I hope your training is kicking ass! I gotta tell you, my training is going great. The knee is feeling better and my energy is sky high. Even when The Underground Strength Gym has temps of 90 or 94 degrees, I am energized when I train. I am confused how the kids of today are so tired after training or doing little things like mowing the lawn. Strength is invigorating! Now that August is upon us, it reminds me how the Summer was always a GREAT time to train. I would ride my … [Read more...]
Inside Mike Mentzer’s Heavy Duty Book & Training Methods
I came across Mike Mentzer's training methods as a kid. In fact, if memory serves me properly, I began reading about Mike Mentzer around age 11. You see, I would read my older brother's bodybuilding books and magazines for 2 years before I actually began training. I began training in June of 1989 but leading up to that point, I would dabble in lifting the weights my brother had in his room. It was strange to me that I would lift weights for 2 or 3 weeks and then quit. I thought something was … [Read more...]
Gladiator Bodybuiliding of the 60s & 70s
The Golden Era of Bodybuilding (the 70s) brought on the high volume approach to training. Before this, many of these men trained 3 x week with a full body workout, which is STILL a GREAT program. Men like Steve Reeves built amazing physiques that are still the highest standard for today. Many bodybuilders followed Arnold's lead of 2 workouts a day with the entire body being split across 3 workouts. Arnold changed the scene of bodybuilding not just with his physique, but his charisma. He … [Read more...]
Black Friday Sale
The Black Friday Sale Starts NOW...... MOST Courses are Discounted Over 50% for the next few days. Get After it & Gift Yourself. Yes, that's right. Do NOT feel Guilty for Taking care of Yourself / Investing in Yourself. A Stronger YOU is a Better YOU for Everyone in your Life. NOTE: Discounts are ALL Shown on the Check Out Page. The Gladiator Project $37 $17 ________________ The Russian Lion $37 $17 ________________ The Underground Strength & Sports … [Read more...]
Those Golden Era Bodybuilding Days!
I'm not even sure I can write anything that will speak louder than this training video of Craig Monson, below. When I see these videos, I sometimes think I was born in the wrong era. The Golden Era of Bodybuilding was beyond different, you can literally FEEL the energy exploding out of these videos. Powerlifting in the 70s & 80s? The purity of hardcore gyms that were legitimately "hardcore" - there's not too many of those gyms around anymore. The word is, You can't survive being … [Read more...]
Zach’s 40th Birthday Sale!
Pic above is with my Grandfather & I, 1976, when we first moved to America. Statue of Liberty in the back. I was 1 year old. _______________ The day has come way TOO fast. Today I am 40 years young but it seems like yesterday I was 6 years old riding my big wheel with my buddies and smashing into garbage cans. Some of my athletes who are in college will quickly go from 20 to 40 and I'll be 60. This journey called Life goes FAST. I ain't got time to be weak or half ass this journey and … [Read more...]
QnA: Building Muscle, Weightlifting Belts, Burning Fat & Police Academy Training
In this Video QnA I answer a loaded question on the following topics: - Training around a manual labor job - Weightlifting Belts (Also addressed HERE) - Back Injuries (Also addressed HERE) - Eating to Get Lean & Build Muscle As a Vegetarian - Building Muscle Through My Training Programs (Gladiator Project & Underground Strength System) - Training for Police Academy Check out this loaded QnA Below.... … [Read more...]
STRONG Life Ep. 51: Viking Manhood Lessons & My Thoughts
In a previous blog post someone mentioned that I MUST read the article by Chad Howse on 'Viking Manhood Lessons'. When I followed the link and read through the article I was fired up. I loved it. It inspired me to lift heavy shit and crush my workout that day. I was inspired to eat more meat and veggies. I was inspired! That's what I do. I find inspiration through many things. I find the good in things, the lessons and ways to improve from what comes across my eyes. Then.... I came across … [Read more...]
The TRUTH About Getting Jacked & Why The Iron NEVER Lies
Over 10 years later, I am still shocked with how strong I got and how much muscle I packed on when I trained in my parents garage. I bought a 300 lb weight set from CostCo, had a pair of 50 and 100 lb dumbbells, a flat utility bench and flimsy, cheap squat rack, aka a gun rack. Let me further explain.... ALL Truth.... … [Read more...]
The MOST Important Thing To Do In The Gym
The three of us were driving up The Garden State Parkway heading Northbound. It was a cold, dreary winter day in NJ. It was early 1995 and winter was in full swing. I was driving, as always, since my training partners had no money OR no car, typical of aspiring pro bodybuilders, yes? My 2 training partners sat quietly in my Mazda 626. I had a special sound system installed specifically to get me amped up for the gym. In fact, everything in my life revolved around the gym. How … [Read more...]