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 :

• A Critical Analysis: Reaction Ball
  Justin Andrushko
  Justin takes a look at the most common reaction ball on the market (the Nike SPARQ eyeReact Ball) - how it works, and how it can help your training.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  I love photography (pics here from the New Zealand trip), and 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 : 30lb Swingball

More swingball goodness. Nice one.

Gymchat 146 - Running

Although I've sampled a number of forms of strength-training, running isn't one of them. Yet.
This week we're taking a look at this enigmatic activity, and finding out just what I'm missing out on. How to train for it and how it helps with other forms of your training (and overall condition).

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Body by Long's Bill Long. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Running
When : Wed Nov 23, 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 Training at Home. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Setting a Gripper

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 from the incredible Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson, and takes the form of a superb video. Enjoy.

---

Incidentally, if you want to learn more techniques like this, check out Jedd's own The Grip Authority.

Fantastic site.

Reading : Hot at Home

There's some great reading here.

Jackie Burgmann's Hot at Home covers several of the topics we discussed in last week's Gymchat (here's the transcript), in a whole lot more detail. I'll post up a full review shortly, but suffice to say, this is well worth checking out.

Fantastic read.


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

There are several reaction balls on the market today that all do the same thing, however, I have chosen the most commonly known one for the analysis.

"Designed to improve your hand-eye coordination, reaction time, depth perception and first-step acceleration, the Nike SPARQ eyeReact Ball is a performance-enhancing super-tool that will benefit athletes of all sports." (Nike Store, n.d.)

The SPARQ eyeReact Ball is a tool used to help athletes improve their ability to detect an unpredictable stimulus due to the ball's unknown bounce pattern, and react to it in an organized and efficient movement pattern. This develops what we call "Human Information Processing". First the person is exposed to a stimulus, in this case the SPARQ eye React Ball, then the individual proceeds to Response Selection where translation occurs. The person chooses how to respond to the stimuli, in this case depending on where the ball bounces the person makes a choice to step in that direction, possibly with a specific foot leading, and reaching with a specific hand, while maintaining a low athletic posture. After the response selection has been identified the next step is Response Programming where the central nervous system organizes an appropriate response and begins the movement. The purpose of using this SPARQ eyeReact Ball is to successfully develop an appropriate, and time efficient; stimulus identification, response selection, and response programming. This is called Reaction Time.

The type of reaction time used while training with the SPARQ eyeReact Ball is called Choice Reaction Time. Choice Reaction Time is very receptive to improvements if practiced. This makes the use of this training tool effective in aiding athletes in their training. The use of this tool in the development of Human Information Processing as mentioned earlier supports Nike's claims of improving reaction time and first step acceleration.

However, Nike's claim to improve depth perception is not entirely valid. As stated in the journal article Training Perceptual Skill by Orienting Visual Attention (Hagemann, N., Strauss, B., & Cañal-Bruland, R., 2006). The benefits of training programs that claim to improve general abilities such as depth perception, visual acuity, and peripheral vision lack empirical confirmation and the benefits of such programs are doubtful. In fact in a comparison between novice and expert athletes it was found that there was little to no difference in those general skills listed above. The major contributing factor to experts performing better was in their ability to better anticipate and react to given stimuli (Hagemann, N et al., 2006). Hand-eye coordination and depth perception are not actually motor skills, but hand-eye coordination can improve from improved Human Information Processing (Aparo, L. ,n.d.).

Hand-eye coordination is a task that requires accurate judgement of timing based on what the person interprets from the visual stimulus and translates that to an appropriately timed response. For example: a football player reaching out to catch a football moving at a very fast velocity with proper placement of his hands to successfully catch the ball. Improving choice reaction time allows the player to see the football (stimulus identification), select when to reach out for the ball and how to place his hands (response selection) and have the central nervous system organize the information and begin the action (response programming). Hand-eye coordination first starts by the detection of the stimulus. As mentioned already visual acuity cannot be improved however, effective anticipation can drastically reduce the time it takes to process the stimulus and give the athlete more time to be accurate with hand-eye coordination. Spatial anticipation can be improved through practice and when used effectively makes a big difference in both hand-eye coordination and information processing. (Bredin, D. S., 2011)

Therefore it can be concluded that the Nike SPARQ eyeReact Ball can effectively improve Human Information Processing, which results in improved choice reaction time. Developing a fast choice reaction time directly supports Nike's claims to improving first step acceleration and hand-eye coordination based on a faster response to the stimulus. However, the claim to improve depth perception is not directly benefited through the use of this training tool.

Aparo, L. (n.d.). Influence of Sport Stacking on hand-eye. soeedstacks.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011, from http://www.speedstacks.com/groups/benefits/thesis_luca_aparo.pdf

Bredin, D. S. (Director) (2011, September 20). Information Processing Parts 1 & 2. Class Lecture. Lecture conducted from Dr. Shannon Bredin, Vancouver

Bredin, D. S. (Director) (2011, September 29).Information Processing Expert vs Novice. Class Lecture. Lecture conducted from Dr. Shannon Bredin, Vancouver

Hagemann, N., Strauss, B., & Cañal-Bruland, R. (2006). Training Perceptual Skill by Orienting Visual Attention. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 28, 143-158.

NikeStore. (n.d.). NikeStore. Shop the Official Nike Store for Shoes, Clothing & Gear. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-304449/pgid-304449#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-304449/pgid-304449

This Week on Straight to the Bar

As I noted last week, I'm currently on vacation in the beautiful New Zealand (back Nov 16). In the meantime, here are a couple of Gems From The Vault :

• 30 Day Challenge : Becoming a Morning Person
  Scott Andrew Bird
  As challenges go, this was certainly a big one. The idea was simple : to find out if it's possible to go from a long-term (40 years) 'night owl', to a morning person in only a month.

  It is.



• Kettlebell, TRX, & Ultimate Sandbag Exercises for Healthy Shoulders and Happier Hamstrings
  Troy Anderson
  This is a fantastic series, looking at some incredibly innovative ways to combine these tools to greatly reduce athletes' injury time. Beautiful.

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 : Handstand Obstacle Training

Good stuff.

Gymchat 144 - Training at Home II

I love the home gym - everything's always ready to go, set up exactly the way I like. Adjust weights, add bands/chains/other fun things and dive in. Perfect.

This week we're returning to our conversation on Training at Home - the equipment & space required, sharing progress and getting feedback. The many ways to make the most of what's available.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Personal Trainer and author of 'Hot at Home', Jackie Burgmann (aka 'Girlwithnoname'). Fantastic.

Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Training at Home II
When : Wed Nov 16, 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 Strength Training Over 40. Some superb ideas in there.

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

This Week on Straight to the Bar

As I noted last week, I'm currently on vacation in the beautiful New Zealand (back Nov 16). In the meantime, here are a couple of Gems From The Vault :

• Thomas Topham : The First Modern Strongman
  Scott Andrew Bird
  A close look at a fascinating 18th century Strongman.




• GripWalking
  Dan Hardisky
  Like your grip work? You'll love this. Great idea.

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 : Autumn Training (Parkour)

Nice one.

Gymchat 143 - Strength Training Over 40 : II

A little over a year ago we first looked at the idea of training longevity; specifically Strength Training Over 40. Time to revisit some of those ideas, from a slightly different angle.

This week we'll be returning to our discussion, looking at the nutritional, recovery, injury and equipment considerations related to training at this age. Everything that will help make sure you're stronger, healthier and in generally better condition in your 40s (and onward) than you are/were in your 20s.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Zen My Fitness' Raymond Ho. And as I'm still on vacation, this conversation will be moderated by none other than Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Strength Training Over 40 : II
When : Wed Nov 9, 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 Gymchat 142 - Fitness & Autism. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Improvements in Fitness Trained Autistic Clients

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 use from Eric Chessen, and was part of last week's conversation on Fitness & Autism. Great discussion.

---

From the Fitness & Autism discussion, in response to the question :

What kind of short term and long term improvements do you see in your autistic clients once you start training them?

It depends on the individual, but it is never only physical improvement. That's why I created the PAC Profile, because we're never just looking at physical ability, but adaptive and cognitive abilities as well. In the short-term, I've had athletes begin to really enjoy movement and improve in their gross motor skills, strength, stability, and stamina.

In the long term it becomes a lifestyle, and the athletes begin to embrace movement and fitness.

Good stuff. Whether you know autistic individuals or not, it's great to know what's possible.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

As I noted last week, I'm currently on vacation in the beautiful New Zealand (back Nov 16). In the meantime, here are a couple of Gems From The Vault :

• Why Conditioning is King
  Dean Coulson
  Conditioning is what is often meant when people talk of 'getting in shape'. Dean explains what it is, how to incorporate it in your training; and above all, why you'll want to. Fantastic.

  
  

• How to Become a Better Armwrestler
  Scott Latella
  There's a lot more than brute strength involved in this wonderful sport. Scott explains.

  
  

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 : Kneeling Jumps into Med Ball Throw -n- Sprint

Very interesting combination.

Gymchat 142 - Fitness & Autism

The ability to dive in and experience almost any aspect of training is something most of us take for granted.

This week we'll be taking a look at the incredible work of Autism Fitness' Eric Chessen, who is certainly well-versed in making a difference in this extremely challenging area. As I'm still on vacation, this interview will be conducted by none other than Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Fitness & Autism
When : Wed Nov 2, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : TBA (follow Kirk Fontaine for details)

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 Stretching & Warming Up. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Why Warm Up?

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 use from Kirk Fontaine, and is a snippet from last week's discussion on Stretching & Warming Up. Was a great one.

---

As part of the , Stretching & Warming Up discussion, in response to a couple of questions on 'Why Warm Up?' :

If you are to participate in exercise the first thing you need to do is warm up. The warm up is important to prepare your mind and body so that you can get the very best out of the exercise. The effect of a warm up on preventing injury is not clear however research does suggest increased muscle temperature decreases the risk of muscle tear. Warming up will :

• Increase your heart rate to give you increased blood flow around the body to the muscles
• Improves oxygen delivery to the muscles
• Stimulates faster muscle contraction
• Improves the joints ability to endure stress.

Good stuff.

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 :

• Blast from the Past : Good Morning Variations
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Whether it's for rehab, prevention or simply strength (these can really help your deadlift) - there's nothing quite like a dose of lower back work.

  
  

• 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 : GripBalls at the Playground

Here's a video that Ryan posted during the week, showing a couple of ways (note the different grips) of getting a dose of grip work in during outdoor workouts. Nice one.

Gymchat 141 - Stretching & Warming Up

Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a little travelling (New Zealand - should be plenty of photos when I get back), returning on Nov 16. As I'm not sure what my internet connection will be like at the time of the discussions, I've invited a couple of guest moderators to look after things.

This week it's the incredible Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo. Should be a brilliant conversation.

---

When you work out, do you warm up at all? Stretch perhaps? Or do you dive straight in?

This week we'll be discussing the benefits of warm-ups and stretching - how, and when. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than personal trainer Kirk Fontaine (@fitnewbie), interviewed by Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Stretching & Warming Up
When : Wed Oct 26, 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 How Do You .... Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: License Plate Tearing 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 use from performing Strongman Chris Rider, and is from his superb article Tearing A License Plate. Enjoy.

---

Following a thorough description of the safety requirements for performing this feat (and it really can be a dangerous one, so proceed carefully), comes the basic technique involved. Over to Chris :

Now that we have ourselves protected, it's time to grab the plate. I personally like to tear plates at chest level, and that is the method I am going to discuss. As a dry run without a plate, place your dominant hand in a hammer style grip. Place the pinky side of that hand just above the bottom of the sternum. Now place the other fist in the same manner below the dominant one so you have the thumb side of the non-dominant and the pinky side of the dominant meeting. Squeeze as hard as you can and push your hands in opposite directions with the top hand going slightly upward and the bottom hand going slightly downward. If you push straight through, the potential for being cut dramatically increases.

Want more? No problem. Head over to the original article, and watch the video below to see it in action. Beautiful.

Reading : The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation

Superb.

The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation is a guide to making the switch to a Primal lifestyle, in only 21 days. If you've ever read Mark's blog (or The Primal Blueprint itself), you'll appreciate how significant this change can be. Highly recommended.

Incidentally, this is the perfect book for the people you know who'd love to try something like this; but are not quite sure where to start. It really is a superb guide to making this transformation.

Fantastic.

Quick update on the Experiments with Intermittent Fasting ebook we mentioned last week : a downloadable PDF version is now available. Absolutely free.

Beautiful.

Over the past seven years this site's amassed an enormous amount of content. To help you find the highlights, I'll be taking an occasional wander through the archives.

---

Whether it's for rehab, prevention or simply strength (these can really help your deadlift) - there's nothing quite like a dose of lower back work. Here are just a few of the Good Morning Variations we've looked at over the years :

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 :

• Getting to Know : Personal Trainer Vic Magary
  Scott Andrew Bird
  I love finding out more about the people here - their training, background, ideas and goals. Here's an insight into the incredible Vic Magary.

  
  

• 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 : Kettlebell Jerk Tutorial (Side View)

Very interesting indeed.

Gymchat 140 - How Do You...III

One of the many fascinating aspects of strength-training is that everyone has a slightly different approach; based on their own goals, available equipment and information. Love it.

This week we'll be returning to our discussion on training approaches, focusing on the many aspects of fitness other than the lifting itself. What's your current diet like, and do you take any supplements? What sort of music do you listen to whilst training, or do you prefer to lift in silence? Other than getting a good nights' sleep, how do you recover after a heavy session?

However you train, we'd love to hear about it. Join us for How Do You ... III. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : How Do You ... III
When : Wed Oct 19, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/HU5qTrK8zf1

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 Hand Strength II : Grip Work. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Minimising Wrist Pain in Olympic Lifting

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 use from Lane Hagen, and was a comment posted on the 'World Record Front Squat' piece. Great advice.

---

On 'World Record Front Squat', in response to the comment :

I use the clean position. I find it's the only way that seems secure to me. Although lack of flexibility in my wrists causes crazy pain with high weight. I am still kinda new to the movement. Maybe practice will help.

From Lane :

Hold it in the clean position and always focus on pushing your elbows up. You can also just do it using 2 fingers till you gain the flexibility. Put a bar on a rack and stretch in that position before you load up. If your wrists are getting really sore it's probably your triceps and forearms that aren't flexible enough and they are putting unnecessary strain on your wrist. Go light 'til you can keep your elbows up.

Good stuff.

Reading : Experiments with Intermittent Fasting

If the interview with Vic Magary got you intrigued about Intermittent Fasting (IF), then this free book will fill in the blanks. It's a great read.

'Experiments with Intermittent Fasting' is a collaboration between Dr John Berardi, Dr Krista Scott-Dixon and Nate Green. The book looks at what Intermittent Fasting is all about, what the benefits can be and the results of a little experimentation. Very interesting indeed.

Over to you. For anyone who's tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did it/does it work in your case?


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

I love finding out more about the people here - their training, background, ideas and goals. Always fascinating.

This time it's in the form of an interview with a particularly inspiring Personal Trainer, Vic Magary. As you'll see, he's got an incredible outlook on the world.

Let's dive in.


1. Firstly, a bit of background. What is your name (and nickname), and where did you grow up?

My full name is Victor Nicholas Magary. Nearly everyone calls me Vic. I grew up in the small river town of Steubenville, Ohio in the United States.

2. I believe you've been studying Martial Arts in one form or another since you were 10 years old. How did you move from student to teacher (in the form of a Personal Trainer)?

My first exposure to teaching came during martial arts classes, even when I was still a kid. I was the 13 year old terror that my instructor put in charge of leading the warm up exercises at the beginning of each class. I was all too happy to tell guys in their thirties to drop and give me 50 push ups because they weren't staying focused in class.

Moving into the personal trainer realm didn't come until after I finished my time in the Army. I started out making "house calls" and going to the homes and offices of clients to put them through their sessions. My equipment at the time consisted of a pair of Powerblock dumbbells, boxing gloves, and focus mitts.

3. Following the closure of your gym, you shifted focus to offerings such as 31 Day Fat Loss Cure and the Rebel Strength Guide. What are your goals like now - a return to a physical space in some way, or are you enjoying the online life?

I have no plans to ever return to the physical space. I can help more people with far less overhead costs online. I now have a few documented cases of people losing 100 lbs or more via my online programs - I never accomplished that in my physical gym. I am considering offering one-on-one coaching and personalized program design via email and telephone support, but that is the closest I plan on coming to doing individual training.

4. What changes in commercial gyms (and the way they are run) have you seen over the past few years? What would you like to see?

I currently use a commercial gym. It allows members 24 hours access via electronic key entry and there are absolutely no high pressure sales tactics. I love it. I've been turned off from large corporate gyms previously from being bombarded with personal training packages and other upsells.

I would love to see more access to "odd object" equipment in a commercial setting. Things like sandbags and a designated sledgehammer area would be great. But I understand that the overall demand for such training implements is relatively low and the commercial gyms will always lean toward providing the unfortunately popular eliptical machines and treadmills.

There are a number of ways to get your regular fix of Straight to the Bar, including the many feeds & newsletters listed below. Whether you're after a general overview or a detailed inspection of a particular area, we've got you covered :

Feeds

• Articles
  Don't miss a thing. This is the main feed - every article that appears on the site. Grab the RSS version, or get it delivered automatically via email.
• Comments
  All new comments received, on every article on the site. The perfect way to hear everyone's thoughts on things.
• Facebook Wall Updates
  Everything we post on Facebook. Warning : this one's for serious strength enthusiasts only - it tends to be a little on the high-volume side.
• Tweets
  Love twitter? Same here. This is a feed of everything I tweet.
• Youtube
  There are two main Youtube feeds for this site. Check out the videos I'm watching/sharing, and Josh Hewett's channel - filled with regular Gymchat goodness. Dive in.
• LinkedIn
  Fan of LinkedIn? Me too.
• Delicious Bookmarks
  Still using delicious? It's great for some things, as you'll see.
• Photos from the Flickr Group
  Every new photo added to the Flickr Group. And if you'd like to add a few of your own, just join the (free) group.

Newsletters

• The Strength & Fitness Newsletter
  This is the easiest way to keep up with the world of strength. It's a weekly newsletter (delivered each Monday), containing highlights from the blog, details of upcoming gymchats, exercises, tips and a whole lot more.
• The Straight to the Bar Daily
  A daily dose of the various things (generally fitness-related) we're talking about in the Straight to the Bar community. Grab it here.
• The Better Sleep Nightly
  I've been fascinated by sleep for as long as I can remember. Here's a daily dose of tips & research into this wonderful area.
• Leave it in the Ground
  On Straight to the Bar we talk a lot about air pollution, primarily from a gym-owner's perspective. This newsletter looks at the topic far more broadly - the gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels : Leave it in the Ground
• Electric Cars in Australia
  Diving in to the area of air pollution a little deeper, we take a look at a great way to help reduce it - with electric cars (in Australia in particular). If you're considering an EV or would just like to learn a little more about air pollution & health, swing by.

Twitter Lists

In addition to the various feeds & newsletters above, I use Twitter's 'List' functionality to sort and maintain information on a number of topics. In particular :

• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/exoskeletons
  Wearable Robots. As mobility aids and to augment strength.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/sttb-writers
  Many, many people write for Straight to the Bar (let me know if you'd like to join us). Love it.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/all-things-medical
  New medicines, procedures & equipment.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/cycling
  I want to ride my bicycle.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/Aging & Longevity
  Research into aging and longevity.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/twitterchats
  The twitter list you'll see in the sidebar - covering events, gym sessions, strength feats and a whole lot more. Everything training-related.

As well as the lists on various training-centric topics, I also use them to help keep an eye on other interests - electric cars, photography and so on. You'll find the full list here.