I Had a Layoff from Training and Dropped Some Reps off My Bench Press. Why Have I Lost So Much Strength?
by EricT on 02 Feb 2012 16:23
This is a common complaint and it represents a typical misunderstanding of muscular strength. Let's say you are able to do 200 X 5 X 5 on your bench press. Something comes up and you are forced to layoff training for several weeks, maybe a month. During that time you are then "detraining."…
Baking Soda and Vinegar for Bee Stings: It Works! But not Really.
by EricT on 02 Feb 2012 15:26
You got stung by a bee, put some baking soda and vinegar on it, and ten minutes later the pain was gone! It worked. OR, maybe there is another explanation. Maybe you are not allergic to bee stings, had a minor local reaction, and the pain simply went away on its on. I personally seldom have the pain from a bee sting last longer than 10 or 20 minutes and I forget all about it. Yep….
Difficulty Breathing During Front Squats: A Simple Training Drill to Solve the Problem
by EricT on 01 Feb 2012 23:02
You may have noticed that it can be difficult to get a good deep breath in between reps of the front squat. Not everybody has this problem to the same extent, but most everybody would have noticed that the front squat makes breathing a bit restricted. The position of the elbows, combined with the heavy load on the shoulders, restricts the chest. It is easy to simulate this effect right now as you read this: simply raise your arms up over your head and try to take a deep breath into your upper chest. You should notice that the chest wall is restricted and it is close to impossible to take a full breath this way….
International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand on Meal Frequency
by EricT on 31 Jan 2012 14:32
Position Statement: Admittedly, research to date examining the physiological effects of meal frequency in humans is somewhat limited. More specifically, data that has specifically examined the impact of meal frequency on body composition, training adaptations, and performance in physically active individuals and athletes is scant. Until more research is available in the physically active and athletic populations, definitive conclusions cannot be made. However, within the confines of the current scientific literature, we assert that:…
Bird Dog Exercise (4-point to 2-point Kneeling Spinal Stability Exercise)
by EricT on 30 Jan 2012 21:30
The bird dog exercises are a group of core exercises peformed in a quadruped position. The purpose of these movements are to strengthen the core muscles and promote the maintenance of a neutral pelvis while encorportating limb movements, along with exercise tracks such as the dead bug track. When used as part of a rehabilitation program for lumbar injury or other spine problems, this stabilization exercise progresses from a beginner to an advanced level, starting with moving only one arm, and then progressing to moving the opposite arm and leg. This is basically moving from 4-point kneeling, to 3-point kneeling, and then to 2-point….
Want to Increase Strength without Adding Muscle?
by EricT on 29 Jan 2012 20:14
Why? I've always wondered about this? Are you such an Adonis but at the same time so weak that you need to work your butt off so that you can become as strong as you look? Even pro bodybuilders are pretty darn strong compared to the average Joe. But let's just stick with the average Joe, not the pro. Let me ask again, why would you want to get strong without adding any muscle?
I wonder this because at least once a month I see a new article explaining how to do this. Why is this concept so popular? Is it because:…
