I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : The Demise of Monkey Bars
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Cause of accidents, or a sad loss?

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 8, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Workout and Vitamin Supplementation

More diet-related goodness : supplementation. Nice one.

Btw, what sorts of supplements do you take there?

Gymchat 275 - How Food Choices Affect Your Body (Kamal Patel)

Kamal Patel.

This week we take a look at the world of nutrition - how various types of foods affect your body. Regardless of your training goals, it's important to understand how what you eat impacts things.

Helping us tackle this one is Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel, joined by Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Kamal and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : How Food Choices Affect Your Body
When : Monday Feb 9, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Modifying Lifts - The Jefferson

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from Jason's superb article 29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner; and looks at just one of the many ways to put a partly-loaded barbell to work. The Modified Jefferson Lift.

Over to Jason :

This is where you straddle the barbell with both legs, and grasp above the weights while you lower yourself straight down as if sitting down into a chair. The R.O.M. is limited so you can use heavier weights if you feel comfortable.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Weighted Vest Workouts

Weighted Vest Workouts.

Next on the reading list here : Jonathan Thompson's 'Weighted Vest Workouts'. A close look at this deceptively simple piece of equipment; how to load it up (in all kinds of ways), and how to put it to work. There's also a spot of detail on ankle and wrist weights.

The kindle version's already available, the paperback edition comes out Feb 17th.

NB : If you've been training for a while, chances are you already know many of the exercises it outlines. However, if you're just beginning your strength-training journey, this looks like a great addition to your collection.

Jonathan Thompson's 'Weighted Vest Workouts'. Good stuff.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Nails - Converting Imperial to Metric
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Ready to begin your nail bending journey? Live in a country where Metric measurements are the norm?

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 1, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : George Leeman's Diet

Love seeing stuff like this.

Curious : what's your own diet like?

Gymchat 275 - How Food Choices Affect Your Body (Kamal Patel)

Kamal Patel.

This week we take a look at the world of nutrition - how various types of foods affect your body. Regardless of your training goals, it's important to understand how what you eat impacts things.

Helping us tackle this one is Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel, joined by Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Kamal and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : How Food Choices Affect Your Body
When : Monday Feb 9, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Finding a Good Training Partner

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from the Gymchat on 'Motivation', and is part of a longer discussion of training partners. Enjoy.

Over to Roger :

Roger Lawson.

Finding a good training partner is rough and really all depends on the person's temperament. Some like to train with someone who is far above them as motivation to get better while others like someone who is at their level or slightly beyond them, otherwise they get discouraged because the gap is so wide (a prime example of that negative self talk).

I would start by just searching the gym for someone who does a similar style of training (or something completely different if you're in to trying new things) that you do or someone who has attributes that you'd like to have (e.g. freaky strong, etc) and strike up a chat with them. You already have at least the gym in common, so start there.

Checking Out : Strength Training Past 50 (3rd Edition)

Strength Training Past 50 (3rd Edition).

Although I've got a few more years until I reach the 50 mark myself, there are certainly people in my 'friends & family' circles who qualify. I suspect this book will answer an awful lot of questions.

This is the 3rd edition of 'Strength Training Past 50', by Wayne Westcott and Thomas R. Baechle. Although it doesn't hit the shelves until April 23, the reviews from previous editions will give you a fair idea of the contents.


From 'Strength Training Past 50' II :

At 67 I had developed upper back pain associated with spinal arthritis. Upon the advice of a reviewer, I ordered the book, bought some free weights, and immediately began training to strengthen the muscles that support my spinal column. After a month of carefully following the recommended workout schedule, I found myself completely pain free. Although the results are proof of the pudding, I was particularly impressed with the authors' emphasis on safety and their guidance on how to find your point of beginning and to progress without injury.

'Strength Training Past 50'. Looks great.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Kamal Patel.

This week we take a look at the world of nutrition - how various types of foods affect your body. Regardless of your training goals, it's important to understand how what you eat impacts things.

Helping us tackle this one is Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel, joined by Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Kamal and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Nutrition Researcher Kamal Patel and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : How Food Choices Affect Your Body
When : Monday Feb 9, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Setting Up A Home Gym
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Ready to get started? Great.

  
  

• Looking At : Jan 25, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : One Arm Pushup

How do you perform a One Arm Pushup? Like this.

Gymchat 274 - Forskolin For Fat Loss & Muscle Building (Kurtis Frank, Examine.com)

Kurtis Frank. Photo by Kira Beriault.

This week we'll be taking a deep dive into the history & research surrounding this one, examining the pros and cons of taking it. Helping to explain what it is and how it works (and whether or not it's worth adding to your shopping list) is Examine.com's own Kurtis Frank, joined by Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Kurtis and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Examine.com's own Kurtis Frank and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : Forskolin For Fat Loss & Muscle Building
When : Monday Jan 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Building a Bulletproof Body

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

Over the past few weeks we've looked at some great pieces from Josh Hewett's excellent 'Bulletproof Your Body' series. If you've missed any, here's a quick overview.

To give you an idea, a brief piece from the post :

Fix muscle imbalances by addressing your weak or inhibited muscles rather than trying to stretch out the tight ones. The key is to address the root cause, not just the symptom. This is why I suggest to avoid passive stretching, and instead to employ active stretching, isometric exercise, and corrective isolation exercises.

Good stuff. And again, this is only a snippet from the full piece - swing by Josh' blog for the entire article. A great read.

Checking Out : The Cyclops Legend Bell Kettlebell

The Cyclops Legend Bell Kettlebell.

We'll post a full review shortly; in the meantime, you can grab one here :

https://www.onnit.com/legend-bells/.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Kurtis Frank. Photo by Kira Beriault.

This week we'll be taking a deep dive into the history & research surrounding this one, examining the pros and cons of taking it. Helping to explain what it is and how it works (and whether or not it's worth adding to your shopping list) is Examine.com's own Kurtis Frank, joined by Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Kurtis and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Examine.com's own Kurtis Frank and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : Forskolin For Fat Loss & Muscle Building
When : Monday Jan 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Bars, Plates, Hooks and Collars
  Scott Andrew Bird
  The Heart of The Home Gym.

  
  

• Looking At : Jan 18, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : 835lb Speed Deadlift

Time for a spot of serious speed work with the incredible George Leeman. Good stuff.

Gymchat 273 - 10 Tips for Achieving Balance in Your Life & Your Diet (Aeryon Ashlie)

Aeryon Ashlie.

Still, if you've ever been approached by someone who's keen to 'get in shape', you may be wondering just where they should begin. How to go from 'couch potato' to following a fitness lifestyle.

This week we'll be exploring this in detail; looking at the many things which help you move from where you are to where you want to be. Helping us tackle this is Fitness Competitor Aeryon Ashlie, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Aeryon and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Fitness Competitor Aeryon Ashlie and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : 10 Tips for Achieving Balance in Your Life & Your Diet
When : Monday Jan 19, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Strengthen Your Neck, Reduce Pain, Increase Lifts

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is from Josh Hewett's excellent 'Bulletproof Your Body' series. The 'right' way to strengthen your neck.

Over to Josh :

When starting a neck strengthening program, you must be careful to be very progressive... start slow and easy and work your way up to more challenging exercises over time. For example, you can begin your exercise program by doing simple chin tucks while sitting or standing. (See video)

Once you get comfortable with basic sitting/standing chin tucks, you can try doing the exercise lying down. Build up to doing around 10 reps, holding for 5 to 10 seconds each rep. The goal is to increase the muscular endurance of your muscles as well as their strength. Your neck is designed to carry the weight of your head all day, not to lift trains or buses!

Good stuff. Note that this is only a snippet from the full piece - swing by Josh' blog for the entire article. A great read.

Checking Out : The Fluidstance 'Level'

Interesting idea - especially if you spend a chunk of your day behind a desk. To help explain the general concept, a spot of video :

So many questions - particularly around potential physiotherapy applications. Still, it's an intriguing idea. The Fluidstance'Level'.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Aeryon Ashlie.

Still, if you've ever been approached by someone who's keen to 'get in shape', you may be wondering just where they should begin. How to go from 'couch potato' to following a fitness lifestyle.

This week we'll be exploring this in detail; looking at the many things which help you move from where you are to where you want to be. Helping us tackle this is Fitness Competitor Aeryon Ashlie, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We love hearing everyones' comments, questions and feedback in general. If there's a particular subject you'd like Aeryon and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask them directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Fitness Competitor Aeryon Ashlie and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett
Topic : 10 Tips for Achieving Balance in Your Life & Your Diet
When : Monday Jan 19, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.