#weight lifting
47 posts
Program Review–Boss Barbell Strength Method (on a cut)
Hot on the heels of my last review , I thought I would go ahead a review this program, since I’ve now run it for two mesocycles. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Boss Barbell Strength method
Program Review–Doggcrapp Training
This is a long time coming, but I wasn’t in a place to write about it until now, so here goes. Last year for almost the entire year I ran DC full time. I was coming back from an injury, and I decided
Wisdom from a Master
This week, I got the opportunity to get a training session from the current all-federation raw World Record holder in the 242lb weight class, Dan Green . The session was hugely enlightening, and after
Can CrossFit improve aerobic fitness and body composition?–Strength and Conditioning Research
This is an excellent study on CrossFit. The only thing I really dislike about it is that they confounded the results by switching the subjects diets prior to beginning the study. Otherwise, the method
Addressing the Elephant in the Room – Pt. 2: The Elephant’s Shadow
In Part 1 of this little series, I addressed a contentious bit of speculation regarding my own personal use of steroids and what benefits TRT doses of Testosterone may or may not have had on my progre
Addressing the Elephant in the Room – Pt. 1: The Elephant Itself
In a number of places, I’ve seen people who are dismissive of someone’s progress (including my own) or minimize it with statements like ‘ Dat dere CellTech ’, which is really just a euphemism for ‘He’
“Happy Holidays, now buy my fitness/nutrition book”
If you follow any fitness or nutrition blogs, you’ve probably seen this kind of message posted. You may have even been unlucky enough to get an email or twelve from some fitness person hawking whateve
Have Some Standards!! « Bodyweight Strength Training « Beast Skills
Excellent article on why you need to hold yourself to correct form and depth standards while lifting. Have Some Standards!! « Bodyweight Strength Training « Beast Skills
Skeletal Muscle Protein Metabolism and Resistance Exercise
This is an excellent study showing the benefits of BCAA supplementation, especially for those of us who train fasted. Includes some surprising conclusions, like BCAA supplementation alone (without exe
Are Deep Squats Bad for your Knees? | Exercise Biology
Here’s a pretty good article talking about both sides of the ‘deep squat’ debate that’s worth a read, especially as a counterpoint to my post on the subject. The one thing he doesn’t bring up that I b
There’s No Such Thing As ‘Cardio’
This is an awesome tl;dr on a study released by the author that shows something anyone who has performed a widowmaker already knows: Anaerobic resistance training builds cardiovascular fitness just as
An Observation about Laziness
For those of you not following my training on Fitocracy , towards the end of last week, I finally broke the crappy Chinese-made Olympic bar that came with my 500-lb. weight set. Sounds awesome to say
The Math of Recovery [Excerpt] • Myosynthesis
The Math of Recovery [Excerpt] • Myosynthesis Great book excerpt by Matt Perryman on models of recovery. I sure wish he would go ahead and finish the book and release it, I'd be first in line to
Rehab workout regimen
So, as I mentioned previously, I’m doing a modified version of Madcow’s with machines until I am cleared to lift like a big boy again. Well, I expected to actually be on this for up to a year, but thi
Final Gym Review–NET Fitness
So, after checking out Gold’s Gym and Muscle House Gym , I decided to try out the gym that I was originally thinking of just skipping: NET Fitness . The reason I was thinking of passing on it was kind
Gym Review–Muscle House Gym
Continuing from the previous review of Gold’s, the next Gym I checked out was Muscle House Gym , near downtown Gilroy. Muscle House is pretty much diametrically opposed to Gold’s. Where Gold’s is your
Gym Review – Gold’s Gym
Well, the first week of trying out commercial gyms here in Gilroy is done, and after spending a week lifting in Gold’s, I have a few things to say about it. First and foremost, the signup process for
Injury Update, First Track Run in the GT500, Other Random Stuff
Well, this week was the first week I was allowed to do ‘limited training’, which basically means nothing that loads my cervical spine. Since I am really concerned about breaking the instrumentation (s
Which is Better for Increasing Strength: 1, 4 or 8 Sets Per Exercise?
Interesting research review that examines a study that not only tracked strength differences but also mass differences on identical regimens of squats (only differing in sets performed) with three gro
Four Rookie Lifting Mistakes, and a Simple Guide to Success
This is an article that’s been floating around in my head for over a year now, as I’ve seen people , over and over, despair over their inability to have any major success at lifting. In some cases, th
Fitocracy Member Spotlight: cabichandani – Fitocracy Blog
Congrats to one of my buds on Fitocracy and Dailyburn, Cabichandani, on his much deserved member spotlight. Fitocracy Member Spotlight: cabichandani – Fitocracy Blog
Injury Update: Now with more MRIs!
Take heed, boys and girls, here there be some foul language. Turn back if you offend easily. Well, now it's settled: I've officially fucked myself up good and proper. As I told my office m
ChAoS & PAIN: I Am Not A Superhero #2
As usual, a little crass, but a good point that needs to be made to legions of people, and not just about lifting weights. ChAoS & PAIN: I Am Not A Superhero #2
Cholesterol adds more muscle gain to old people who train
Now, I'm not sure you should read too much into this (old folk, correlation != causation, etc.), but this study does make me think twice about the advice of some very large guys (like Jamie Lewi
Mouthpiece Could Ease Stress, Hasten Recovery in Athletes | Playbook | Wired.com
Interesting article on a study that showed mouthguards reduce cortisol, if for no other reason that the cited study used squats as the exercise of choice. Mouthpiece Could Ease Stress, Hasten Recovery
Injury Update
Well, today marks the day I went to visit a new doc for ART therapy to try and resolve this injury . I went to Premier Spine and Sport , and met with Dr. Brink , who also happens to be the doctor for
What an Intermittent Fasting Diet Looks Like: A Visual Guide
Many times on Fitocracy I see threads where people are discussing dieting, and one of the common themes I see is incredulity that it’s hard to eat enough food while ‘cutting’ (dieting to lose fat). Ot
General Summary of Changes to Diet, Exercise, and Supplement Intake
NOTE: As an addendum to my progress post , I am still keeping a running tally of changes I make to my training, diet, and supplementation in order to trace back the effects further down the road. This
Fitocracy–A Candid Review
I’ve been using Fitocracy for several months now, and I felt it was finally time to post up a review, along with some suggestions. While I’m not sure Dick and Co. will be particularly interested in wh
The Geek Test
After reading Are You Geeky Enough to be a Weightlifter by Nick Horton , I just knew I could beat his score on The Geek Test . After all, I’m a Networking geek, have limited social skills, spent most
Influence of squatting depth on jumping performance. | The Spartan Warrior
Apropos of my article on the subject, this is a good summary of a study that shows the carryover that occurs when squatting deep: Influence of squatting depth on jumping performance. | The Spartan War
ChAoS & PAIN: Go Fucking Feral #2- A Shutthefuckup Salad With A Side of Extra Rants
A little more militant and crass than I would have put it, but pretty much dead on I think: ChAoS & PAIN: Go Feral Pt. 2 Be warned, this site is NSFW!
Little Victory for the Day
When you are injured , you have to take training victories where you can get them, so here’s my victory for the day: ";" alt=""> Widowmaker – 275×20 at 215 lb bodyweight A
The Result of a Failed Bulk
Well, the results of my month-long bulk in Pensacola are in, and they are not pretty. However, if you’ve been following along, you know that things didn’t exactly go as planned. First and foremost, th
Why raw, deep squats may be the best way to prevent injury
After watching me squat, a number of people have mentioned that I was “going to get hurt” or said that I was tempting fate due to the fact that I squat as deeply as my body possibly can and do so with
Lifting in Pensacola…
Well, since today marks the first day I’ve lifted since tearing my trap almost two weeks ago, and the first time I’ve ever lifted in a commercial gym, I felt the need to wax poetic about it for a bit.
Why half squat?
Awesome article on why you should squat like your body is intended to: All the way down. Why half squat? via reddit.com
A month long semi-bulk coming up…
Well, it’s official: I’ll be flying out to sunny Pensacola, Florida tomorrow afternoon for a month of work with the Navy, and that means the cut is over…at least for the time being. I’ve learned from
24 Months of Working Out – Detailed Progress, History, and Timeline
Basic Before and After Shots The Ubiquitous "New Body, Old Pants" Pic 24 Month Slideshow Jump to: Exercise Program Diet Conclusion and Results Timeline In the Beginning… Starting this out,
Ever wonder what the effect of physical activity late in life is?
A new study published in The Physician and Sports Medicine has a very useful set of MRIs that should open your eyes:
The best assessment of the scientific data on Creatine you are likely to ever see…
I’m in awe of the clarity of this analysis, and it shows just how clear the data is on the positive effects of one of the few proven supplements. http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/#main_rubric
Fittit thread about pelvic tilt that should be required reading for anyone who has back pain or sits all day…
This is probably the hand’s down best explanation and prescription for examining and correcting both anterior and posterior pelvic tilt I’ve come across. Well worth the read. http://www.reddit.com/r/F
What Crossfit is and isn’t…
This is a good article I found on /r/weightroom that addresses what Crossfit actually is. Worth the read for anyone considering (or currently doing) Crossfit. http://impact-pt.com/fitness/what-crossfi
Why Training Hard, Rather Than Smart, Will Keep You Fat This New Year. | RippedBody.jp
Great article and a good read for anyone looking to begin a fitness program this year. Remember, you can't out exercise a shitty diet… Why Training Hard, Rather Than Smart, Will Keep You F
Barbell Training is Big Medicine
An awesome article by an MD on why strength training is an enormously healthful and far reaching form of exercise: http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/barbell_training_is_big_medicine
6 Month workout progress
6 Month workout progress This week marks the end of 6 months of working out after a ~10 year hiatus. I started out with the goal of getting as big and strong as possible in 6 months. I didn’t really c