I get emails all the time from T-Nation readers who want to know why I don't write programs for the masses. About the only answer I can muster up is: "Because I have a conscience."
Today, Dave discusses something called "the breakthrough factor," how he'd approach bodybuilding today, and a very intriguing training idea: the private warehouse gym. Let's get to it!
As I sit here pondering the recently concluded Staley Training Summit, I'm left wondering - as I often do - how far overboard I went with my whirlwind lecture on diet and recovery.
Well, maybe you’ve tried some of them. But maybe not. Check out the list and challenge yourself.
In Part One of my "no curls" arm specialization training series, I talked about the absurdity of most arm specialization routines. I proposed that most trainees do more than enough biceps curls and triceps press downs and don't really need more of either of them.
If you want to build huge muscles, you must continually challenge them by placing a greater demand upon them. If you stick with the same stress level month after month, you'll quickly reach a point where your body is used to the stress and won't need to adapt (i.e. grow) anymore.
If you've been around weight training for any length of time, you've probably read or tried an arm specialization routine. There are a bunch of these around with different cool names for what amounts to the same old shit: do a bunch of arm exercises. Yeah, the exercises change and the sets and reps change, but it still amounts to just doing more arm work.
An uncensored interview with a martial arts champion turned performance coach.
One of my favorite books is A Book Of Five Rings by Miyomato Musashi. Musashi was a badass 17th century Japanese swordsman who never lost a duel in over sixty fights. This book outlines his philosophy of success. I re-read it recently and was amazed by how many of his principles apply to a variety of areas in life, including productive strength training.
Welcome, my friends, to grocery shopping with T-Nation.
How one of our top coaches programs exercises, sets and reps, progressions and more. Check it out.
T Nation talks to model and figure competitor Jelena Abbou. Check it out.
I'll freely admit it. I've been extremely reluctant to sit down and write this article. Why? Well, the reasons are numerous, but it basically boils down to the pertinacity of the exercise community.
You lift hard but the gains just aren’t coming. Here's what's happening and how to finally pack on muscle.
Despite years of anti-fat sentiment, it's becoming clear that the right kinds of fats can make you healthier, smarter, more muscular, and leaner.
A regular Joe uses steroids and keeps a diary. Controversy ensues.
Many lifters and coaches grasp the big picture when they read about the movements I prescribe for strength development, but they often miss the finer points. I've written this "Toolbox" series to help these experienced lifters fill in the blanks. It'll also help newer lifters learn about some very effective exercises.
An interview with Dr. Jack Singer, Sports Psychologist
The three-step plan for setting up for a bench press PR.
To get stronger, a lifter must discover his weak points, then work to bring them up. These exercises will help.
It's the sound you never want to hear when weight training. Sometimes you feel it immediately; sometimes you sense something happen but it takes a few hours for the full impact to hit you. Either way you've injured your back. The big question is, what do you do?
"Are you kidding, JB? You expect me to eat this stuff? Where's the taste? Where's the variety!?"
Thirteen interesting exercises you've probably never tried: new movements that'll break you out of your training rut and infuse some diversity into your workouts.
Gary Homann isn't your garden variety weightlifter. Sure, he's 180 pounds at 6% body fat. Sure, he had the best 500 meter indoor rowing time in the world last year in his class and he's been an ACSM certified health and fitness instructor for the past nine years. But Gary's also got a Master's degree in applied health psychology and is currently working on finishing his Ph.D. in psychology.
