The other day, I got an email from a guy who was worried that he was overtraining. Someone had looked at his training program, told him that he was doing too much exercise, and that chemicals in his body would eat into his gains as a result. It would be great to be able to […]
How to Build Muscle at Home During Lockdown
If you’re currently in lockdown, concerned about losing muscle, with no access to a gym and no equipment at home, this page will show you what to do. Here’s the story. Unless you’ve recently arrived from a parallel universe (in which case I highly suggest going back, as the s**t has well and truly hit […]
What’s the Optimal Training Volume for Muscle Growth?
Volume is the key driver of muscle growth. If you want to build muscle as fast as humanly possible, you need volume, and lots of it. Volume, volume, volume. As far as size gains are concerned, volume is the undisputed king. Or at least, that’s what some people will tell you. In fact, some folks […]
Can I Do a Full Body Workout Every Day?
Doing a full body workout every day is not a good idea, particularly if you want to build muscle. However, there’s some interesting research to show that hitting the same muscle groups 5-6 times a week isn’t as crazy as you might think. What got me thinking about this subject was a question that arrived […]
Does Stretching Build Muscle? What the Science Says
Most people stretch as part of their warm-up because they want to increase their range of motion, improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. However, they don’t give a lot of thought to the potential effect that stretching can have on gains in muscle size and strength. How does stretching before you lift weights, […]
Does Fascial Stretching Make Your Muscles Bigger? What 8 Studies Say
Some say that certain types of stretching can play a critical role in making your muscles bigger, unlocking your body’s capacity to grow and unleashing monstrous muscle growth. One article I came across claims that stretching has the potential to increase muscle mass by a whopping 318% in just 28 days. It all sounds too […]
Tabata Weight Loss: 4 Minute Workout Myth
Not long ago, I got an e-mail from someone who wanted to use Tabata intervals for weight loss. “Does Tabata work for weight loss?” he wrote. “Everything I’ve read on the subject says you can lose fat with a 4-minute workout.” It’s an interesting question, and I’ve wondered the same thing many times. Because I’m […]
The Case Against the 1000 Rep Arm Workout
In which the question is asked: “I recently came across an article talking about this 1000 Rep Armageddon challenge which was basically 1000 reps split between biceps and triceps. I’m wondering if you’ve ever tried this and if so whether it’s worth my time to attempt it.” The idea behind the 1000 Rep Armageddon Challenge […]
Chris Pratt’s Weight Loss Story: Separating Fact from Fiction
The other day, I came across an article about Chris Pratt’s weight loss, which claims to reveal “the secrets” that Pratt used to get in shape for the role of Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy. Every time a celebrity puts on a bit of muscle or loses some fat, there’s always a lot […]
How Many Exercises Per Workout & Muscle Group for Growth?
If you’re trying to build muscle, but you’re not quite sure how many exercises you should do, both in a single workout and for each muscle group, this page will tell you everything you need to know. Want a short and simple answer to the question of how many sets you should do per workout […]