Some lifters hail the classic barbell bench press as the king of the upper body lifts, but its cousin the incline bench press could be a serious contender for the throne. Unjustly frowned upon in favor of the flat version, the incline bench press should be a staple for most lifters. Credit: as-artmedia / Shutterstock
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They say, “you gotta row to grow.” And what they’re (almost always) referring to is the big, basic, bent-over barbell row. The barbell row is one of the most challenging exercises you can you implement into your back workouts. Credit: Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock The barbell row is often considered one of the most fundamental
Everybody’s keen on boasting about their squat numbers, but many people overlook single-leg work. That’s a pity because unilateral exercises — single-arm or single-leg movements — offer unique benefits such as avoiding overusing the dominant side, isolating and correcting muscle or strength imbalances, improving balance, body awareness and preventing injuries. Credit: MDV Edwards / Shutterstock
If you’re going to the gym, you most likely want to be healthier. You also want to add muscle to your frame, set personal records, and perform better than you did the last workout. You’re driven, and you channel that drive into rigorous weekly training sessions. But being all go, go, go, will eventually bring
The humble sled has made its way from American football gridirons, into strongman gyms, through CrossFit “boxes,” and has arrived as a mainstay of everyday training. The sled’s rise to ubiquity is fueled by its versatility and the fact that it’s just plain fun to grind along the pavement or turf. Credit: UfaBizPhoto / Shutterstock
“Down the road, in a gym far away, a young man was heard to say, ‘No matter what I do, my legs won’t grow!’ He tried leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses, too. Trying to cheat, these workouts he’d do! From the corner of the gym where the big guys train, through a cloud of
Your lower body carries the most potential for power and strength than any other body part because half of your entire body is working during the majority of exercises. This makes leg day an essential part of building a well-rounded physique. Leg day can even set the tone for the entire training week. Break from
You get 24 hours every day. They’re yours to do whatever you want or, more accurately, whatever you need to get done. Once you start subtracting six or seven hours of sleep, eight or nine hours of work, commuting and traveling, time to eat, and, oh yeah, some face time (not FaceTime) with your family,
Some lifters believe the more they work out, the better their results will be. That might mean training every day of the week or grinding out monstrous three-hour sessions in the gym. However, to paraphrase a warning from the philosopher B.I.G. — mo’ training, mo’ problems. Credit: tsyhun / Shutterstock Excessive training is a good
Many lifters want to follow programs that deliver results without wasting time in the gym. One of the most effective ways to achieve that is to train with exercises that work multiple muscles at once. Many exercises can the bill and the simple chin-up is at the top of the list. Credit: Ground Picture /
If there’s one way most lifters can improve their training plan, it’s not about fixing their time spent training. It’s about fixing their time spent not training. Rest between sets is an extremely undervalued variable in program design. Many lifters know that resting for a few minutes allows better recovery and lets them move heavier
Got a cable machine? Then you’ve got access to one of the most fundamental exercises to directly target and isolate the triceps. The triceps pushdown, sometimes called a pressdown, is perfectly suited to beginners and experienced lifters alike. Credit: sakkmesterke / Shutterstock The cable’s pulley system puts tension — and lots of it — right
The first barbell curl was probably performed about three minutes after the barbell was invented and it’s been a gym staple ever since. This timeless exercise has always been reliable and effective for building a set of bulging biceps. Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock It might be seen as a very simple movement — grab the
Ask 10 lifters to name the body part they’re training on any random day, and you’ll probably hear some familiar answers — chest, back, arms, biceps, maybe even legs. But very few will say they’re working triceps. There’s generic “arm day,” which includes the triceps. But they rarely get a spotlight, and that’s a mistake.
Want a more efficient, more effective, more engaging workout? Rest less between sets. More specifically, start using supersets — a common, but often misunderstood and misapplied, intensity-boosting technique. Performing supersets instead of straight sets can help to reduce your training time by nearly 50%. (1) Supersets might even boost performance via a phenomenon called ‘potentiation’
When most lifters make the decision to commit to the gym, the barbell bench press is often one of the first exercises selected for building a stronger and bigger chest. However, despite its reputation as a “must-do” movement, the barbell bench alone is not going to produce the type of well-developed chest most hope for.
Back day can be one of the most enjoyable days you’ll have in the gym. Due to the sheer number of muscles in the back, it’s one of the strongest parts of the body — second only to the legs. Also, a well-developed back signals to the world that you have put in some serious
When most people talk about building an impressive physique, they often envision capped delts the size of bowling balls, a massive chest, and chiseled abs. But what about the muscles you don’t see from the front? Having an impressive back is paramount when trying to develop an aesthetic physique. A V-shaped torso with a well-built