Probably one of the most interesting things about bodybuilding is the fact that it can be approached from so many different angles. This is true about training philosophy, and also about individual exercises. Angles are, quite literally, everything. However, oftentimes, when we’ve come to know an activity, we know it in a way that is very singular. That is to say, we know the inroads toward achievement in one particular way. After awhile, we become so accustomed to that one way that we often begin to believe that it’s the only way. In fact, for a great many reasons, we’re eager to keep it familiar. It’s easier to have a customary method for doing things. But as with anything, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat. And sometimes, ...

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The time is coming… you just turned 28 and your 10-year high school reunion is just around the corner. You’re going to Cabo in 2 months! Or maybe you just want to Get Ripped for summer? Who cares what the reason is! We’re all in the same boat and we need to Get Ripped FAST! A wise man once told me that when a person won’t do something, it’s for one of 3 reasons. 1. They either don’t know how to do it, 2. Don’t know why they should do it, or 3. They simply just don’t care. I’m going to assume that you don’t know how, or you would already be ripped to shreds. Be it to get the chicks, personal satisfaction, a reunion… everyone has their own reason why. But ...

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Having full, pumped biceps with distinct peaks is the classic sign of a true bodybuilder. But what if you’re a serious guy who trains them every week, only to find them exactly the same size as last year? Or worse yet, the year before that? If this sounds like you, take a step back and look at the big picture. Whatever you’re doing right now is obviously not working. Instead, let’s turn a fresh page and approach the issue from a new angle. Here is a 10-week recipe for jump-starting even the most stubborn biceps. Week 1: Setting the Agenda If your biceps are not growing, chances are it is because you use pretty much the same old routine every workout. Other factors include training too much and/or ...

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You’d think by now we’ve all heard the theory about eating 5-6 small balanced meals a day. If this is news to you, you need to get out more! This ‘theory’ has been proven in many clinical studies and, more notably, in real life, as the best way to raise your metabolism and put your body in an efficient fat burning state at all times. But who really has time for 6 meals a day? Seriously? even if they are small, 6 meals a day is much easier said than done. So... what can you do if you can’t nail a 6-meal-a-day regimen? Take an MRP ... or 2 or 3! I knew this kid in high school who desperately wanted to be a soldier in the Army. He was one of those kids that ...

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Don’t think you’re any different than your buddy in the gym who still idolizes Arnold and keeps an ongoing yearbook of articles about the “Austrian Oak” tucked inside the drawer of his bedside table. Okay, granted, you may not be fanatical about it. It isn’t likely that you’re on the FBI’s current stalker list - yet. You may just religiously comb the pages of the latest bodybuilding ‘zines to find the freshest front double biceps shot of your “secret” hero. Innocent enough, but are you a fan, or an idol worshiper willing to do anything to have what the pros have? Something is drawing you back to that sweaty, smelly dungeon you call a gym. We know it isn’t the juice bar that catches your fancy, because there isn’t one unless you count the spit on the floor. It’s not the ...

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When asked the magic question, “What are your workout goals?” chances are you will get one of two answers. People, regardless of age or sex will usually answer A) “I want to get huge,” or B) “I want to lose weight,” Or you may get a variant of B), “I want to get cut/toned/ripped.” Too often, it seems that people isolate their focus on one of these two goals when it comes to physical fitness training. Either they are trying to gain muscle mass, or they are trying to lose bodyfat. So what happens when you fall into that special category of those who want to both gain mass AND lose bodyfat at the same time? Many “experts” seem to think that you cannot have it both ways. It is commonly felt that you have to first gain mass, and then go ...

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Let’s pretend we have two identical bodybuilders, all other constants equal. They are both given 2500 calories per day, delivered in optimal ratios for protein, carbohydrate, and fat consumption. The only difference is that Bodybuilder #1 is given this food divided into three equal meals each day, and Bodybuilder #2 is given six equally sized meals each day. At the end of the year’s time, Bodybuilder #2 will be leaner, more muscular, and in overall better shape than bodybuilder #1. Why is this so? Several reasons explain this. First off, the body can only assimilate 30 to 40 grams of protein per meal. This means Bodybuilder #1 can only absorb a maximum of 120 grams of protein per day, and Bodybuilder #2 can absorb 240 grams per day. However, ...

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Everybody wants a better bench press, but most bodybuilders and powerlifters aren’t willing to make the changes to their lifting styles necessary for growing their numbers. Let’s examine a few of the most commonly overlooked essentials for big bench pressing - Safely! Keep your feet on the floor Everybody has seen that floundering fool on the flat bench, arching his rear end up in the air in an effort to push the weight off of his body using leverage, and not the muscles of the chest. Avoid becoming that spectacle, or anything less than a perfect lifter, by keeping your feet planted flat on the floor while bench pressing. This will force your body to cling to the bench, which in turn removes leverage and many of the support muscles. At this point, your pectorals have to ...

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Walk into any gym in America, and it doesn’t matter if the trainers you see are new to the iron game, or have been training for years, they all seem to have a goal in common: They want to learn how to build a big chest. The great Arnold Schwarzenegger had a chest you could sit a beer upon, and has been the benchmark for complete chest development ever since. If you’re looking for a few lessons on how to build a big chest, you have come to the right place. Let’s get started! Compound Movements If you want your chest to grow to larger dimensions, you are going to want to use heavy weights that push your entire upper body – but particularly the chest – to new dimensions. ...

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For bodybuilders, dieting is one of the most unpredictable aspects of the iron game.  When you first start cutting, you drop a lot of water and fat quickly.  Then, you stabilize and move along at a consistent pace.  As you close in a contest, it becomes very difficult to shed body far during those last few weeks of dieting.  This leads to situations where bodybuilders run behind on their preparation, and come into those closing weeks before a show with poor conditioning, behind in their preparation.  Drastic changes need to take place at this point! If you want to get shredded fast, you need to examine your current cutting phase and take things up a notch across the board.  Let’s examine the four most important areas of cutting – cardio, training, diet, and supplementation – and see what ...

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