A recent study by the Exercise Physiology Department at the University of Wisconsin uncovered some startling facts about what was once believed to be nothing more than a sugary urban legend.

After receiving a $550 million dollar government grant the research team led by Dr. David Sticky, PHD and Dr. Sara Sweet, PHD began clinical trials on Tuesday that included two double blind, placebo controlled studies.

According to Dr. Sweet, “So far the trials have added support to the hypothesis that it takes more than 100 actual licks to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.”

The original studies performed at UCLA involved only 20 patients but was later discredited after further testing revealed that 5 or the 20 test subjects were taking anabolic steroids to enhance their licking ability.

This latest study involved a multi-centric double blind, placebo controlled, and randomized Tootsie Pop administration that aims to objectively assess the scientific communities ability to actually run a credible study.

“If we screw this one up not only will the credibility of the entire scientific community be at risk but more importently we may never have the answer to how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop… an answer we simply must have.”  Says Sticky and Sweet.

Tom Terwilliger

PS. Happy April Fools Day… in advance.

Below is an email I received early this morning and my answer to their question.  I have also included one of my most favorite workout routines for everyone to enjoy. 

All I ask is that you leave a comment and tell me your response/results from using this program.

Hello Mr Tom Terwilliger.

I am from norway and is 48 years old. I remember you from the muscle & fitness. I always thougt you had a vere good physique.

I wonder if you could give me some general advice about training. I have trained on and off for many years and have always trained heavy(5 to 8 reps).  My shoulders and knees are now starting to ache the day after a heavy session.

Is it OK to train lighter with more reps and shorter rest? I want to continue building muscle. Should I train intensive(to failure?)

Hope you have the time to give me some general advice.

Thanks, per gunnar olsen, Norway 

Gunnar, Great to hear from you and I appreciate the compliment about my physique back in the day!

You ask a very good question.  First, let me first say I am going to be turning 50 in January so I know exactly what you mean about the post workout aches and pains, in fact they’re more like pre-during and post-workout pains now.  But I still train extremely hard and are glad to hear that you are as well, why da hell not?!

I credit my longevity success to variety in my training.  One half of the year I train with moderate weight and higher reps 20, 15, 10 generally using either super or giant sets (combing 2-3 exercises back to back). And one fourth of the year is spent training very heavy with reps as low as 2-4.  The final quarter, I go extremely light with very high reps (100) to strengthen connective tissue and shock the muscle big time.

As for intensity, keep it high but listen to the feedback from your body, it will tell you if you need rest of if yoiu need to back off a bit.  I also mix up the routines every 8-12 weeks so that my joints aren’t constantly bombarded from the same angle and movement.  Mixing things up also keeps my body responding to the exercise rather than getting stale through adaptation.

My recommendation would be to take a week off from your current training to allow your body to heal and recover then start back with something completely different than what you have been used to.  I have attached a copy of the 100’s routine I have been staggering into my regiment for years.  Try it.  Either you will love or absolutley hate it.

You may also want to include some glutamine and some live greens with your post workout drink for added recover.  And you should be taking a joint formula with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Also check out my new personal development program THE LEAP.  One of the components goes deep into developing “Body Rapport” and I believe you would benefit from it.  Either way give me a shout again when you are 60 and we’ll talk more about aches and pains.

Good luck Gunner!

Tom Terwilliger’s 100’s Routine