Old school powerlifting base before adding gear - still the best foundation

Started powerlifting in the early 2000s before touching anything. Two years of nothing but squat bench deadlift. That base is why I can still move serious weight 20 years later. Guys jumping to gear at 18 months in are missing the point. The compounds amplify what you already have. If the foundation is garbage the gear just inflates garbage faster. Competed raw to 220 then crossed over to physique. Both worlds benefit from that strength base.

Powerlifting base first is the approach I wish I had taken. Started training for aesthetics from day one and my strength base is not where it should be for the years I have put in. Now doing a strength block before my next blast specifically to address this.

Agree completely on the foundation point. Too many guys these days go from 1 year of training straight to gear and wonder why the gains are not what they expected. The gear builds on what is already there. Two years minimum of serious natty training before touching anything.

The foundation point is something AU gym culture has gotten away from. Guys here are jumping on gear at 20 with 18 months of training. The strength base you built first is what lets you actually use the gear productively. Appreciate you posting this.

The strength foundation argument is correct and underappreciated in Scandinavian gym culture too. The focus here has shifted to aesthetics very quickly over the last few years. Guys with 2 years of training asking about cycles before they can even squat their bodyweight properly. The gear cannot fix a weak foundation.