mike argues that equipped lifting and steroid use amplify results but also massively complicate the training process: gear requires specific heavy loads to function, managing drug regimens adds layers of physiological and logistical burden, and the risk/injury potential is higher. He contrasts this with raw, drug-free training, which he calls 'by far the easiest of all of these ways of approaching it.' This reflects his broader point that people who assume elite equipped lifters have it easy are mistaken; the lifestyle is more grueling, not less.

Mike explains that steroids don't turn users into Bane-like monsters, but they do elevate the probability and magnitude of aggressive thoughts, especially for those sensitive to androgens. He says that in his own experience, the aggression 'starts and ends as a thought in your head.' He also clarifies that if you're not genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness, steroids won't cause it; they only accelerate loss in those already at risk. He cites Jay Cutler as a living refutation. He cautions against both hysterical and dismissive narratives.