Training

A massive back is a status symbol among bodybuilders. Much like the ever-coveted big legs, having a back that turns heads is an indicator that an athlete has put in the heavy-duty work. You don't acquire a thick cobra backside by doing sissy movements, half repping, and training lightly. You have to put some elbow grease into it. Shawn Smith shares some tips for building a massive back.

Have you ever wondered if you were making some mistakes that were hindering your goals? Renee Jewett addresses some misconceptions that can derail your physique goals.

Powerlifting, and sports in general, are long journeys where growth is inevitable. We're not talking physical growth, but rather mental and spiritual growth that occurs as an athlete discovers wisdom through experience. You will do foolish things out of ignorance. It's part of the process. But learning and adjusting your approach is what makes a lifter go from good to great. In his latest article, Rob Hall reflects on his years of powerlifting and shares some words of wisdom to his past self. Check it out.

Injuries happen, but there are ways you can work around it by adjusting your nutrition and training. IFBB Pro and Dietitian Chris Tuttle gives us some insight.

Shawn Smith gives us an inside look into his Chicago Pro prep, what he's dealt with, what changes he's made, and how he's improved since Tampa last year.

Fresh off the platform, Rob Hall documents his training camp experience leading up to the USPA Relentless Power Classic in his latest article.

Stefi Cohen breaks down the 5 common mistakes that women make in the gym and explains how to correct them in her latest article.

As athletes, we evolve as the years go on. Whether it's diet, training, our look, or all of the above, we progress forward and change as needed. Things that worked back in the day may now not apply to our present circumstances. Chris Tuttle has adjusted his training since he started. Here's how.

Stop doing cardio and you will never lose your gains—this answer seems like the obvious one, right? It’s commonly thought that in concurrent training—the combined training of aerobic and resistance training—endurance training creates some interference that can limit hypertrophy signaling. As a result, bodybuilders all around have been trying to limit cardio to prevent muscle gains from slipping away, but if implemented correctly, cardio won't steal your gains. From a bodybuilding standpoint, cardio must happen sometimes to create the energy deficit possible to get stage lean. From an off-season perspective, there is some merit to continuing cardio for general health reasons, such as aiding sleep and stress management, and allowing those squats to wear out your quads before wearing out your lungs. I am going to cover how to implement cardio with the least impact to strength and hypertrophy gains.

We should never take records for granted because the best of the best are trying to outdo themselves and each other by very slim margins. Rob Kearny, Animal's newest Strongman athlete, shoots on breaking the Log Press record in his latest article.

2020 is a tough year for everyone, especially competitive athletes. With shows and competitions getting canceled and postponed left and right, the uncertainty or lack of a final destination in your training can lead to a loosening of the competitive mindset. Some people can only stay motivated when there is a goal on the map. How do you keep your head in the game with no meets in sight?

Not too many people can say they’ve placed second twice at Mr. Olympia. Derek Lunsford can. But in true champion form, these runner up spots are not enough for him. He’s after the gold. To come up short two years in a row is a hard pill to swallow, but those that are destined for greatness are the best at looking introspectively and making adjustments, both physically and mentally. Derek catches us up on the changes he’s made going into the 2020 Olympia with plans to nail this one down.