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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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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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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Nobody can be at 100% all of the time. When athletes try to play with that intensity, they usually wash out of their game after a few years. Those professionals who have the ability to step back for a few months every off-season to allow the bodies – and more importantly their minds – to rest are usually those with much greater longevity in the sport of their choosing. When it comes to bodybuilding, the same tenets apply. Those bodybuilders who take 2 to 3 months off of continuous training following a tough competitive season are usually the guys that end up being able to compete for 10 year or more. On the other hand, the men who complete a show, take the afternoon off, then return to the gym ...

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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 most new bodybuilders in the gym, the goal is simple – to get big! New lifters train for mass the vast majority of the time, eating, training, and sleeping big in that ever-vigilant journey to greater size and new dimensions. Over time, they do see these mass gains, and with the new muscle often arrives the desire to show off the physique a bit. However, at this time, things change for the new bodybuilder. When you haven’t yet completed, you’re undefeated in the symmetry department. It doesn’t matter all that much if your calves are sub-par when your only shirtless appearance is on the beach. However, under the experienced eye of professional judges, flaws in symmetry can become apparent, and can keep you from winning the trophy that you certainly ...

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Training with a buddy can help you to advance further than ever before, or it can hold you back from achieving your goals and fulfilling your potential. It all depends on the person you choose, and the path the two of you take together. Here are some factors to consider when training with somebody else in the gym. Creative Ideas Challenge one another to think of ways to make every movement more productive. Often, a training partner will notice what sections of a particular lift are easier, or more difficult, for you to complete. Find ways to change the movement to overcome these weaknesses. Goals If your goal is to crack 600 pounds on the deadlift, and your training partner’s goal is to win a state-level show as a light-heavyweight, then your training is going to be ...

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