A Look at Rusty Moore’s Visual Impact

I’ve made a number of references to Rusty Moore’s Visual Impact Muscle Building throughout Smart Weight Gain. I thought I’d discuss it a little more in detail, as I’ve been asked on a number of occasions whether Visual Impact was worth getting. Let me say up front that I like his program and I use his program. That said, I’ll try to give you an “unbiased” look at – oh scratch that – how can I be unbiased when I use and like Rusty’s program.

I’ll just tell you what I think and let you decide.

But let’s get this clear first – Rusty’s Visual Impact is not right for you if:

1. You need to/want to pack on a lot of weight in a short period of time.
2. You think the bodybuilders in the muscle mags as your ideal physique.
3. Your objective is to add mass and explosive strength to play in sports like football.
4. You need 20 guns
5. You want to become a power-lifter, olympic lifters – a guy who can push serious poundage!

So if your end goal is anything similar to those aforementioned 5, then go no further – as the saying goes.

Of course, as with anything good muscle building programs; you will add a decent amount of lean muscle to your frame and you will get strong with Visual Impact. But that’s not the end goal of this program.

Most programs out there promises to get you big. They promise you 40 lbs. of muscle in 6 months. Or 2 inches on your arms in 30 days. Or 100 lbs. to your bench press max in 6 weeks. And so on, and so on.

Here’s the problem with that – or challenge:

None of those programs really tells you or shows you what you will look like in 6 months. It doesn’t define the end goal – other than that you will add 150 lbs. of lean muscle in 192 days and 11 hours.

What will you look like?

– A light bulb – a massive upper body with toothpick legs.
– A skinny guy with clown pants – massive legs topped with – uh.
– A barrel – thick midsection and glutes that deadlift 400 lbs.

What will you look like?

Rusty Moore’s Visual Impact Muscle Building is almost counter-intuitive in that it less about muscle building as it is about achieving an end look. He answers the question, “what will you look like,” before he gives you the training program. That’s fundamentally different.

That is called:

Begin with the End in Mind.

I live by that statement, it is one of Dr. Covey’s most profound paradigm shifters.

Rusty has nothing against big guys but big, beefy guys are not what he thinks of as being the ideal physique. For a lack of better description, Rusty advocates a lean, Hollywood look.

Rather than the behemoths at the gym, he thinks guys should look to men like Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler, Taylor Lautner and so forth for bodies to emulate:

– Did you see Ryan Reynolds in Blade III?
– What about Robert Downey Jr. in Ironman?
– Or Brad Pitt in Troy and Fight Club?

Do you think you can get physiques like those doing squats and dead-lifts for 6 to 8 sets of 3 to 4 reps?

So that’s the backdrop.

So it’s not the “claim” putting on 30 lbs. of muscle.

So it’s the “claim” of achieving a look that is like these Hollywood guys.

Visual Impact Muscle Building

The program consists of 3 phases that is built around the concept of how muscle grows. Essentially, Rusty looks at muscular growth via increase in the fluids within the muscle cells and actual muscle fiber growth.

– Phase I – Increase muscle size
– Phase II – Increase strength
– Phase III – Increase muscle density

The entire program is meant to teach principles and instill knowledge. So that you can tweak and adjust to fit you. Most programs are the opposite. Deviate a touch and you invalidate the program and the guru can’t be held responsible. Rusty teaches you how to fish – or in this case – how to build Hollywood book. He wants you to take his principles and validate to your situation – that’s confidence.

By the way, Rusty’s not big into popular lifts like squats or dead-lifts. Those exercises build big legs, glutes and thick midsection. How many male models have 30 inches capable of leg pressing 2,000 lbs.? In fact, going against conventional wisdom, Rusty has a program in there that doesn’t directly work the legs at all – sacrilege!

But, he goes there – how many guru would tell you to skip legs?

But it kinda makes sense – even to a “squat king of all exercises” guy like me.

As a part of the program, he throws in a 227 page EBook that illustrates nearly every exercise known to man, or woman. Exercise has contracted position and extension position plus description of movement. Nice little manual, especially for beginners.

And a training chart. Basic stuff here.

One thing, though, that he does do different is his follow-up emails after you get the program. He sends out about 6 or so special reports that tweak the program and provides more options.

But no selling. No follow-up sales, buy this, buy that. I hate that about other Internet programs. I bought this one course for $77. The basic price was 77 bucks. So I clicked on it and headed to checkout. But wait. Up-grage now and you get 5 extra books and 4 more training routines for another 52 bucks. But wait, pay another 41 bucks for the premium membership. But wait – get it all for 156. Somebody shoot me. And there’s more.

After I got the program, he spammed me about every 3 days hawking someone’s program. Really irritating. If he’s was so damn good, why was he selling another guru’s program.

No so with Rusty, no premium course, no up-charge, just a flat 47 bucks for everything. And no spammy emails hawking more stuff afterwards. Just some special reports and then – that’s that. I like it or I liked it.

Ultimately, I urge everyone to do their research and decide what’s right for them. I stated up front who I thought would not benefit. Who would benefit:

1. Someone who had been in shape before and looking to get back in the groove.
2. Not interested in becoming a bodybuilder but want a program that prioritizes the “hard” look.
3. A little (or lot) overweight – smooth – and need guidance on how to get lean without the crazy dieting.
4. Want to understand the science behind muscle building and set/rep scheme functionality.
5. Got about 6 to 7 months to get in pretty, darn good condition.

My only concerns are:

1. Rusty doesn’t really differentiate that much between rank beginners and those who kinda know what they’re doing. This is a program that easily lends itself to overtraining. We’re talking about 39 plus sets per workout in phase I. That’s a lot. And some HIIT afterwards!

2. He says you can modify for home training. Maybe during phase I. Phase II and III are gym workouts. Really, the whole thing is a gym program. I have Bodylastics and that gives me a lot of versatility. Barring that, you’d have issues.

3. I don’t know, I still like squatting. You do squat in phase I but thereafter – nada.

4. Cardio is mostly – well, make that all – HIIT. HIIT is great but also a good way to rip and pull every muscle in your lower body if you’re not careful. I like “slow” steady cardio myself.

But, again, you need to make your own decisions and do your research. A good place to start is over at Rusty website for Visual Impact Muscle Building which you can get to by clicking the below link or Google either the Rusty’s name or Visual Impact Muscle Building. You’ll get a ton of reviews and opinions, etc.,