Here's a listing of all of the Gymchats we've held since we moved to Google+. Click on a link to read the transcript, add a comment or two, and get in touch with everyone involved. Keep the discussion going.

And if you'd like to suggest a topic for an upcoming discussion, or volunteer to be the interviewed on a particular subject, just drop us a line.

NB : to find out the details of upcoming Gymchats, just grab the Strength & Fitness Newsletter (part of the Straight to the Bar Strength Kit). Absolutely free.

And if you'd like to be interviewed in an upcoming discussion, we'd love to hear from you. It's great to find out how other people train.

Apr 26, 2015 | Gymchat 276 - How to GRIND for Your Gains (Josh Hewett and Nassim Jebran)
Mar 16, 2015 | Gymchat 274 - Are Saturated Fats Really That Bad for You? (Josh Hewett and Kirsten Gallagher)
Feb 9, 2015 | Gymchat 272- How Food Choices Affect Your Body (Josh Hewett and Kamal Patel)
Jan 26, 2015 | Gymchat 271 - Forskolin For Fat Loss & Building Muscle (Josh Hewett and Kurtis Frank)

Jan 19, 2015 | Gymchat 270 - 10 Tips for Achieving Balance in Your Life & Your Diet (Josh Hewett and Aeryon Ashlie)

Dec 15, 2014 | Gymchat 268 - Bulking on a Budget (Josh Hewett and Adam Klymkiw)
Dec 8, 2014 | Gymchat 267 - Carving out a Niche in the Strength Equipment Business (Josh Hewett and Eric Chessen)
Dec 1, 2014 | Gymchat 266 - Art of Reciprocity: Give More to Get More from Clients, Colleagues, & Yourself (Josh Hewett and Sincere Hogan)
Nov 24, 2014 | Gymchat 265 - WTF is Functional Training? (Josh Hewett and Bud Jeffries)
Nov 21, 2014 | Gymchat Bites - How Mainstream Gyms Shun Powerlifters (Josh Hewett and Niatoos Dadbeh)
Nov 10, 2014 | Gymchat 263 - Building an Indestructible Body (Josh Hewett and Logan Christopher)
Nov 3, 2014 | Gymchat 262 - Learning from Experts Outside of Your Discipline (Josh Hewett and Frank DiMeo)
Oct 28, 2014 | Gymchat 261 - Drop Sets for Faster Gains (Josh Hewett and Bill Piche)
Oct 27, 2014 | Gymchat 260 - What is INTENSITY? (Fadel) (Josh Hewett and Fadel D)
Oct 24, 2014 | Gymchat Bites- Sled Training (Josh Hewett and Frank DiMeo)
Oct 13, 2014 | Gymchat 259 - Chronic Pain Research (Josh Hewett and Kamal Patel)

Sep 15, 2014 | Gymchat 257 - Muscle Activation Techniques (Josh Hewett and Eric Seifert)
Sep 10, 2014 | Gymchat 256 - Injury Prevention & Management (Josh Hewett and John Paul Catanzaro)
Sep 5, 2014 | Gymchat 255 - Pillars of Paleo (Josh Hewett and Adam Farrah)
Aug 13, 2014 | Gymchat 253 - Improving Recovery & Performance (Josh Hewett and Sincere Hogan)
Aug 13, 2014 | Gymchat 253 - Improving Recovery & Performance (Josh Hewett and Sincere Hogan)
Jul 22, 2014 | Gymchat 252 - Alpha Aesthetics (Personal Development In The 21st Century) (Josh Hewett and Omar 'Bromar' Atlas)
Jul 2, 2014 | Gymchat 251 - Gaining Maximum Functional Muscle Mass (Josh Hewett and Bud Jeffries)
Jun 25, 2014 | Gymchat 250 - Serious Training for Ignored Populations (Josh Hewett and Bill Kociaba)
Jun 5, 2014 | Gymchat 248 - Establishing Standards for Strength & Progressions (Josh Hewett and Brian Tabor)
May 21, 2014 | Gymchat 247 - The Power of Visualization (Josh Hewett and Jen Mulhall)
May 7, 2014 | Gymchat 246 - The Pursuit of a HUGE Deadlift (Josh Hewett and Craig Bongelli)
May 1, 2014 | Gymchat 245 - Grip Strength (Josh Hewett and 'Napalm' Jedd Johnson)
Apr 23, 2014 | Gymchat 244 - Rescheduled. New details shortly.
Apr 9, 2014 | Gymchat 243 - How to Improve Your Pull Ups (Josh Hewett and Frank DiMeo)
Apr 2, 2014 | Gymchat 242 - The Role of Genetics in Aesthetics & Performance (Josh Hewett and Bill Piche)
Mar 26, 2014 | Gymchat 241 - Advanced Fat Loss : Losing the Last 10lb (Josh Hewett and Vic Magary)
Mar 19, 2014 | Gymchat 240 - Periodization (Josh Hewett and Karsten Jensen)
Mar 13, 2014 | Gymchat 239 - How to Get HUGE! (Josh Hewett and Craig Bongelli)
Mar 6, 2014 | Gymchat 238 - Fitness Business Strategies (connectivity issue - discussion to be rescheduled)
Feb 25, 2014 | Gymchat 237 - Old-Time Strongman Training (Josh Hewett and Logan Christopher)
Feb 19, 2014 | Gymchat 236 - Programming for Strength vs Hypertrophy (Josh Hewett and Jason Paris)
Feb 12, 2014 | Gymchat 235 - Supplementation for Focus & Stress Relief (Josh Hewett and Kurtis Frank)
Feb 5, 2014 | Gymchat 234 - Fitness Industry Posers (Josh Hewett and Bill Piche)
Jan 28, 2014 | Gymchat 233 - The Basics of Getting STRONG (Josh Hewett and Tyler Thor Jefferis (Tyler Wareham))
Jan 22, 2014 | Gymchat 232 - Self-Hypnosis For Strength Gains (Josh Hewett and Jen Mulhall)
Jan 17, 2014 | Gymchat 231 - Fat Loss 101 (Josh Hewett and Vic Magary)
Jan 10, 2014 | Gymchat 230 - World's Strongest Disabled Man (Josh Hewett and Jeff King)
Dec 18, 2013 | Gymchat 229 - How to Prepare for a Powerlifting Competition (Josh Hewett and Ben McLaughlin)
Dec 11, 2013 | Gymchat 228 - In-Season Training for Hockey (Josh Hewett and Conor Doherty)
Dec 4, 2013 | Gymchat 227 - The Tempo Matrix (Josh Hewett and Karsten Jensen)
Nov 27, 2013 | Gymchat 226 - Advances in Strength & Power Development (Josh Hewett and Craig Bongelli)
Nov 20, 2013 | Gymchat 225 - How to Master the Inner Game (Josh Hewett and Jen Mulhall)
Nov 13, 2013 | Gymchat 224 - The Future of Fitness (Roundtable) (Josh Hewett, Chas Melichar, Chris Lutz, Karsten Jensen and Nassim Jebran)

Nov 11, 2013 | Gymchat 223 - Progressive Calisthenics (Josh Hewett and Al Kavadlo)
Nov 6, 2013 | Gymchat 222 - The Difference Between Exercise & Training (Why You Should TRAIN!) (Josh Hewett and Ryan Burgess)
Oct 30, 2013 | Gymchat 221 - The Paleo Approach to Health & Physique Transformation (Josh Hewett and Adam Farrah)

Oct 23, 2013 | Gymchat 220 : High Intensity Training - HIT (Josh Hewett and Chris Lutz)
Oct 17, 2013 | Gymchat 219 - Assessing Current Fitness Trends (Josh Hewett and Adam Klymkiw)
Oct 10, 2013 | Gymchat 218 - Alternative Approaches to Exercise Prescription (Josh Hewett and Matthew Palfrey)
Oct 9, 2013 | Gymchat 217 - Underground Strength Training (Josh Hewett and Zach Even-Esh)

Oct 8, 2013 | Gymchat 216 - Fat Loss Nutrition (Josh Hewett, Ryan Phillips and Rob Spencer)
Oct 2, 2013 | Gymchat 215 - The Health, Fitness, & Fat Loss Benefits of GARLIC (Josh Hewett and Kurtis Frank)
Sep 25, 2013 | Gymchat 214 - How to Create an Effective Supplement Stack (Josh Hewett and Paul Teixeira)
Sep 22, 2013 | Gymchat 213 (Roundtable) - How to get BIGGER and STRONGER (Josh Hewett, Suneet Sebastian, Louis Farone, Paul Marsland and Jason Paris)

Sep 19, 2013 | Gymchat 212 - How to Gain Muscle (Josh Hewett and Conor Kelly)
Sep 11, 2013 | Gymchat 211 - Training Approaches (Roundtable) (Josh Hewett, Adam Klymkiw, Jason Paris, Chris Lutz and Kurtis Frank)

Aug 14, 2013 | Gymchat 209 - Setting up a Home Gym ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Josh Hewett)
Aug 7, 2013 | Gymchat 208 - How Do You... (power outage - this one has been rescheduled)
Jul 31, 2013 | Gymchat 207 - Body Transformation ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Jason Paris)
Jul 24, 2013 | Gymchat 206 - Sandbag Training ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Matt Palfrey)
Jul 17, 2013 | Gymchat 205 - Paleo Dieting ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Adam Farrah)
Jul 10, 2013 | Gymchat 204 - Training & Competing with Google Glass ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Chas Melichar)

Jul 4, 2013 | Gymchat 203 - Explaining Crossfit Principles ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Dai 'The Moose' Manuel)
Jun 29, 2013 | Gymchat 202 - Intermittent Fasting ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Josh Hewett)
Jun 22, 2013 | Gymchat 201 - Hormonal Optimisation ('Captain' Kirk Fontaine and Josh Hewett)

Aug 15, 2012 | Gymchat 182 - Exercise and Aging (Kirk Fontaine)
Aug 8, 2012 | Gymchat 181 - Training with Grippers II (Matt Hunt)
Aug 1, 2012 | Gymchat 180 - Arm Training (Maik Wiedenbach)
Jul 24, 2012 | Gymchat 179 - Interval Training (Troy Pesola)
Jul 17, 2012 | Gymchat 178 - Exercise and the Brain (Kirk Fontaine)
Jul 10, 2012 | Gymchat 177 - Recovery Work for the Hands (Matt Hunt)
Jul 3, 2012 | Gymchat 176 - Fitness & Health Devices (Chas Melichar)
Jun 19, 2012 | Gymchat 174 - Training Around Injuries (Barry Gibson)
Jun 13, 2012 | Gymchat 173 - Fitness in 2030 (Everyone)
Jun 6, 2012 | Gymchat 172 - Combat Athletics : Getting Ready for the Fight (Barry Gibson)
May 29, 2012 | Gymchat 171 - Online Training III (Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo)
May 22, 2012 | Gymchat 170 - Intermittent Fasting (Chris Melton)
May 15, 2012 | Gymchat 169 - Recovery Foods (Chas Melichar)
May 8, 2012 | Gymchat 168 - Workout Nutrition II (Maik Wiedenbach)
May 1, 2012 | Gymchat 167 - Setting Up the Home Gym (Andrew Nalepa)
Apr 25, 2012 | Gymchat 166 - How Do You...IV (Everyone)
Apr 17, 2012 | Gymchat 165 - Use What's Around You (Andrew Nalepa)
Apr 10, 2012 | Gymchat 164 - Online Training II (Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo)
Apr 3, 2012 | Gymchat 163 - Belts, Wraps & Straps II (Maik Wiedenbach)
Mar 27, 2012 | Gymchat 162 - Neck Training II (Andrew Nalepa)
Mar 21, 2012 | Gymchat 161 - Belts, Wraps & Straps (Everyone)
Mar 13, 2012 | Gymchat 160 - Supplementation (Everyone)
Mar 7, 2012 | Gymchat 159 - Recovery Methods : Sleep II (Scott Bird)
Feb 29, 2012 | Gymchat 158 : Heavy Duty - The Mentzer Legacy (Maik Wiedenbach)
Feb 22, 2012 | Gymchat 156 - Solving Nutrition Problems (Maik Wiedenbach)
Feb 15, 2012 | Gymchat 155 - Triathlon Training (Chas Melichar)
Feb 8, 2012 | Gymchat 154 - Make It Yourself (DIY Equipment II) (Everyone)
Feb 1, 2012 | Gymchat 153 - Cycled Bulking (Maik Wiedenbach)
Jan 18, 2012 | Gymchat 152 - Leg Training (Maik Wiedenbach)
Jan 11, 2012 | Gymchat 151 - Motivation II (Roger Lawson)
Jan 4, 2012 | Gymchat 150 - Goals & Goal Setting (Everyone)
Dec 21, 2011 | Gymchat 149 - Getting Started (Chris Smith)
Dec 14, 2011 | Gymchat 148 - Training for Football II (Justin Andrushko)
Dec 7, 2011 | Gymchat 147 - Long-Term Paleo (Jeremy Loo)
Nov 30, 2011 | Gymchat 146 - Nutritional Basics (Roger Lawson)
Nov 23, 2011 | Gymchat 145 - Running (Bill Long)
Nov 16, 2011 | Gymchat 144 - Training at Home (Jackie Burgmann (aka 'Girlwithnoname'))
Nov 9, 2011 | Gymchat 143 - Strength Training Over 40 : II (Raymond Ho)
Nov 2, 2011 | Gymchat 142 - Fitness & Autism (Eric Chessen, interviewed by Kirk Fontaine)
Oct 26, 2011 | Gymchat 141 - Stretching & Warming Up (Kirk Fontaine, interviewed by Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo)
Oct 19, 2011 | Gymchat 140 - How Do You...III (Everyone)
Oct 12, 2011 | Gymchat 139 - Hand Strength II : Grip Work (Lane Hagen)
Oct 5, 2011 | Gymchat 138 - Hand Strength (Lane Hagen)
Sep 28, 2011 | Gymchat 137 - Grip, Clubs & Health (Ryan Pitts)
Sep 21, 2011 | Gymchat 136 - Heavy Training After a Break (Vic Magary)
Sep 14, 2011 | Gymchat 135 - Conditioning II (Nathan Teodoro)
Sep 7, 2011 | Gymchat 134 - From Diabetic to Fit (Steve Cooksey)
Aug 31, 2011 | Gymchat 133 - Workout Nutrition (Kurtis Frank)
Aug 24, 2011 | Gymchat 132 - How to Find a Personal Trainer (Kirk Fontaine)

All of the video versions (Gymchats 185 onward) have been moderated by the superb Kirk Fontaine and Josh Hewett. If you'd like to join them on a future Gymchat, or suggest a topic for discussion, contact Josh directly. You'll find all his contact details here.

Welcome to Straight to the Bar

If you've just joined us, welcome. Here you'll find everything that grunts, groans and ticks in the world of strength training. In short, this site is the home of all things strength.

There have been some superb articles posted here over the years (my favourites are listed below), as well as training logs, product reviews, forum discussions and of course the Gymchats. It's really been (and continues to be) an incredible ride.

Before we dive in to the list itself, a quick word on the content : while it's quality stuff, there's a lot of it. Feel free to pick out your favourites, bookmark them, add them to Instapaper/Evernote/Pinboard; Stumble them and share them with your friends. Dive in.

And now for the articles themselves. Enjoy.

DIY Equipment

Ready to build your own? It's a great way to try new forms of training.

1. DIY Gym Gear : How to Make Your Own Clubs - Scott Bird
   Build your own. Good fun.


2. Making your own gym equipment : DIY grip tools - Scott Bird
   You want a grip tool that does what? Make one.


3. How to Build Your Own Sandbag - Derek 'Body By D-Rock' Peruo
   It's easier than you may think.


4. DIY: Home-made Gym Equipment (part II) - Scott Bird
   Build it yourself.


5. DIY: How to Build an Olympic Weightlifting Platform - Kat Ricker
   Beautiful.


6. DIY Hanging Handles, psuedo "rings" - Kat Ricker
   Brilliantly simple.


7. The Sled - Fight Geek
   Extremely creative.


8. How to make your own bumper plates on a budget - Mehdi
   Quick, simple and inexpensive.


9. How to Make a Rack-Mounted Wrist Roller - Rory Hickman
   Love your wrist work? Same here.


10. How To Make an Adjustable Slosh Pipe - Joe Hashey
    Light weights, nice and challenging.


11. Fattening Up the Chin-up Bar - Scott Bird
    A great way to thicken up any bar at all.


12. The Fat Bar - Max Shank
    Incredibly simple, incredibly brutal.


13. Let the voting begin - Scott Bird
    There were some brilliant entries in the DIY Equipment Competition.

Old-Time Strongman Techniques

Fantastic to watch, learn and do.

14. Bare-Handed Nail Driving Basics - Ryan Pitts
    Want to learn how to drive a nail through a board with your bare hand? Here's how.


15. Blast from the Past : The Forgotten Lifts (part II, III)
    Although these lifts aren't often seen in commercial gyms, they're absolutely superb. Give them a run.


16. Tearing A License Plate - Chris Rider
    Yep, that's as hard as it sounds. Superb.


17. Unusual Goals Require Unusual Measures - Jeff Wilson
    How do you train for something like this?


18. The Human Rack Lift - Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
    You've got to see this.


19. Jaw Lifting : What, Why and How - Ryan Pitts
    Training, technique and just a dash of determination.


20. Pleasure Spiked with Pain : Training for the One Finger Lift - Jeff Wilson
    A superb feat - if a little painful.


21. Building A Neck Of Steel - Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
    So you want a strong neck? It's actually quite simple.




Hands, Wrists & Forearms

This is where the fun (and real strength) begins. Love it.

22. Nails : Converting imperial to metric - Scott Bird
    Next time you pop down to the hardware store, take this.


23. Why Bend Steel? - Adam T Glass
    Simple question, great answer. Point your non-bending friends here.


24. Straight to the Grip Contest (part II, III, IV, V and VI) - Jedd Johnson Getting ready for your first grip contest? Here's what to expect.


25. The Many Types of Blobs - Jedd Johnson
    What's a Blob, and where did it all begin?


26. Lifting the Inch Replica Dumbbell (part II, III, IV and V) - Jedd Johnson Want to train with a replica Inch? Here's how.


27. Shot Tossing for Dynamic Grip Strength - Jedd Johnson
    Shot tossing? Great fun.


28. Hammering Strength into the Wrists (part II)
    


29. Leverage lifts: Reverse engineering turned to a breakthrough in power - Adam T Glass
    These lifts are downright fun.




Free Weights

The 'normal' things you'll see in the gym.

30. The Step-up : a Real Squat Alternative? - Scott Bird
    Squats are undoubtedly key, but have you tried heavy step-ups lately?


31. Holding the bar in the Front Squat - Scott Bird
    There are many ways to hold the bar.


32. Bars, Plates, Hooks and Collars - Scott Bird
    Ready to hit the garage sales? Here's what to look for.


33. A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck - Scott Bird
    Traps maketh the man.


34. Buyers' guide : the Power Rack - Scott Bird
    Ready to buy a rack? Here are a few things to keep in mind.


35. Addressing Weaknesses in The Squat - Rick Walker
    Work on weaknesses = massive PRs. Here's how to find them.


36. Innovative Training : Band Suspended Weight - Not Just for Bench - Justin Andrushko
    And the bands begin to play.


37. 29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner - Jason Kirby
    This is absolutely superb.


38. Specific Training for the Transverse Abdominis: Belt It In - Kat Ricker
    Time to tighten your built-in belt.


39. Workout music : soothing or aggressive? - Scott Bird
    How do you like your tunes?


40. 10 of the best : Parkour television commercials - Scott Bird
    Love watching Parkour? So do I.


41. Taking advantage of your location : At last - some real outdoor space - Scott Bird
    Ready for some serious outdoor training?


42. The Investments (part II, III, IV, V and VI) - Adam T Glass Several tools which form the basis of a great training plan.


43. From Running to Kettlebell Swings - Jordan Vezina
    Why run when you can swing?


44. Back To The Future : The Power Of Bodyweight Exercise - Adam Steer
    The training tool you always have with you.


45. Outdoor Fitness: Log Flippin' - Daniel Lapic
    This is seriously fun.


46. Blast from the Past : Squat Variations - Scott Bird
    There are many ways to get your squat on.





Conditioning

Time to get the sweat flowing.

47. Why Conditioning is King - Dean Coulson
    What conditioning is really all about.


48. Evolution of Sandbag Training (Part II)


49. Conditioning without trying : Walking 10,000 steps per day - Scott Bird
    Time to go for a walk.


50. Suspension Training 101 - Derek 'Body By D-Rock' Peruo
    What can you do with a TRX? Over to Derek.


51. The Heavy Bag (Gimp) - Fight Geek
    Thinking about getting a heavy bag? Make sure you read this first.




Recovery

Ever get that 'just run over by a truck' feeling?

52. Biphasic Sleep : 30 Day Summary - Scott Bird
    I switched to Biphasic Sleeping in September 2006, and have never looked back. Love it.


53. Recovery and Regeneration for the Strength Athlete - Patrick Ward
    Tips for better recovery.


54. Using Pulse Rate to Determine Rest Break Length - Scott Bird
    Use the pulse, Luke.


55. Fix Your Body with a Foam Roller: The Basics - Derek 'Body By D-Rock' Peruo
    What exactly do you do with a foam roller? This.


56. Strains and Sprains - Scott Bird
    What's the difference between a strain and a sprain?




Diet & Nutrition

Eating well makes a massive difference to your overall training.

57. Fuel and Rest - Scott Bird
    There's a good reason I eat so much.


58. 8 Glasses of Water Per Day? - Scott Bird
    Where did the current guideline of '8 cups per day' come from?


59. The Truth about Honey - Sam Cox
    Honey has a lot more going for it than you might think.


60. Transitioning to a Paleo Diet - Methuselah
    Ready to try Paleo? Great. Here's how to begin.

Other

There's always a new way of looking at it.

61. Visualization : The Vision Wall - Girlwithnoname
    This is a very creative idea.


62. Give it Away : Donating Disused Training Equipment to Charity (part II - Scott Bird
    What happens to it when you update your home gym?


63. Checklists and Complex Problems - Adam Stoffa
    How do you tackle complex problems like athletic performance? Like this.


64. Starting your fitness journey : 10 things to consider - Scott Bird
    Where do you start? Right here.


65. Ready for a Virtual Meet? - Kat Ricker
    This is a brilliant idea. Cheers, Kris.


66. Training Partners - Fight Geek
    Sometime it's great to train with someone like-minded.


67. Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength - Josh Hewett
    The thinking side is half the challenge.


68. Small Victories - Josh Hanagarne
    Improve what you can improve, every day.


69. Give Your Workout a Name! - Fight Geek
    This helps more than you'd believe.


70. Working out in the heat - Scott Bird
    It's getting hot in here.

---

Like to contribute something? I love hearing about how other people are training; if you'd like to write an article, record a video or tell us about a site you've discovered, get in touch.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

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 :

• Psychological Training in the Gym II : Overcoming All Odds
  Justin Andrushko
  Justin continues his superb series on the mental side of training, looking at the value of resilience.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Power Wheel Push-up Races

Love it.

Gymchat 135 - Conditioning II

I love a dose of conditioning work, especially the outdoor varieties. Sandbags, tyres, ropes and so on.
This week we're revisiting our discussion on Conditioning (the first one was in July last year), everything from 'what it is' and 'the benefits it can bring' to the many, many great ways to get a dose in your own training.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than TDA Training's Nathan Teodoro. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Conditioning II
When : Wed Sep 14, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on From Diabetic to Fit. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Getting More Light to Speed Up Bodyclock

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

This tip is one of the major elements in my recent transformation to early rising, the speeding up of the bodyclock by adjusting the amount of light received at different times. It's a fantastically simple way to do things.

---

From the article 30 Day Challenge : Becoming a Morning Person :

Increasing Sunlight in the Morning, Reducing it in the Afternoon

Dr Michael Hastings.

This idea stems directly from the Horizon documentary noted below [3], specifically the comments made by Dr Michael Hastings, Prof Debra Skene & Prof Till Roenneberg. The idea is that the amount of light your body receives at different times of day can impact the timing of your body clock.
To speed up your body clock (and spend more time awake in the mornings, less in the late evening), simply increase the amount of light you get in the mornings, and decrease the amount in the afternoon. In the mornings, go out in the sun, switch a bright light on, work outdoors if possible - whatever fits in to your current schedule. In the afternoon, stay in a slightly darkened room, wear sunglasses - again, whatever ties in to your routine.

The point is simply to increase morning light, and decrease afternoon light.

NB : to do the opposite (if you need to spend more time awake in the evenings), just reverse this. Less light in the morning, more in the afternoon and evening.

Incredibly simple, works beautifully.

Checking Out : TRX Training Courses

I love the TRX. Beautiful thing.

If you're similarly enamoured and would like to train others in using this wonderful tool, this is the perfect way to get started. There are courses available for both the TRX and RIP products.

Perfect.


Quick update on the Feats of Strength DVD : A few weeks ago we noted this incredible resource. Fantastic.

If you're keen to incorporate some old-time strongman techniques into your own training, Feats of Strength is a perfect place to start.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

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 :

• Ultimate Masters World's Strongest Man 2011
  Davie Easton
  A review of this incredible Strongman competition.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Say No to Over Pressure

Very interesting indeed.

Gymchat 134 - From Diabetic to Fit

We all have different starting points.
This week we're taking a look at training and nutrition from another angle. How to take someone with a common medical condition (Type II Diabetes) and make a number of dietary changes which not only alter the condition itself, they allow new training approaches to be explored.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Diabetes Warrior's Steve Cooksey. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : From Diabetic to Fit
When : Wed Sep 7, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Workout Nutrition. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Jouko Ahola Discusses Atlas Stone Technique

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, 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 in the form of a video by freakishly strong Jouko Ahola, explaining and demonstrating Atlas Stone lifting technique.

---

From the article Jouko Ahola Discusses Atlas Stone Technique :





Jouko makes two excellent points here, specifically relating to his training approach. The first is that he trains using slightly higher steps than are found in competition, and the second is that he trains with heavier stones than those he competes with. Superb.

Checking Out : The ZFO Sports Weight Vest

Looking for a challenge? Try adding a weight vest to your training.

Once again, there are many, many sales on at this time of year (with Labor Day weekend in the US) and my favourite of these is in the 'Sports & Outdoors' section of Amazon. Particularly when it comes to stocking up on things that have an impact on numerous areas of my training - and a quality weight vest certainly does that.

My personal favourite is this one from Zfitness; though there are certainly plenty to choose from. If you're looking for a simple way to increase the resistance for a number of exercises, give a quality weight vest some thought.

Fantastic thing.


Quick update on the Feats of Strength DVD : Two weeks ago we noted this incredible resource. Fantastic.

If you're keen to incorporate some old-time strongman techniques into your own training, Feats of Strength is a perfect place to start.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

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 :

• Mizuno Wave Enigma Running Shoes Review
  Bill 'Body By Long' Long
  Having just competed in the North Face Endurance Challenge, this is a perfect time to check out the Mizuno Wave Enigma running shoes. Beautiful.

  
  

• Welcome to the Gymchats
  Scott Andrew Bird
  This was a great discussion, and Google+ is the ideal platform for these conversations. Here's why.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Forward Step Down with Resistance Bands

This is a very interesting combination - part of a RBT series intended to minimise ACL injuries. The Forward Step Down with Resistance Bands.

Good stuff.

Gymchat 133 : Workout Nutrition

The other side of training - nutrition.
This week we're continuing our series on diet, looking at Workout Nutrition. What to consume before/during/after a workout, how it changes based on workout type, and why it all works. The good stuff.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Examine.com's Kurtis Frank. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Workout Nutrition
When : Wed Aug 31, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Finding a Personal Trainer. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Tearing Your First Deck of Cards - Squeeze your Thumb

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, 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 in the form of a card-tearing technique correction from Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson, and shares an oft-overlooked part of the tearing process. The importance of the thumb.

---

From the article Three Technique Corrections for Tearing Your First Deck of Cards :

Many people fail to realize the importance of the thumb in tearing a deck of cards and barely engage it. The thumb can be used to secure the deck of cards in your hands by pressing hard against the side of the deck. The thumb can also be used to wrap over a fingertip or two to increase your crimp grip power on the outside cards.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : The BXT (Body Xtreme Trainer)

This looks fantastic.

The BXT is a progressive resistance tool for assisting with things like handstands, pushups and a whole lot more. It also serves as a suspension trainer of sorts, for a standard full-body workout.

Looks great. Anyone here tried one?


Quick update on the Feats of Strength DVD : Last week we noted this incredible resource. Fantastic.

If you're keen to incorporate some old-time strongman techniques into your own training, Feats of Strength is a perfect place to start.

I absolutely love talking about training, and the twitterchats have proven to be a great way to share ideas. New exercise combinations, DIY equipment, injury prevention and much, much more. Love it.

We've got some great discussions coming up, and if you'd like to be a guest for one, the details are below. First though, a brief description of a twitterchat :

The twitterchats are weekly discussions (held on Twitter, hence the name) on a range of strength-training topics. Quite apart from being fascinating conversations in their own right, they're a lot of fun.


To join in, simply add #sbgym to each of the messages you send. If you set up a search column for 'sbgym' (here's how), you'll be able to see what everyone else is saying.

That's it. Swing on by - we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Upcoming Twitterchats

Over the past couple of years we've covered a range of subjects relating to strength-training & nutrition. Old-time strongman skills, hormones & diet, biphasic sleeping, setting up a gym and so on. Anything and everything that'll help us break PRs and smash our goals.

Over the next month or two, here are just a few of the topics we'll be discussing :

• Sports Injuries
• Buying Second-Hand Equipment
• Strength & Conditioning for Judo
• Training for Beginners
• Myofascial Release

Full details of these discussions will be in the Strength & Fitness Newsletter, as well as in the Straight to the Bar Forums. Really looking forward to them.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

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 :

• My Weight Success Story
  Dan Hardisky
  A brief introduction, and how Dan began training.




• The "Fu-Fu Visualization" All Strong Lifters Use
  Karsten Jensen
  Karsten has shared a number of great insights on breathing and visualisation techniques. Take a look.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment beneath the article itself, and share your views with the fantastic strength-training community. Cheers.

Video : 97lb Stacked Kettlebell Press For Reps

More training goodness from Mike Mahler, this time in the form of some Stacked Kettlebell Presses. Nice one.

Twitterchat 113 - Sports Injuries

Injuries are unfortunately a fact of life, particular on the playing field.

This week we'll be discussing many of the common injuries people get whilst enjoying their favourite sport - whether they're professional athletes or not - and how to deal with / minimise them. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Alpha Kettlebell's Troy Anderson (@troyATS). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Sports Injuries
When : Wed Apr 13, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Outdoor Training. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Looking Forward To : Super Human Workshop

This looks superb.

If you're ready to learn about becoming seriously strong, check out the Super Human Workshop. Taking place on April 15-17 in San Jose, California, this is a fantastic way to learn the real tools of the trade. Featuring presentations by trainers Bud Jeffries and Logan Christopher - certainly no slouches when it comes to physical culture and brutal old-time skills - the Super Human Workshop combines mental toughness with physical performance to help create obscene levels of strength.

Really looking forward to this one - it's a perfect blend. The Super Human Workshop.

Quick update on the Beast Sled : Two weeks ago we noted the Beast Sled; beautiful thing.

If you haven't ordered yours yet, swing by the The Beast Sled site and check them out. I'd love to hear what you think.

This page lists many of the strength feats often performed by professional old-time Strongmen, and demonstrates/explains exactly how to train for each one. Even if your goals do not include spending a bit of time in front of an audience, these are well worth learning.

After all, you can never be too strong.

Bending

Demonstrations

• Barehanded Nail Bending (Jim)
• Horseshoe Bending (Mike 'The Machine' Bruce)
• Destroying Wrench (with tissue wraps) (Dennis Rogers)

Technique and Training

• Advanced Nail Wrapping (Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson)
• Reverse Bending Instructional Video ('Unbreakable' Adam T Glass)
• SttB Guide to Bending (Scott Andrew Bird)

Blowing

Demonstrations

• Mario Strong
• Ather Butt
• Shobha Tipnis

Chain Breaking

Demonstrations

• Chest Expansion Chain Breaking
• Unbraced Pulling ('Unbreakable' Adam T Glass)

Crushing

Demonstrations

• Crushing Full Soda Can (Jeff Wilson)

Ears and Eyes

Demonstrations

• The Baron Von Geiger (Ears)
• Mohammed Sabir Sipra (Eyelid)

Finger Lifting

Demonstrations

• 'Unbreakable' Adam T Glass
• Ryan Pitts

Technique and Training

• Training for the One Finger Lift (Jeff Wilson)

Frying Pan Rolling

Demonstrations

• Clayton Edgin
• Aneta Florczyk
• Built Old Lady (Gayle)

Grippers

Demonstrations

• Repping with the CoC #3 (Viper)

Technique and Training

• Choked Gripper Training (Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson)
• Magnus Samuelsson on Gripper Training

Hair Feats

Demonstrations

• Tram Pull (Bruce Khlebnikov)
• Bus Pull (Rani Manchi)
• 300lb Hair Lift (Chris Rider)

Hammers and Levering

Demonstrations

• Adam Glass
• Ryan Pitts

Technique and Training

• Leverage lifts: A reverse engineering problem turned to a breakthrough in power ('Unbreakable' Adam T Glass)
• Hammering Strength into the Wrists (Jedd Johnson)
• Introduction to Sledgehammer Levering (Michael Parrella)
• SttB Guide to Sledgehammer Training (Scott Andrew Bird)

Hand Balancing

Demonstrations

• One-armed Handstand Push-ups
• A Day in the Life

Technique and Training

• Band-supported Handstand Push-ups (Jeff Tucker)
• Handstand Drills (CrossFit Journal)

Human Link

Demonstrations

• Chad Netherland
• Lolik the Strongman

Juggling Weights

Demonstrations

• Bumper Plate Juggling (David Hoffmaster)
• Kettlebell Juggling (Pairs)
• Juggling the Baby Inch (Steve 'Mobster' Gardener)

Technique and Training

• The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling (Logan Christopher)

Muscle Control

Demonstrations

• Maxalding video

Technique and Training

• Performing a Stomach Vacuum

Nail Driving with the Hands

Demonstrations

• Nail Driving Through Phonebook and Board (Aaron 'The Mighty Mac' Mckenzie)
• Nail Driving Through Shoe and Board (Tommy Heslep)
• Balloon-bustin' Bare-handed Nail Driving (Ryan Pitts)

Technique and Training

• Bare-Handed Nail Driving Basics (Ryan Pitts)

This site - Straight to the Bar - has been around for an incredible 7 years (the first post was on Jan 17th, 2004), and to say I'm grateful is a gross understatement.

Thank you.


There have been some superb articles in that time (my favourites are listed below), as well as training logs, product reviews, forum discussions and of course the twitterchats. It's really been (and continues to be) an incredible ride.

Before we dive in to the list itself, a quick word on the content : while it's quality stuff, there's a lot of it. Feel free to pick out your favourites, bookmark them, add them to Instapaper/Evernote/Pinboard; Stumble them and share them with your friends. Dive in.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

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 :

• Five Reasons to Start Bending Nails
  Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
  Remember the Nail Bending DVD we mentioned a few weeks ago? Absolutely superb.
  
• Motivation for Training
  Dean Coulson
  Looking forward to this week's twitterchat (details below)? Same here.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Training to Set Heavy Grippers (Using Lighter Ones)

Joe, this is fantastic. Your creativity is truly amazing.

Twitterchat 99 - Motivation

What is motivation? What role does it play in your training, and how can it be improved?

This week we're taking a look at this fascinating area from a number of angles. What it is, how to get it, and how to use it to your advantage. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than All Round Athlete's Dean Coulson (@DeanCoulson). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Motivation
When : Wed Jan 5, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Improving Your Client's Success. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Are your clients aware of each others' goals? What about those of clients who've already achieved them?

Looking Forward To : You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises

This looks great.

Having refined his routines training various groups of Special Forces operatives, Mark Lauren has teamed up with writer Joshua Clark to create this extremely detailed work. For anyone who enjoys the challenge of the occasional bodyweight session, You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises looks like a superb read.

Comes out tomorrow.