training

Other than taking too many selfies, many gym-goers are guilty of another lifting sacrilege: lying to themselves. The problem may be that you don’t know you’re actually lying to yourself. Much like the infamous words spoken by George Costanza, “…just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it.”...

It is often the case that when someone discovers the gym for the first time and really gets into training they will work out for hours upon end hitting the same body part 3-4 times per week, training 7 days a week. This article will explore the reasons behind over training, it’s easy to be told...

As a strength coach who works with high level athletes and an educator who trains the trainers - I'm always being asked what I think is the biggest mistake trainers, athletes and exercise enthusiasts make in the gym. My answer is always "most don't train the CNS". You see - there are actually...

When you think about building muscle, what types of training come to mind? High volume, high frequency training? Drop sets, extended sets, timed sets? Extended range of motion exercises? Or intra-set stretching? Once you have a base of strength, these methods all work extraordinarily well...

Have you been a regular at the gym for at least six months and haven’t made any real gains in size, strength, or performance? It could be your workout program preventing you from achieving your best results. Read on to see if it’s time to give your training routine the axe. 1. Your Workout Has...

Chest day. It’s the most popular training day of the week. Most trainers schedule chest for Mondays, because they want to start their week off with a muscle group they like training. For men, having a large and powerful chest with striations can make a powerful statement. Obviously, many...

The thing about most articles on the internet that have to do with lifting weights and training hard: They have one goal in mind – always gaining, and never maintaining. It’s ambitious, and honestly, it’s something to be commended. But there’s being a hero, and there’s being realistic. Here’s...

Often, your results depend on how often you’re getting into the gym, what you’re eating outside, and how thoroughly you train. Not rocket science, I know. But for guys who’ve been in the lifting game for a while, we need to take a closer look to see continuous gains. Looking at the bigger...

If you are in your 40s and looking for ways to keep your game strong in the gym or within your field of sports, there are some important factors to consider for performing at your optimum level. Of course, if you have been inactive for some time, you simply need to get started in order to...

Muscle & Strength is proud to bring you a new series of articles that will not only educate and inform the M&S community but provide you with the opportunity to take part. Instead of simply reading this and moving on, we want you to join the discussion and inspire fellow athletes and lifters...

Training splits can be a mystery. With so many available options and possibilities, it's easy to be confused about which splits are effective, and which are poorly structured. If you've ever wondered just why and how training splits are designed, and just what some of the best training split...

The key to designing really effective short, mid, and long term resistance exercise programs is to develop a system that efficiently plans, organises and manages all of the exercise variables. Periodisation can be defined as a system for program design that plans appropriate cycles and training...

There’s a problem with being strong. It’s hard to think of any negatives associated with improving your strength. But it’s important to remember that training for one goal will always come at the expense of other goals. We’ll be the first to say: for 95% of the population, improving overall...

Over the decades, few books have stood both the test of time and the tests done in the gym. The publication rate of new books promising you the key to more muscle and less fat seems to keep up with new Starbucks openings. Which books are worth their weight (pun intended) and your hard-earned...

Contrary to what many entry level personal training weekend certification textbooks say, exercises themselves aren’t the things that should be scrutinized and contraindicated. The people who do them should be. Different skeletal builds or training needs can deem an exercise dangerous depending...

Too many people view fat loss like it is a secret VIP party that requires you to do or say the right thing to get invited. In one sense this is true. Those that are lean understand what must be done to lose fat without gimmicks or quick fixes. Fat loss is a biological process that does not need...

Everyone knows that macros are key to high-level training and getting jacked. However, micronutrients shouldn’t be overlooked because without micronutrients your training wouldn’t even get off the ground. We often think about micronutrients in disease states, and while that is true, they are...

Serious lifters need massive amounts of energy and focus to fuel their intensive workouts. Pre-workout nutrition and supplementation achieve these objectives in the most efficient manner possible. However, the pre-workout period is also a time to promote muscle growth. To experience the kind...

Speed, power and strength: Just a few of the requirements of a successful powerlifter. Form meets function in this sport of inches and it would behoove anyone to look for an edge to separate one from being a champion and not being a champion. Just like any other sport, lifters need nutritional...

There are many reasons why a person may require weight gain due to being underweight. Genetics may play a major part in keeping a person lean. Some medical conditions may alter the way food is digested or have an effect on a person’s food intake. So the first port of call for any underweight...