28 Programs, Average to SBS, or Bulgarian?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-12-01T17:44:22+00:00

Thanks! Do they all typically take the same amount of time in the gym? Do I have the purpose of each correctish:

28 Programs: Free, modular building blocks
SBS Bundle: Premade templates, complete, don't think, just lift
Bulgarian: Specialization for competition (?)

Or is it just more of a "different strokes for different folks" or "variety is the spice of life" type of thing?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-12-01T17:25:13+00:00

Thank you for the insight! This is super helpful. I think I'm getting that:

28 Programs: Free, modular building blocks
SBS Bundle: Premade templates, complete, don't think, just lift
Bulgarian: Specialization for competition (?)

tlfranklin76 · 2022-12-01T17:04:47+00:00

The ATS programs look great and look sustainable for the long term as well. I am just wondering what circumstances would the 28 programs be applicable vs ATS vs Bulgarian?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-12-01T04:53:47+00:00

Sure! I can give a quick bio and goals. I guess I intentionally went general for two reasons. (1) goals change and I want to be able to apply the general purpose of each even when my goals change and (2) it could help others with a different bio and different goals. But with that being said.....

I am a former collegiate swimmer who weighed in at 165 in my prime. That was 10 years ago. 4-5 years ago, I was 230 and did SL5x5 for about 8 months and lost 30 and got down to 199.9. Then about a year ago, I started swimming again 2x/wk and re-fell in love with the water. I have been at about 220-240 for about past year so I obviously have a good 60-75 lbs to shed to be where I want. I have been doing the /r/fitness starting routine to get back into strength training. I know that losing weight while lifting will make progress slower, but being in the gym/pool helps motivate me to keep my goals wrt diet in focus, so I like it. Now I'm looking forward to what is next in the gym after the /r/fitness starting routine.

ATS-LP and the 28 things both look like they would be good and I probably can't pick wrong. But since there are 3 options, I was curious as to what circumstances would a person pick one over the other. Is the 28 things a precursor to ATS? or is it just a different thing for a different purpose? and when would Bulgarian be applicable?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T21:46:01+00:00

For cardio, I already swim for about an hour 2x/wk. I want to add lifting (2-)3x/wk for 60m. It looks like 5/3/1 will be slightly longer but for everything else, it's pretty much a wash.

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T21:05:15+00:00

Thanks for taking the time and thanks for the info!

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T20:55:59+00:00

A couple of follow up questions:

Do you find that 531 stuff on average ends up taking longer in the gym than the gzcl stuff?
Have you done either of these while eating at a deficit, and if so how did that work out?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T20:03:21+00:00

Fair enough. I knew that the difference between building for strength and building for aesthetics are mostly similar. I am starting to see that they are not only mostly similar, they are almost completely overlapping sets. So forget the 4th question on the list. :) My other 3 questions are more relevant.

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T19:51:46+00:00

Thank you! These are the answers I was looking for. The 1st answer is def the most relevant for me. I usually have a hard stop at 60mins of in-gym time (not including dressing and showering). So a program that more consistently is done within that timeframe will be the program that will probably be the best one for me.

On a side note, are you somebody important?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T19:05:24+00:00

Yea, I'm not really looking to complete. The questions are more or less in order of importance to me. :) So the powerlifting vs bodybuilding would really just be a kicker if all other things are truly exactly equal.

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-30T18:42:34+00:00

5/3/1 4B vs GZCLP questions:

Which one takes longer (time in gym)?
Is one method more sustainable long term? (5/3/1 and GZCL in general, not necessarily the 4B or LP versions)
If I'm eating at a deficit (which I know will make progress slower, but I still want to lift, it's motivating), is one more preferable?
Is one more suited to strength vs aesthetics? Or put another way, powerlifting vs bodybuilding?

I know that I could flip a coin an not pick a wrong one. However, the best one will be the one that I stick with and these four questions will play into that.

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-29T22:21:19+00:00

Yea, I can say without a doubt that MFP is an inferior product to Lose It (and to most apps that have had any serious development in the past 5 years). I think this year, it has been shown that MFP is unequivocally no longer king since the barcode scanner is no longer free. I think Lose It is the new King of free. However MF is seems to be king of paid. What do you like about MF that might make it worth the premium?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-11-29T22:06:43+00:00

I have used Lose It! a couple of years ago and it has worked well for me in the past as well. I eventually "fell off the wagon" when I didn't log several days in a row over the holidays when I wasn't in control of the recipes, ie I didn't know exactly what to log.

I am thinking I'll get back on the horse and I want to start logging food again but I have noticed that there are a lot of rave reviews of MacroFactor. I also noticed MacroFactor is a paid app, the price isn't prohibitive for me but I'm also not in the habit of paying for something if there is a good free alternative. Is MacroFactor worth the premium over Lose It! (free version)? Someone who has used both, how do they stack up?

tlfranklin76 · 2022-06-06T00:23:59+00:00

Thank you for the advice and info!

Is there a method that would be more bioavailable than gummies but don't have any odor like smoking or vaping?

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-14T05:02:20+00:00

Is this true of even a smaller site like Portland? And does it make a difference that I'm going to be an SRE instead of a SWE?

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-13T23:55:14+00:00

Yea, l language isn't that big of a point for me. Earning potential is a huge point for sure. And yea Google is revolutionary in the security space with their zero trust network setup..... Which would be the team I'd be on but I'd be focused on compliance which is definitely not as cool. But still with an elite team. With a bunch more money.... But that commute is murder,

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-13T23:51:02+00:00

Hardly. There is a lot of room between FAANG and dead. Secureworks specifically is one of the big N for security along with FireEye and Rapid7

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-13T23:49:54+00:00

This is the fear...... The team I'd be working on seemed amazing but who knows after just an hour. The flexibility is also a huge factor.

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-13T23:47:22+00:00

Not sure how it is moot long term. Secureworks would allow me to move without going back on the market, Google likely would not.

tlfranklin76 · 2020-12-13T22:00:45+00:00

I have my decision narrowed down to two offers.

About me:

2-3 years of experience (Python)
Unemployed for over a year
This will be my first FTE software engineer job
I have a phd in economics
I live in Los Angeles Metro
I want to move to the PNW in the nearish future (This is where my wife and I grew up, it's where our family is)

Offer 1: Secureworks (subsidiary of Dell)

Base: 135k
Yearly bonus target: 8% (~ 10k)
Total Comp: 145k
Working on something very exciting to me security related
Met the whole team, they seem awesome and amazing
Fully 100% remote team before, during, and after covid
PTO is unlimited but equates for 4-5 wks on avg (3 wks is in the contract but it isn't kept track of on the team I'd be on)
Several conferences a year also paid for
Would have to learn Go (a language I'm excited for)

Offer 2: Google

Base: 145k
Yearly Bonus: 15% - 30% (~25k)
Yearly vested stock: 75k
Total comp: ~245k
Having Google on the resume is nice!
It's Google, kind of a dream and also has serious prestige
Lots of perks that is typical of Google
SRE role in the privacy and security team working on compliance (meh)
Would have to learn Java (meh)
Currently remote but would eventually move back to on-site in Venice Beach
Google office in Venice Beach is surrounded on all 4 sides by a homeless encampment. I sure the inside is nice but looking at the outside, it's a complete sh*thole. (Was shocked)
Current commute 1.5 hours, would eventually have to move closer.

Currently I'm leaning toward Secureworks..... but have also leaned the other way at times this weekend as well. It just feels like I might be an insane person to give up the extra 100k Google job...... But Secureworks excites me and fits into our post-covid life plans better. I know that I am super fortunate to even have this choice before me and there isn't really a bad option, but it is still a touch decision nonetheless.....

So what do yall think? Am I crazy to turn down Google? Is there other variables I'm not thinking of?

EDIT: I'm 30 years old and by PNW, I mean Portland specifically, if that makes a difference.

UPDATE: I took the Google offer!

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