"The best program is the one you're not on"

“The best program is the one you’re not on” is a bodybuilding adage that has been credited to strength coach Charles Staley since at least 1998. The body adjusts to any regimen; a different program (“the one you’re not on”) can achieve better results than the same program done too regularly.

Bodybuilding.com
Charles Staley
World Famous Strength and Sport Coach
Background
“One of the signs of a great teacher is the ability to make the subject matter seem simple. Charles Staley is one of these rare teachers. After listening and talking to him, you suddenly achieve a new awareness of training. You go to the gym and, suddenly, everything makes sense, and you wonder why you haven’t been doing it his way since day one.” - Muscle Media 2000 magazine August, 1999

His colleagues call him an iconoclast, a visionary, a rule-breaker. His clients call him “The Secret Weapon” for his ability to see what other coaches miss. Charles calls himself a “geek” who struggled in Phys Ed throughout school.

Whatever you call him, Charles’ methods are ahead of their time and quickly produce serious results.

Google Groups: alt.sport.weightlifting
Workout Tracker Software Wanted
Matt
2/25/98
(...)
The best program Ive seen to date for this is on
http://www.myodynamics.com
From Charles Staley, he writes for various muscle mags and martial arts mags, and designed a program that tracks everything for training, diet, andtesting.

Google Groups: misc.fitness.weights
Periodization….I think it’s that time of the month again….
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
8/2/98
(...)
Put it how Charles Staley said it, “The best program is the one you aren’t on”.

John Stone Fitness Forums
peter
Tue, February 3rd, 2004, 03:06 AM
(...)
Strength coach Charles Staley likes to say, “The best program is the one you’re not on.” Kind of funny and ironic, but if you look at it in light of your body’s remarkable ability to adapt to ANY training stimulus, then his statement is 100% correct.

Almost EVERY training program works. If that weren’t true then ONLY bodybuilders using MAX OT or whatever is “the best way of the day” would be champions. The catch is, NO PROGRAM works for long. Carefully planned variation and muscle confusion (not the same as “winging it”) are keys to bodybuilding success - right up there with progressive overload.

TNation
seanc
03-28-2005, 04:33 PM
It’s goal dependant, but if I know Charles he would probably rather you did 30 x 1 to be honest with you.
At least for awhile.
As Charles has said many times, the best program for you is the one you aren’t doing.
ie…Change is good!

Google Books
Das Training:
Ein Buch für Bodybuilder, Powerlifter und den interesierten Sportler
By J. C. W. Borchardt
Norderstedt Books on Demand
2009
Pg. 99:
Es gibt einen Satz den Charles Staley des öfteren verwendet:
„The best program is the one, you ́re not on“
=Das beste Programm, ist jenes, welches Sie gerade nicht nutzen.

Twitter
Alfonso Moretti
‏@AngryTrainerFit
The old saying “The Best Program Is The One You’re Not On” is true! Get out of what’s comfortable and challenge yourself #fitstudio
6:21 PM - 8 Jun 11

Twitter
GAIN Fitness
‏@GAINfitness
The body adapts to any routine. “The best program is the one you’re not on.” Stick with something for a few weeks, then change it up.
10:10 AM - 30 Jan 13