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 : Tackling the One-Armed Push-Up
  Al Kavadlo | Follow @alkavadlo
  Up for a challenge?

  
  

• Looking At : Aug 6, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : How To Squat

Nice one Alan.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Previously : In Gymchat 241 we discussed Advanced Fat Loss : Losing the Last 10lb (with Online Fitness Coach Vic Magary and Personal Trainer Josh Hewett). Great conversation.


If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Rice Bucket Rehab

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.

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In the discussion on Recovery Work for the Hands we noted several superb recovery techniques, including the ever-popular Rice Digs.

If you've never tried doing these, the process is incredibly simple. From the post 'Rice Digs (for Grip-Training Warmups)', a brief description :

The exercise is an extremely simple one; pour some uncooked rice into a bucket and repeatedly burrow your hands into it. Make fists, rotate your wrists and generally move your hands around whilst they're surrounded by rice. To make it more difficult, use sand or even lead shot instead of the rice. Nice and painful.

NB : All other things being equal, a finer material will feel more difficult. Things like lead shot have less give, and will quickly prove challenging. Rice is a good starting point.

And to make things a little clearer, have a look at the video below. Great exercise.

Checking Out : The HearScope Smartphone Otoscope

Very interesting combination - a smartphone-connected otoscope which makes use of artificial intelligence software to help you understand what you're looking at. Promising indeed.

Look forward to learning more, particularly the online storage and sharing aspects. And of course, how well it integrates into other health monitoring tools and services.

The HearScope Smartphone Otoscope.

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Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Nuzzel and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Love this concept - an incredibly bright helmet-mounted light for cyclists. To see, and to be seen.

Simple idea - the video shows how everything works :

The Torch M1.

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 :

• Dark Chocolate: The Delicious Way to Improve Your Physique and Performance
  Alex Eriksson | Follow @anabolic_health
  The many health benefits of this wonderful product.

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 30, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : Bodyweight Reverse Hyperextension

Nice one.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Previously : In Gymchat 240 we discussed Periodization (with Strength Coach Karsten Jensen and Personal Trainer Josh Hewett). Great conversation.


If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Atlas Stone Technique

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.

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As you may have already noticed, we're constantly adding new pages to the Guides section of this site. One of the most recent additions looks at the many ways to lift heavy stones - good fun.

To get you in the mood for a little stone work, here's the incredible Jouko Ahola explaining (and demonstrating) one of the most popular forms - Atlas Stone lifting. Love it.

NB : In addition to the technique itself, Jouko makes an excellent point near the end of the video. He notes that in his own training the platforms are a little higher than those used in competitions, and the stones are slightly heavier. Sage advice indeed.

Checking Out : The Torch M1

Love this concept - an incredibly bright helmet-mounted light for cyclists. To see, and to be seen.

Simple idea - the video shows how everything works :

The Torch M1.

---

Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Nuzzel and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Many of us are well aware of the knowledge that the spine is a vital part of our body. Like all the major organs, such as the heart, brain, lungs and kidney, any sudden major injury to the spine can be fatal. Likewise, any unhealthy habit, intentionally or unintentionally, may gradually deteriorate the spine health as well.

Our spine is made up of muscles, bones and other vital parts that make up our backside. We may experience back pains sometimes, and it may seem like a normal thing, but we must always remember that as strong as our backbone may be, it still needs all the love and care that we can give it.

How do we maintain a healthy and strong back?

Choose the Right Types of Food

Food plays an important role in our health. Our choice of diet determines the nutrition that we get on a daily basis and it affects our whole body, every single part. We know that calcium is extremely important for our bones and spine, but there are other nutrients that help with optimal bone nutrition through absorption of calcium from the food we eat.
Among the everyday food that we can add to our diet are:

• Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt


• Peas and beans


• Fatty fish such as sardines and salmon


• Green, leafy vegetables


• Oranges

What is the role of vitamins or nutrients?

Vitamins and nutrients are compounds that work together, and most of them rely on each other to maximize the benefits that they can give to the body.

• Vitamin A is good for repairing tissues and forming the bones.


• Vitamin C is important to aid in the healing of injured tissues, ligaments, and bones.


• Vitamin D increases the calcium absorption.


• Iron helps in the production of myoglobin which keeps the muscles that support the spine healthy.

Go Mediterranean

As far as diets go, the Mediterranean diet is probably the healthiest option for anyone. This type of diet is characterized by eating more vegetables and choosing greens and fish instead of meat. Know more about the right ways of a Mediterranean diet through the Nutrition Inspector.

It might seem incredibly simple, but if your training includes stones/logs/odd objects; watch this video.

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 : Pleasure Spiked with Pain - Training for the One Finger Lift
  Jeff Wilson
  With certain feats comes the assurance of pain. And a challenge.

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 23, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : How to Pick Stuff Up (Mark Rippetoe)

It might seem incredibly simple, but if your training includes stones/logs/odd objects; watch this video.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Previously : In Gymchat 239 we discussed How to Get HUGE! (with Strongman and Strength Coach Craig Bongelli and Personal Trainer Josh Hewett). Great conversation.


If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Planche Nugget

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.

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Noticed this nugget on the Bodyweight Culture Forums, in a discussion on the Planche :

The skill is very simple to describe but hard to do. Here we go:

• Take the ab-wheel.
• Get into a pushup position while holding an ab wheel.
• Now instead of rolling it toward your head, roll it toward your feet and back.

If you can roll the wheel with straight arms down to the point where the wheel will touch your pubis (lower front of hipbone) and bring it back up to the pushup position, you should hurry and take Paul Hamm's spot in the Olympics.

Nice one.

Checking Out : The Upsens Air Pollution Monitor

Very interesting area - the constant monitoring of air quality. I suspect we'll start seeing a number of devices shortly which tackle the problem in similar ways.

As for the Upsens itself, here's a spot of video which outlines its capabilities :

Curious : has anyone here ever used any air-quality monitoring devices? Anything you'd change/add, and did it alter your behaviour at all?

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Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Nuzzel and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

This is a fascinating discussion with the wonderful Mark Bell, founder of 'The strongest gym in the West', Super Training Gym in Sacramento. Love it.

Dive in :

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show