Pretty much the title. I've been lifting on and off for years and had a serious case of phuckarounditis where I keep changing up my routine every month and getting mid results. I've now just been doing whatever but dialing in on the following:

1. Diet: Making sure I get the right amount of protein and generally making healthy choices 9 times out of 10. I don't even care that much about fat/carbs mix and rather just opt for adequate protein (at least 0.8x target bodyweight), high nutrient-density food, and managing portions/calories. I intermittent fast, but mainly just to stop myself from snacking at night for no reason

2. Progressive Overload: I do whatever I want in the gym but just make sure my squat, pullup, bench, OHP, and row game is improving on a monthly-basis. 5/3/1 works well for me even though it might be "slow" for my level

3. Getting enough cardio/steps in for heart health and burning off some excess snack cals (hehe)

Other than that, I don't really focus too much on frequency, volume, etc. and have seen a lot better results these past 6 months than I did pretty much the rest of my lifting "career". For you natties, how much has programming made a difference in your gains? I feel like it's basically majoring in the minors and I've still managed to get arguably better results with less frequency/volume than what's recommended online.

Bump for evening miscers who lift

yes and no.

its more complicated. the thing is consistency, If you **** around in the gym often enough you will see results...but a very simplified routine that is well designed that allows you the most with the least amount of time and you always have time for it will vastly be superior.

for most people a simple full body workout circuit will destroy all other routines. if dialed in.

I've nailed it down to basically "4 exercises".

the best bodybuilders can do more with a 50lb dumbbell than anyone else can

Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights.

You're natty and in your 30s. The gains are done either way.

I wonder the same thing OP.

Whether someone can do a bro split with 40 sets per body part vs 12 sets per body part vs ULUL vs PPLPPL vs PPL vs whole body every day vs whole body 3x/week vs almost anything else except possibly SS, and if they keep showing up and pushing themselves a bit it all ticks the "worked out" box and then results all depend on diet, genetics and celltech.

Doesn't really matter as long as you work hard and stay consistent until you get pretty advanced.

Not really, within reason. Passion matters a lot more. That why all those “science” lifters look like sh*t

As a natty, lifting program doesn't matter. Bro split, full body PPL. If you got 2 identical twins and put one on a bro split and one on the most well designed, cutting edge and thought out program the one that would make the most gains would be the twin that has a good diet, is consistent and continually tries to improve on their lifts.

Genetics + diet + consistency + progressive overload + time = results.

Even with bad genetics you will look better than doing nothing if you stick to the above formula.

Arnie bodybuilding book was my bible in the late 80's.
I was much stronger than most of my friends as a teen and early 20's.
there was nothing special about his workout programs just consistency, increasing weight whenever possible, and eating proper foods and enough of them to feed growing muscles.
.

this
passion/consistency, progressive overload, genetics, celltech all matter
with routine type way down the list

Not really. I just do a push pull legs split. That takes like 30-40 min. Chest day I'll just do bench press. Pull I'll just do some lat pull downs, rows, maybe some pull ups, legs most of the time just squats.

My physique and strength is the exact same as when I used to do more bodybuilder style workouts that took forever to complete.

Made more gains doing whatever tf I want than ever following some program srs

I basically do PHAT, low weights/low rest times/high reps few days and high weight/low reps other days

Just make sure your workouts are hard, that's pretty much it, do more weight/reps/lower rest time than the week before

Maybe if you were bodybuilding I'd say so.

IMO the single biggest factor is mind muscle connection.

Your real objective is to get better and better at contracting your muscles.

The next thing is ROM.

The better your ROM the more fully you'll be able to develop said muscle.

I know those answers aren't "sexy" but that's my opinion

Also challenging yourself, I feel like that should go without saying.

Don't take too long of breaks, always work up a good sweat.

If I really get going I could go through probably three plus quarts of water in two hours from sweating.

You don't have to kill yourself but also know that you can't cheat yourself either.