If your goal is to lose body fat and gain muscle, here’s a great weight training strategy. It involves sequencing your exercises in a particular manner to maximize the training effect. Let’s take a quick look at the typical loading parameters for body composition training: • Reps will range from 6 for heavy multi-joint movements…

Cueing the right muscles at the right time can be useful during strength training. Next time you deadlift, crank this song! In all seriousness, music can have a profound effect on your training. Pick the wrong song and it can compromise your performance. To understand how music can affect your performance, take a look at…

What motivates you during a workout? I mean, when you’re about to get under a bar stacked with 45’s that can staple you to the ground at any second, what do you think of? There are a few scenarios that I envision. Here’s one where I forget about technical and go “animal” instead… I’m not…

I have three days of feasting ahead of me and it all starts tonight. You can bet my workout this morning is going to be a good one! Before I train, I’ll get my Rocky IV fix and when the session begins, this will be the first song I listen to: The holidays are a…

Let’s look at the training routines of some of the top names during the golden era of bodybuilding. Each one of these champions had a strong body part. See if you can spot any similarities between the routines. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Arm Routine 1. Cheat Barbell Curl 6 x 6 2. Seated Dumbbell Curl 6…

In a recent interview, Gary Reinl, author of ICED! The Illusionary Treatment Option, discussed the importance of lymphatic drainage. As Reinl puts it, the lymphatic system is basically a draining system taking the garbage out. It’s like a garbage disposer in your sink – it takes garbage in from one end and disposes it out…

Much like writing software or music, a universal language of program design is required for strength training. Trainers need to have a consistent prescription format in order for trainees to obtain consistent results. Your program may be exceptional, but a haphazard interpretation will lead to haphazard results. To remove the variability, specific training parameters must…

Not feeling up to a workout? Do it anyway! I just had a client walk in dragging her feet. She was sluggish and not really up to train, but she mustered the energy to come in. After just a few sets, her energy and mood improved. She got her second wind and felt refreshed, revived…

In the iron world, we’ve seen muscle devices come and go over the years – sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad – but the truth is that you can always find an alternative to do the job. All it takes is a little weight room ingenuity. Here’s a sneak peak of a…