strength

For a lot of gymgoers, one of the most important and necessary goals is getting stronger. Many take their first step toward achieving this objective by wrapping their hands around a barbell and lifting heavy weight — around or above 85% of your one-rep max — for low reps, and higher. Oftentimes...

Andy, just, WHY??? Great question. I’ve explained these challenges before as a good way to ward off any boredom/monotony of daily training for the past 30-plus years. You may have read/heard me discuss my philosophy that the three most influential factors in your training progress are...

Louie Simmons, the powerlifter and strength coach who will be forever remembered for developing the “Westside Conjugate” training method, passed away at the age of 74 on Thursday, according to Westside Barbell’s official Instagram account. Simmons had been a powerlifter since his 20s, and was a...

Mistakes are a part of life — it’s how you learn. Keep on making the same mistake over and over, however, is something to take notice of and make a priority to fix whatever your setback may be. You’re better than that, and when you know more and know better, better things start to happen —...

The strict overhead press is the gold standard when it comes to overhead pressing. Using nothing more than your upper body you press a barbell strictly overhead with no help from your lower body. There’s no doubt strict overhead press is a fantastic exercise for strength and mass and requires...

To get better at the deadlift, you need to deadlift more because sometimes it pays to state the obvious. But lifting hard and heavy all the time in a bilateral stance is tough on the body and also weak points like lockout strength and strength imbalances between sides can creep up on you. That’s...

The Question Even the best training programs can stall out and get boring. And if you're mentally checked out, it's definitely time to "shock" the system. What's your favorite way to do it? "Do less, not more." -Mark Dugdale – IFBB Pro Bodybuilder When bodybuilders lose motivation they often...

Progressive strength training as good as it is for you, can be tough on your joints. There will be times when your squats, deadlift, or lunges, and your knees will flip you the bird. You ignore this at first until it happens again. Then again and again. Well, you get the picture. Working around...

Some lifters go into full panic mode when every flat bench is occupied on Bench Press Monday. However, the savvy lifter never worries because there is plenty of space on the floor. Because there’s no reason to fret or lose your temper when you’ve got the best press you’re not doing, the barbell...

I get this question a lot: Is there a difference between abs and core training? And the quick answer is yes! A better answer, however, would be, Yes, but … Technically, the abdominals are part of the larger “core” group of muscles. Most folks consider the abs to be the small muscles in the...

Lifters who just focus on the big bilateral lifts of the squat, press, and deadlift family will get strong but can develop muscle imbalances. The body will always resort to plan B to finish the lift, and this is not always good. Having a strength imbalance by itself is not a huge deal. But over...

For years, I’ve been posting some crazy challenges for a group of friends I used to train with. Now, I do these to fight the tedium that threatens our fitness lifestyle. No matter your dedication or fitness level, sometimes we all know that no matter where you train, it can get a bit...

The single-arm row is often thought of as the poor cousin of bilateral rows. Then the Meadows row came along. This row variation allows you to go hard and heavy without being inhibited by big and bulky dumbbells. The late John Meadows, a former IFBB bodybuilder and head coach of Mountain Dog...

For years, I’ve been posting some crazy challenges for a group of friends I used to train with in Los Angeles in order to keep each other motivated. These days, it’s more to fight the tedium that threatens our fitness lifestyle. For more than three decades I’ve worked out at least once a day...

Some lifters look at the TRX and think, “How is the TRX going to get me stronger?” The biggest disadvantage of the TRX is after a certain point, it will not get you any stronger because it’s all about bodyweight and leverage. And for this reason, is not a great tool for absolute strength. But...

In 1997, Randy Hetrick created his first version of the TRX out of a Jiu-Jitsu belt and parachute webbing. Even when bullets were whizzing past his ears, he wanted to stay in tip-top shape. Now TRX training is a worldwide phenomenon that’s common in gyms and homes everywhere and not just the...

The goal of retaining lean muscle mass and strength should not be limited to avid gym gurus. While exercise enthusiasts may be motivated by appearance and physique, everyone should be interested in retaining muscle mass as a means of preserving long term health. Research increasingly shows that...

The musculature of the back, when developed correctly, can give off the look of real, true strength. Wide, flaring lats, coiled and detailed rhomboids and teres muscles send the message of a true warrior in the gym. To get this wide look is a no-brainer – you have to perform some sort of pull...

Strength Training vs. Muscle Building for the Beginning Lifter During the initial stages of training, there is very little difference between working out to build strength and working out to build muscle. Both goals will require a substantial addition of strength for key compound exercises such...

You’ve probably had an older friend or relative tell you that after you hit your late thirties, everything goes downhill. They moan about the aches and pains, lack of energy, and the middle-aged spread. They probably remind you that it’s common knowledge that we gain fat, lose muscle mass, and...