The classic model of fatigue focused entirely on the body: muscle depletion, lactic acid accumulation, and declining performance. According to this outdated view, the athletes who could push through their “poisoned” muscles were the most successful. But over time, this peripheral fatigue model has been challenged. After all, muscles always have some reserve capacity. Clearly,…
Most strength programs marketed for self-defense are nothing more than conditioning routines disguised as strength training. They often feature circuit-style workouts with a random mix of weighted self-defense movements. Not only is this ineffective, but it also increases the risk of overuse injuries. A better approach is to focus on developing strength in the weight…
Q: I like to work a different body part every day. Do you have a good routine to beef up my back? A: The following routine targets the back from multiple angles using various movement planes, grips, training implements, and loading parameters. You’ll start with five sets on the first exercise and gradually work down…
What happens when guys train with other guys? Often, the weight starts to pile on the bar, and form gets thrown out the window! “It’s all you, Bro. I’m barely touching it!” says your training partner while he deadlifts the bar off your chest. Out of a set of ten on the bench press, you…
I just got back from a 10-day vacation in Florida, where I managed to train six times—twice at a gym, twice in our condo (check out the photo of me doing “piggyback” split squats with my son on Twitter), and twice at a beach workout area in Fort Lauderdale. But the most memorable training session…
If someone watches you while you train, your performance will improve. This is known as the Hawthorne effect (also referred to as the observer effect), and it’s one of the key benefits of personal training. The Science Behind Supervised Training A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise examined the impact of…
Most people associate the hack squat with a sled machine, but this exercise was originally performed with a barbell. Named after old-time strongman and champion wrestler George “The Russian Lion” Hackenschmidt, the movement resembles a deadlift more than a squat. However, unlike a deadlift, the hack squat primarily targets the quadriceps rather than the posterior…
I know, you’ve heard it before: “You can build muscle and lose fat, and all it takes is 20 minutes a week!” There’s probably an infomercial airing right now making the same claim. But the program I’m about to reveal actually delivers. Here it is—don’t blink because it’ll go by fast… Loading parameters: 1 set,…
As I put this plan into action, I quickly realized that some workouts stretched beyond 90 minutes, with one even hitting the 2-hour mark. To prevent excessive muscle breakdown, I supplemented with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and glutamine, which significantly reduced post-workout soreness. To support recovery and muscle growth, I increased my calories, mainly through…
In early August 2010, my wife and I took the kids to the cottage for a week. Just before the trip, I put my How to Get Lean in One Week plan into action, intentionally overtraining for six straight days to induce a supercompensation effect. The idea was simple: push my body hard, then let…