There has recently been a discussion in bodybuilding bulking circles about the necessity of training arms when in off-season mode. Some bodybuilders feel that this period should be devoted mainly to weight gain and compound movements, and that spending time on exercises such as one-arm isolation dumbbell curls really won’t lead to mass gains, the goal of the off-season lifter. Others believe that if you don’t train arms, you’re simply not a true bodybuilder. Let’s look at both sides of this argument, and see who’s closer to the truth.
Don’t train arms when bulking
Have you ever seen what happens when a powerlifter diets down for a bodybuilding show? He often outright crushes the competition due to the size of his chest, back, shoulders and legs. The primary movements of the powerlifter are the squat, deadlift, and bench ...Posted in: Training | | Comments (0)
It’s been reported that two-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler bench pressed 315 pounds on his first attempt, and that he once picked up a picnic table over his head on a wager. True or not, there are always going to be freakishly strong people. Due to genetics, limb length, or tendon structure, these folks are just naturally strong. It’s a curse that most of us will never know. For the rest of us, classified as mortals, it’s imperative that we understand the relationship between weight gain and strength, in order to make the best possible gains.
First, let’s deliver a disclaimer. The goal of bodybuilding is to develop the best possible physique. The goal of powerlifting is to move the most possible weight. While many of the exercises used in powerlifting are fundamental core exercises ...Posted in: Training | | Comments (0)
Most of us train in one of two places. Typically, we’ll select a climate-controlled gym where we know it’s going to be florescent lights and a steady 76 degrees every time we walk into the gym. Or, we might train at home, where the temperature is the same as the house – anything you’d like it to be. Typically, it will be similar to the gym, a comfortable 74 to 76 degrees.
However, there is one group or bodybuilders who prefer to bypass the standard comfortable conditions for something a little more hardcore. They are called the Outdoor Trainers. They train at whatever temperature it is outside.
On hot days, they sweat. It’s that simple. Industrial strength fans and cross-winds might help cool them. But they sweat. Training in the heat helps the ...Posted in: Training | | Comments (0)
Blood pressure is defined as the force that blood exerts upon the walls of the blood vessels within your body. It’s used as a measurement tool for determining cardiovascular and circulatory health. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and other conditions. High blood pressure is caused by a variety of factors, including diet, weight, genetics, daily stressors, and level of physical activity.
Bodybuilders and powerlifters are especially susceptible to high blood pressure, or hypertension. The heart and blood vessels cannot tell the difference between a 300-pound muscle man and a 300-pound obese man when it comes to pumping blood – it’s a great deal of extra work no matter what. Diet also comes into play. Bodybuilders consume a great deal of calories each day, including a high level of fats, which do contribute ...Posted in: Training | | Comments (1)

