Can I Squat Without a Squat Rack?

If you strength train or build muscle alone, there besides barbells, dumbbells, and weights, there is one piece of equipment that will become your best friend. And, no, it isn’t a weight bench. It’s a squat rack. Why is this so? Why Use a Squat Rack? Why should you use a squat rack, or “power … Read more

Was the Trap Bar Originally Designed Just for Training Traps?

Trap bar or hex bar

I’ll tell you something, I love my trap bar. Now, it’s really a hex bar. I’ll get into that later. Most people still call them trap bars. About a year or so ago, I fell on some icy steps and sustained a very bad floating rib injury and a severe muscle contusion in the lateral … Read more

My Personal Trainer Says I Have a Vitamin/Mineral Deficiency

Variety of bodybuilding protein powders

A question came up about the muscles shaking during a workout. Many of us have had our muscles shudder and quiver while lifting very heavy weights or working against a lot of external resistance. But one of the answers to this question about muscle shakiness caught my eye. The person answering said that their personal … Read more

What is Fitness-Fatigue Model?

This article is an attempt to clear up some of the misconceptions on the internet regarding the Bannister’s Fitness-Fatigue Model, the so-called “Dual Factor Theory”. Although it is simply a model it has been used to design one size fits all programs due to a misconception that it attempts to explain training responses for a … Read more

Overtraining Doesn’t Always Produce a Decline in Maximum Strength

Originally published in 2009 at GroundUpStrength Overtraining as a term is used differently by different physiologists. I think it is important to understand, however, that ‘overtraining’ and ‘overtraining syndrome’ are not the same thing. Overtraining is what you do..the stimulus. Overtraining syndrome is a list of physiological symptoms resulting from that. In other words, its manifestations. … Read more