For volume training with intermediate and advanced athletes, legendary strength and conditioning coach Al Vermeil recommends wave-like loading when performing squats and presses. Too much high-volume, low-intensity work can detrain the nervous system over time. This scheme works well to counter that effect: Wave 1set 1: 8-10 repsset 2: 4-6 reps Wave 2set 3: 8-10…
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure The best way to deal with an injury is to prevent one from happening in the first place. Here are some suggestions to help keep you injury-free in the gym: The same logic applies to performing your favorite exercises every program… you know, the ones…
Diet and exercise are the keys to body weight management. If the scale and your waistline have been “unmanaged” for a while, try this two-week fix to get back on track. It will kickstart your system into fat-burning mode—and dare I say, help you shed a few pounds along the way. It’s a simple system:…
The reverse bench press isn’t talked about often, and I must admit, I don’t prescribe it frequently either. But when done correctly, it can be a great triceps exercise. The biggest drawback? Comfort—or lack thereof. The movement isn’t exactly wrist-friendly, especially under heavy loads. However, there’s a simple way to make it work using a…
Q: What’s the deal with testosterone? I just got the results of some recent blood work, and all my testosterone levels (total, free, and bioavailable) are low. Do you think I’m experiencing pregnenolone steal that everyone’s talking about these days? Should I push the doc for medication? I don’t want this to affect my training!…
Performing bent-knee deadlifts from a deficit with a wide grip forces you to pull from a deeper starting position, increasing knee flexion and overall range of motion (ROM). Stand on a 4-inch box, step, or three stacked weight plates, and take a wide grip—often called a snatch grip. To determine the correct width, raise your…
A popular bodybuilding technique is the 21-rep system, or simply “21s.” To give you a glimpse of how it works, here’s an excerpt from Robert Kennedy’s book Reps!: This is a method which was popular on the West Coast bodybuilding scene in the fifties and sixties. Let’s use the barbell curl as an example. Begin…
The pectoralis minor is a thin, flat muscle that lies beneath the larger pectoralis major. It runs laterally and upward, originating from the sternal ends of the third to fifth ribs and inserting onto the coracoid process of the scapula. This muscle pulls the scapula forward and downward and assists in forceful inhalation by raising…
Unless a planned layoff follows a training cycle, you should always taper in the final workout by performing 30–50% fewer sets than the previous session. If done correctly, even with half the sets, the total workload won’t drop much (if at all). However, selecting the right load is crucial—it’s as much an art as it…
Start with a low step beside you and use only your bodyweight at first. As your strength and stability improve, you can progress to holding a pair of dumbbells. Keep your hips level throughout the movement. If the step is too high, maintaining this position will be difficult. A common mistake is pushing off with…