During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
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During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :
- Gem From The Vault : A Brief History of Circuit Training and Peripheral Heart Action (PHA)
Scott Andrew Bird
How it all began. - Looking At : Sep 28, 2014
Scott Andrew Bird
What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.
Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.
Video : Squat like an ANIMAL - 500 lbs for reps 2014
How many times can you squat 500lb?
Gymchat 259 - How to Choose the Right Gym for YOU (Jaime Smith)
Whether you're just embarking on your strength-training journey, or have been lifting for years : how do you find the 'right' gym? The one that has the equipment you want, the people that can help; the one that best suits your needs?This week we'll be tackling these, and all of the underlying questions they invoke. Helping us get a handle on this critical area is Personal Trainer Jaime Smith, together with Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett. Fantastic.
NB : We love hearing from as many people as possible. Join Jaime and Josh on the Hangout, or fire in your questions via the Q&A. Full details below.
And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.
Details -
Who : Personal Trainer Jaime Smith, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : How to Choose the Right Gym for YOU
When : Monday Oct 7, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video on the main site shortly after the Gymchat.
Tip of the Week: The Stages of Workout Nutrition
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.
This tip is a brief look at the major stages of workout nutrition, and their goals. A bit of fine-tuning here can go a long way indeed.
From Gymchat 133 - Workout Nutrition :
Any meal can contribute to a workout (glycogen replenishment mostly), but generally workout nutrition is broken into three segments. The pre-workout, the intra-workout (optional dependent on goals), and the post-workout.Pre-workout is literally just a meal you eat before you hit the gym. It holds more importance than other meals (say, breakfast if you train in the PM) since the nutrients you ingest at this meal will still be floating around in your blood when it comes time for a workout.
Intra-workout is typically something you bring to the gym to sip on, and where stuff typically gets all fancy with supplementation and is the area most people like to talk about. (This includes post-workout shakes consumed immediately after training)
Post-workout is when you get home and make a nice meal. There are typically higher rates of muscular metabolism and generally more metabolic direction to muscle and away from fat mass (compared to other meals). So nutrients post workout tend to be put to better fates than other meals.
Good stuff.
Re-Watching : Enter the Dragon
Fantastic.I was lucky enough over the weekend to re-watch all of the Bruce Lee movies (as well as a couple of the more recent documentaries); with my favourite still being Enter the Dragon. Love that film.
If it's one you've never seen, definitely give it a run. Quite apart from the '70s charm, it's a superb display of Lee's incredible abilities.
Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.
Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :
Good stuff Bret, looks great.
During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Ryan goes into a bit more detail over on the Strongergrip Blog, but in short : you'll want these. Beautifully simple idea.
These will be available in a couple of days. In the meantime, the pre-order page briefly explains what they are :
It is a handle that conveniently allows a resistance band to attach and a 1-1/8" diameter handle to pull. The handle also is perfect size for FatGripz and other thick grip sleeves.
StrongerGrip BandGrips. Beautiful.
If you've been involved with the fitness industry for any length of time, chances are you've thought about setting up your own gym. Perhaps you've already got one.
Either way - how do you promote it? Attract new customers? Learn about what works, and what doesn't?
This week we'll be discussing this area in detail, answering all of the above and a whole lot more. Joining us is Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Palfrey, together with Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.
NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Matt and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.
And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.
Details -
Who : Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Palfrey, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Fitness Business Strategies
When : Monday Sep 22, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video on the main site shortly after the Gymchat.
I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :
- Gem From The Vault : Owning an Underground Gym - Some Insights
Al Heinemann
The first 18 months of the Terminal City Barbell Club. - Looking At : Sep 21, 2014
Scott Andrew Bird
What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.
Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.
Video : Ascending Pull Up Ladder
Great exercise, and an interesting bit of technique fine-tuning. Nice one.
Gymchat 258 - Fitness Business Strategies (Matt Palfrey)
If you've been involved with the fitness industry for any length of time, chances are you've thought about setting up your own gym. Perhaps you've already got one.Either way - how do you promote it? Attract new customers? Learn about what works, and what doesn't?
This week we'll be discussing this area in detail, answering all of the above and a whole lot more. Joining us is Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Palfrey, together with Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.
NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Matt and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.
And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.
Details -
Who : Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Palfrey, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Fitness Business Strategies
When : Monday Sep 22, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video on the main site shortly after the Gymchat.
If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.
Tip of the Week: Getting Back Into It
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.
Vic takes a thorough look at this in the 'Returning to Heavy Training After a Break' ebook. For a brief overview though, check out the discussion we held on that very same topic.
In Gymchat 136 - Heavy Training after a Break, Vic noted :
I lost a LOT of strength on some lifts. It was surprising. That's why that initial 3 weeks of lighter work was important to me - it was smart to underestimate my strength at first.
And
It's important to consciously do less those first few weeks. I was off for almost 2 years - as a rule I did not put any more than 135lbs on the bar the first week. I did not push any sets to failure the next two weeks while still staying at 5 reps or less for most sets.
Good stuff.
Checking Out : StrongerGrip BandGrips Handle and StrongerGrip BandAnchor
Fantastic.Ryan goes into a bit more detail over on the Strongergrip Blog, but in short : you'll want these. Beautifully simple idea.
These will be available in a couple of days. In the meantime, the pre-order page briefly explains what they are :
It is a handle that conveniently allows a resistance band to attach and a 1-1/8" diameter handle to pull. The handle also is perfect size for FatGripz and other thick grip sleeves.
StrongerGrip BandGrips. Beautiful.
Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.
Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :
Good stuff Bret, looks great.
This past weekend I was showing someone here how to perform Band-Assisted Pull-Ups. If you'd like to give them a try yourself - and if pull-ups are currently just out of reach, they really do help - Ross Enamait demonstrates the procedure here. Nice one.
I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :
- Gem From The Vault : A Word of Advice for Training - The Importance of Fundamentals
Justin Andrushko
Understanding the basics. - Looking At : Sep 14, 2014
Scott Andrew Bird
What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.
Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do more writing in 2014 and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.
Video : Band Assistance (for Pull-Ups, Dips & Push-Ups)
This past weekend I was showing someone here how to perform Band-Assisted Pull-Ups. If you'd like to give them a try yourself - and if pull-ups are currently just out of reach, they really do help - Ross Enamait demonstrates the procedure here. Nice one.
Gymchat 257 - Muscle Activation Techniques (Eric Seifert)
How do you assess - and correct - muscular imbalances? Is there any value to isometric exercises, and how do you perform them?What about active vs passive stretching - should you be doing one or the other, and when?
We'll be touching on all of these areas and a whole lot more in this week's discussion. Tackling this will be Core Strength's Eric Seifert, joined by Strength Athlete & Personal Trainer Josh Hewett. Fantastic.
NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Eric and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.
And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.
Details -
Who : Core Strength's Eric Seifert, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Muscle Activation Techniques
When : Monday Sep 15, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video on the main site shortly after the Gymchat.
If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.
Tip of the Week: Fast or Slow Reps?
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.
One of the areas that Josh Hewett and John Paul Catanzaro covered in Gymchat 256 - Injury Prevention & Management was the general approach to choosing rep speed based on your goals. John Paul outlines the basic idea :
Good stuff.
Checking Out : Resistance Bands
Fantastic things.If the video above got you considering some resistance bands (and they're well worth having - incredibly versatile things), you'll be pleased to know that there are a number of varieties available. I personally use the Iron Woody ones, and I've also had good experiences with these.
As for what to do with them : in addition to the assistance exercises that Ross noted, check out a few of the videos on the guide page. If you want a way to make a particular exercise gradually easier/more difficult through part of the range, bands are ideal.
Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.
Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :
Good stuff Bret, looks great.
What about active vs passive stretching - should you be doing one or the other, and when?
We'll be touching on all of these areas and a whole lot more in this week's discussion. Tackling this will be Core Strength's Eric Seifert, joined by Strength Athlete & Personal Trainer Josh Hewett. Fantastic.
NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Eric and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.
And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.
Details -
Who : Core Strength's Eric Seifert, Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : Muscle Activation Techniques
When : Monday Sep 15, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video on the main site shortly after the Gymchat.
Thanks again to everyone who watched and joined in the discussion Gymchat 256 - Injury Prevention & Management [with Exercise Physiologist John Paul Catanzaro and Personal Trainer and Strength Athlete Josh Hewett] - much appreciated. If you haven't seen it yet (or simply want to go over a particular point again), here's the entire video.