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Showing posts from October, 2019

Fix Your Lower Back Pain: From Posture to Strength

Beyond aesthetics, poor posture can also lead to chronic pain, most commonly lower back pain. “Stop slouching.”   “Sit up straight.”   “Your posture is just horrendous.”    Posture bullies are the worst, aren’t they ?   Chances are your mom was the biggest posture bully of all. And chances are your reaction was to want to tell her to f-off (even though deep down you knew she was right because bad posture isn’t attractive).   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2q4PfmV via IFTTT

Fix Your Lower Back Pain: From Posture to Strength

Beyond aesthetics, poor posture can also lead to chronic pain, most commonly lower back pain. “Stop slouching.”   “Sit up straight.”   “Your posture is just horrendous.”    Posture bullies are the worst, aren’t they ?   Chances are your mom was the biggest posture bully of all. And chances are your reaction was to want to tell her to f-off (even though deep down you knew she was right because bad posture isn’t attractive).   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2MWvc2R via IFTTT

What You Need to Know to Start Working Out After 50

Age ain't nothing but a number, and it has never been truer than it is today, with many people starting exercise programs later in life. If you're new to exercise, or coming back to it after many years of a layoff, it is very challenging. You don't have the same sense of fearlessness that you had in the past. You may lack confidence for many reasons.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/34alQqc via IFTTT

Getting the Most Out of Seated Cable Cuff Tricep Extensions

A unique advantage of this exercise over other triceps extension variations is the use of cuffs rather than a hand-held attachment. A key benefit of the seated cable cuff tricep extension exercise is the stability it provides. Because you have a bench for support, you can keep your shoulder blades locked down . This helps prevent your shoulders from shifting and means you can focus purely on directing tension through the triceps.   Using a cable has the advantage of providing a fairly constant tension throughout the rep meaning it challenges the entire range of motion well.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/36cc74p via IFTTT

What You Need to Know to Start Working Out After 50

Age ain't nothing but a number, and it has never been truer than it is today, with many people starting exercise programs later in life. If you're new to exercise, or coming back to it after many years of a layoff, it is very challenging. You don't have the same sense of fearlessness that you had in the past. You may lack confidence for many reasons. If you are over 50-years-old and starting out , the challenge can seem overwhelming. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/31RK5rz via IFTTT

Getting the Most Out of Seated Cable Cuff Tricep Extensions

A unique advantage of this exercise over other triceps extension variations is the use of cuffs rather than a hand-held attachment. A key benefit of the seated cable cuff tricep extension exercise is the stability it provides. Because you have a bench for support, you can keep your shoulder blades locked down. This helps prevent your shoulders from shifting and means you can focus purely on directing tension through the triceps.   Using a cable has the advantage of providing a fairly constant tension throughout the rep meaning it challenges the entire range of motion well.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2p9w4bw via IFTTT

Workout Inside to Improve Performance Outside

No matter what activities you enjoy doing outside of the gym, there are weight training exercises you can do to boost your potential. No matter what activities you enjoy doing outside of the gym, there are weight training exercises you can do to boost your potential . Golf? Google your favorite golfer’s name and there’s a good chance you can find a sample of their favorite gym workout. Skiing? Follow Lindsey Vonn’s Instagram page for some serious fitspiration—holy cow can that girl work! Think that the only way to improve your running is by running more? False! Add some weight training to your routine and feel the miles start to become faster and easier.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/32NWQoe via IFTTT

Workout Inside to Improve Performance Outside

No matter what activities you enjoy doing outside of the gym, there are weight training exercises you can do to boost your potential. No matter what activities you enjoy doing outside of the gym, there are weight training exercises you can do to boost your potential . Golf? Google your favorite golfer’s name and there’s a good chance you can find a sample of their favorite gym workout. Skiing? Follow Lindsey Vonn’s Instagram page for some serious fitspiration—holy cow can that girl work! Think that the only way to improve your running is by running more? False! Add some weight training to your routine and feel the miles start to become faster and easier.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/32TE9iT via IFTTT

How to Get Lasting Sciatica Relief

Sciatica is pretty common. It sucks the joy out of the simplest movements. But, fortunately, in many cases, you can beat it on your own. Sciatica is the name given to a painful condition that originates in the lower back and triggers a “shooting” pain down the sciatic nerve . The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body 1 and attaches at five points in the lower spine. It runs down the entire leg to the foot—and believe me, it is not a nerve you want to be playing up.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/32Lac4A via IFTTT

How to Get Lasting Sciatica Relief

Sciatica is pretty common. It sucks the joy out of the simplest movements. But, fortunately, in many cases, you can beat it on your own. Sciatica is the name given to a painful condition that originates in the lower back and triggers a “shooting” pain down the sciatic nerve . The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body 1 and attaches at five points in the lower spine. It runs down the entire leg to the foot—and believe me, it is not a nerve you want to be playing up.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/3689IYz via IFTTT

Keystone Habits of a Lean Physique

Our latest podcast tackles sustainable self-development, building habits that translate into training success, and the fitness journey of hypertropy influencer Abel Csabai.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/33QkH6O via IFTTT

Keystone Habits of a Lean Physique

Our latest podcast tackles sustainable self-development, building habits that translate into training success, and the fitness journey of hypertropy influencer Abel Csabai.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/31C5LrD via IFTTT

How to Combat Poor Movement in Your Upper Body Training

To maximize your upper body training, you need to learn how to mobilize, stabilize, and control your motor patterns. Poor movement quality is a pandemic among athletes , and whilst many of them are able to identify their own weaknesses and imbalances, I am always surprised by athletes' reluctance to address and remedy them. It seems to be much harder for them to be humble and regress to mastering the basics than it is to lift heavy shit and muscle their way through a workout.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2P7RRuu via IFTTT

How to Combat Poor Movement in Your Upper Body Training

To maximize your upper body training, you need to learn how to mobilize, stabilize, and control your motor patterns. Poor movement quality is a pandemic among athletes , and whilst many of them are able to identify their own weaknesses and imbalances, I am always surprised by athletes' reluctance to address and remedy them. It seems to be much harder for them to be humble and regress to mastering the basics than it is to lift heavy shit and muscle their way through a workout.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2pERehB via IFTTT

Get Ready for Handstands: The Kick Up

There are safer ways to get upside down than closing your eyes and throwing yourself at the ground. This is the ninth and final part of a comprehensive handstand video series designed to bring you toward a strong and stable freestanding handstand. While this video will bring benefit to your training regardless of your current fitness or goals, it is intended as part of larger handstand series. I encourage you to check out all of the preceding parts:   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2yd16PR via IFTTT

Foot Health: From the Big Toe to Proprioception

We abuse our feet every single day. Let's try to give them some of the care they need. We abuse our feet. Every single day. Whether we’re Olympic weightlifters or we’re just normal people trying to log 10,000 steps a day, if our feet aren’t functioning effectively , our lives—or our sports performances—will suffer.   Yet with the exception of ankle flexibility, which we sometimes dive into via stretching and calf raises, we don’t generally pay much attention to foot health.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/33BzuCg via IFTTT

Get Ready for Handstands: The Kick Up

There are safer ways to get upside down than closing your eyes and throwing yourself at the ground. This is the ninth and final part of a comprehensive handstand video series designed to bring you toward a strong and stable freestanding handstand. While this video will bring benefit to your training regardless of your current fitness or goals, it is intended as part of larger handstand series. I encourage you to check out all of the preceding parts:   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2gua0ka via IFTTT

Foot Health: From the Big Toe to Proprioception

We abuse our feet every single day. Let's try to give them some of the care they need. We abuse our feet. Every single day. Whether we’re Olympic weightlifters or we’re just normal people trying to log 10,000 steps a day, if our feet aren’t functioning effectively , our lives—or our sports performances—will suffer.    Yet with the exception of ankle flexibility, which we sometimes dive into via stretching and calf raises, we don’t generally pay much attention to foot health.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/31phIAy via IFTTT

Get Ready for Handstands: Thoracic Mobility

You can have the best shoulder mobility in the world, and it won't help if your spine can't extend. This is part three of a comprehensive handstand video series that will help you achieve a strong and stable free-standing handstand. While this video will bring benefit to your training regardless of your current fitness or goals, it is intended as part of larger handstand series. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2gpiYlH via IFTTT

Get Ready for Handstands: Thoracic Mobility

You can have the best shoulder mobility in the world, and it won't help if your spine can't extend. This is part three of a comprehensive handstand video series that will help you achieve a strong and stable free-standing handstand. While this video will bring benefit to your training regardless of your current fitness or goals, it is intended as part of larger handstand series. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2vIPSQc via IFTTT

Do You Really Need to Squat Below Parallel?

There’s a really important reason everyone should have or should work to regain, the ability to squat below parallel. In the fitness world, much emphasis is placed on being able to squat below parallel—meaning squatting to a depth where your hip crease is below your knee.   And not just because failing to squat below parallel equals a no rep at a powerlifting or CrossFit competition….   There’s a way more important reason everyone SHOULD have or work to regain the ability to squat below parallel: The very simple life task of sitting down and standing up. And as importantly, for bowel health!   Bowel health?   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2Bct7ZV via IFTTT

Do You Really Need to Squat Below Parallel?

There’s a really important reason everyone should have or should work to regain, the ability to squat below parallel. In the fitness world, much emphasis is placed on being able to squat below parallel—meaning squatting to a depth where your hip crease is below your knee.   And not just because failing to squat below parallel equals a no rep at a powerlifting or CrossFit competition….   There’s a way more important reason everyone SHOULD have or work to regain the ability to squat below parallel: The very simple life task of sitting down and standing up. And as importantly, for bowel health!   Bowel health?   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/32jSdlt via IFTTT

Thoracic Stability Exercises for Strength

Rows, holds, pulldowns, and isometrics: a strong back is one of your most important assets in strength training and it translates to so many activities.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2Bc61CW via IFTTT

Thoracic Stability Exercises for Strength

Rows, holds, pulldowns, and isometrics: a strong back is one of your most important assets in strength training and it translates to so many activities.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/33sIwkX via IFTTT

You Can't Solve the Obesity Epidemic If You Can't Discuss it

Public health is a national concern that we have to be able to discuss in order to improve. Comedian Bill Maher recently used his “New Rules” segment to call attention to American health, stating, “ New Rule : at next Thursday’s debate, one of the candidates has to say the problem with our healthcare system is Americans eat (crap) and too much of it.” He went on to demonstrate just how pervasive the health epidemic has gotten in America while inviting the ardor of millions with his blunt snark. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2OEzXiN via IFTTT

You Can't Solve the Obesity Epidemic If You Can't Discuss it

Public health is a national concern that we have to be able to discuss in order to improve. Comedian Bill Maher recently used his “New Rules” segment to call attention to American health, stating, “ New Rule : at next Thursday’s debate, one of the candidates has to say the problem with our healthcare system is Americans eat (crap) and too much of it.” He went on to demonstrate just how pervasive the health epidemic has gotten in America while inviting the ardor of millions with his blunt snark. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/35tJPlo via IFTTT

6 Cues to Make Your Deadlift Stronger

Fix some of the most common mistakes in your deadlift. When a lifter makes a technical mistake in any barbell lift, it can instantly make them weaker.   However, whereas ‘being weaker’ in the squat or the bench press could just mean having an inefficient lift and a reduced range of motion, in the case of the deadlift, this inefficiency usually results in the lower back being subjected to huge stress and puts it at risk of a catastrophic injury.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2VAVwlR via IFTTT

6 Cues to Make Your Deadlift Stronger

Fix some of the most common mistakes in your deadlift. When a lifter makes a technical mistake in any barbell lift, it can instantly make them weaker.   However, whereas ‘being weaker’ in the squat or the bench press could just mean having an inefficient lift and a reduced range of motion, in the case of the deadlift, this inefficiency usually results in the lower back being subjected to huge stress and puts it at risk of a catastrophic injury.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2OBPvnm via IFTTT

The Six Pack of Knowledge: Thought Leaders in Hypertrophy

Some of the best coaches with expertise in hypertrophy, bodybuilding, and physique can be found in these podcasts. New ones added regularly. A great reference source for enthusiasts and trainers. Find Our Podcasts: iTunes , Google Play , Spotify , YouTube , Stitcher , read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2PfFXR6 via IFTTT

The Six Pack of Knowledge: Thought Leaders in Hypertrophy

Some of the best coaches with expertise in hypertrophy, bodybuilding, and physique can be found in these podcasts. New ones added regularly. A great reference source for enthusiasts and trainers. Find Our Podcasts: iTunes , Google Play , Spotify , YouTube , Stitcher , read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2ZkSS98 via IFTTT

Revamp Your Training for Long Term Success

Take some time to see how training methods and philosophies play out over time, but always plan to reevaluate again and again. I was scrolling through my Instagram feed yesterday, violating my rule to not mindlessly look through social media, when I saw a familiar figure. The plates stacked on the end of the barbell collar blocked his face, but I could see the broad shoulders from underneath pressing against the weight. I would recognize the outline of that man anywhere. I’ve stood behind him during countless training sessions.    read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/322oKMP via IFTTT

Revamp Your Training for Long Term Success

Take some time to see how training methods and philosophies play out over time, but always plan to reevaluate again and again. I was scrolling through my Instagram feed yesterday, violating my rule to not mindlessly look through social media, when I saw a familiar figure. The plates stacked on the end of the barbell collar blocked his face, but I could see the broad shoulders from underneath pressing against the weight. I would recognize the outline of that man anywhere. I’ve stood behind him during countless training sessions.    read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/35iS3gc via IFTTT

Ideal Body Weight is a Deceptive Goal

Dilute the power of weighing yourself regularly on scales with a variety of other forms of success that can also be easily tracked. When people begin a weight loss journey, it makes sense that they place a heavy emphasis on the number they see on the scale . It's easy to measure, it's easy to track, and it makes it very salient whether you're making progress toward the ideal body weight you've set for yourself.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2OFfWcb via IFTTT

Ideal Body Weight is a Deceptive Goal

Dilute the power of weighing yourself regularly on scales with a variety of other forms of success that can also be easily tracked. When people begin a weight loss journey, it makes sense that they place a heavy emphasis on the number they see on the scale . It's easy to measure, it's easy to track, and it makes it very salient whether you're making progress toward the ideal body weight you've set for yourself.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/30UbwQV via IFTTT

Are You Squat Dominant or Deadlift Dominant? Know Your Strengths

In other words, if your deadlift is 300lbs and you can back squat 255lbs or more, it’s time to work on building up your deadlift a bit. How do you know if you’re squat dominant or deadlift dominant?   It’s not an exact science—some bodies are just better designed to squat than to deadlift and vice versa—but if your back squat is more than 85 percent of your deadlift, then many would say you’re squat dominant.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2p3eZze via IFTTT

Are You Squat Dominant or Deadlift Dominant? Know Your Strengths

In other words, if your deadlift is 300lbs and you can back squat 255lbs or more, it’s time to work on building up your deadlift a bit. How do you know if you’re squat dominant or deadlift dominant?   It’s not an exact science—some bodies are just better designed to squat than to deadlift and vice versa—but if your back squat is more than 85 percent of your deadlift, then many would say you’re squat dominant.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/35ajPeJ via IFTTT

Everything You Need to Know to Compete in the New CrossFit Open

There's only one Open this coming year, six months on the heels of the last one meaning the rules have changed and you need to strategize in a totally new way.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2LM9fTD via IFTTT

Everything You Need to Know to Compete in the New CrossFit Open

There's only one Open this coming year, six months on the heels of the last one meaning the rules have changed and you need to strategize in a totally new way.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/31HfYDQ via IFTTT

The Keys to Upper Body Strength Training for Women

Many of us females pull and pull and still don’t have a pull-up. Let's change that. In the age of becoming more and more gender-neutral, I still respect biology. And biology has shown me in a decade of coaching fitness that women have a harder time gaining upper body strength than men . End. Of. Story.   Many of us females pull and pull and still don’t have a pull-up—it seems that no matter what we do our lats just don’t want to grow. And then we push our hearts out, but still can only do a couple of sad little push-ups.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2IjKlsa via IFTTT

Stop Taking BCAAs If You Want the Benefits of Fasting

Don’t worry about your precious muscle. The body is wicked smart and resilient, and it will adapt accordingly. That’s right, BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) are ranked high as one of the most commonly “incorrectly” prescribed supplement for fasting.   But have any of the bro scientists ever given you a good reason as to why you should be using BCAAs? Reasons other than “it will protect your muscle bro.”   I get it, I know where the emphasis on BCAAs comes from. It’s from programs like lean gains and carb backloading, which then trickle down to consumers, bloggers, and even coaches everywhere.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/30MqSqt via IFTTT

The Keys to Upper Body Strength Training for Women

Many of us females pull and pull and still don’t have a pull-up. Let's change that. In the age of becoming more and more gender-neutral, I still respect biology. And biology has shown me in a decade of coaching fitness that women have a harder time gaining upper body strength than men . End. Of. Story.   Many of us females pull and pull and still don’t have a pull-up—it seems that no matter what we do our lats just don’t want to grow. And then we push our hearts out, but still can only do a couple of sad little push-ups.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2oapReL via IFTTT

Stop Taking BCAAs If You Want the Benefits of Fasting

Don’t worry about your precious muscle. The body is wicked smart and resilient, and it will adapt accordingly. That’s right, BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) are ranked high as one of the most commonly “incorrectly” prescribed supplement for fasting.   But have any of the bro scientists ever given you a good reason as to why you should be using BCAAs? Reasons other than “it will protect your muscle bro.”   I get it, I know where the emphasis on BCAAs comes from. It’s from programs like lean gains and carb backloading, which then trickle down to consumers, bloggers, and even coaches everywhere.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2oa9cYN via IFTTT