My body is on the mend since my knee surgery and blood clot last March, 2021. My knee is not 100% and as we get older, if you have had an injury or a surgery, I believe it is safer to DOUBLE the length of "recovery time" to ensure you don't rush through the full healing process. I'd say one of the biggest influences towards people's injuries is trying to impress others by posting their best on Instagram ALL the time. You only have so many 1 rep maxes in your pocket before you injure … [Read more...]
Men’s Strength Training in Your 40s: It Never Gets Easier
It was a Sunday evening and I was exhausted. I spent the weekend catching up on some much need R&R and luckily, the crappy weather allowed me to do so. It had been raining non stop since Friday afternoon. After some shopping and family time, I planned on sitting down on the couch, something I rarely do, kicking up my legs and resting. But, my daughter wanted to go to the gym. Deep down I wanted to encourage her to rest, but my wife encouraged me to go with her. I knew the toughest part of … [Read more...]
Training Tips for When You’re Short on Time but NOT Short on Excuses
If you would have told me 20 years ago that in my 40s I'd be busier than ever, I'd say NO WAY! The fact of the matter is, I AM busier than ever and if you're an adult with a family, then you likely are in the same shoes. I run 2 gyms, train 100-200 athletes every day and most importantly, have 2 kids. I find a way to get my training in so it does not interfere with family time. I train early in the morning or right after taking kids to school. Sometimes, I have 20 minutes. It reminds me … [Read more...]
1967 Mental Toughness Tips from Golden Era Bodybuilding
It's amazing that even in a 1967 Golden Era Bodybuilding Magazine (Muscle Builder) that people were talking about "This generation has gotten soft". This article was called Mom-ism May be the Reason Why You are NOT a Champion. As a parent myself, it is a reminder that the easy life and giving your kids everything you didn't have is NOT helping our kids. In fact, it only hurts them. This is also why I HATE when people send me gifts. Call me crazy but I want to EARN it. I want to BUY it. … [Read more...]
4 Tips on How to Build Strength Endurance aka “Performance Muscles”
Strength Endurance or as my friend, Marty Gallagher calls it, Sustained Strength. STRENGTH ENDURANCE - This is simply strength that keeps on keeping on. Strength that ENDURES. Not just physically, but also Mentally. This is a crucial "special strength" that is beneficial to many athletes and adults as well. Just a few sports & careers: - Lacrosse - Football - Wrestling - BJJ - MMA - Military - Law Enforcement - Hunting Tip # 1: To acquire Strength … [Read more...]
Iron Memories & Lessons Learned From Gyms & Weight Rooms
I've been going back to my favorite books and magazines a lot lately, the stuff I grew up on from the late 80s and early 90s (Arnold's Books) along with the stuff I missed out on (The Strength Magazines of the 70s and prior). Man, that information was and still is awe-inspiring, I am saving it all with hopes that my son takes to it as I did, the memories of staying up way past midnight to read the old books, the stories told, the black & white photos and magazines is something kids today … [Read more...]
Training When You Don’t Feel Like It?
What do you do when your body and mind don't meet at the half way point and agree on training? Deep down, it's likely a planned training day. You coincidentally came across a handful of articles, warning you against the dangers of over training, adrenal burn out, listening to your body and the importance of rest. You are now armed with ammo for a good excuse to skip that workout. But, deep down in your gut, in your heart and soul, you KNOW you should train. You KNOW your mind is pussing out … [Read more...]
Gladiator Garage Gym Workouts
It was The Fall of 2002, and I had drawn the line...... I was up to my neck in work as a grad student plus working full time as a teacher. I was also coaching Wrestling and the season was a few short weeks away. My time was pressed to say the least. Sunday mornings I would wake up and work on research papers from 10 AM until 10 PM. It was the first time in 7 or 8 years that I was unable to make the trek to my favorite hardcore gym, Diamond Gym. I was too busy to drive 30 minutes each way, … [Read more...]
Ricky Bruch Cranks the Power Bodybuilding
WOW! Lots of emotion heated up from yesterday's video with Ricky Bruch. But, even though some disagreed with what may have been Ricky Burch's past (who can say for fact what he did or did not do and deep down who gives a shit), let's look at what we can learn from his videos. That's how I like to view things: How can I LEARN from X, Y, Z, rather than finding the negative. There is enough negativity on the internet, I ask you to please not bring it here. This light of trying to learn and … [Read more...]
The Underground Bodybuilder Workout, Part II
Amazing strength and muscle can be developed in a garage, basement or in your own lil' corner of that fancy commercial gym. Check out some workout footage from http://UndergroundMuscleBuilding.com This program would be SICK if you and a few other iron lover friends jumped in on the program TOGETHER, this is when the training can get REALLY intense, just as Arnold did when he was training and competing in Gold's Venice, he always sought out the best training partners. If you want a blue … [Read more...]