Key Points: *** For as long as I’ve been interested in strength training, there has been a notion that free weight training is more “functional” and better for athleticism than machine-based training. Rewind the clock even further, and you have the heated discussions about whether strength training is at all beneficial for athletes or if … Read more
Building muscle and strength is not just about lifting heavy weights and doing intense workouts; it’s also about fueling your body with the right foods at the right times. One of those times is your pre-workout meal. It ensures you get enough energy to power through your strength training sessions and that your muscles have … Read more
For most runners, the thought of spending a lot of time in the gym lifting weights can be wholly unappealing. After all, runners tend to love nothing more than hitting the roads or trails and actually running rather than strength training. However, there are many benefits of strength training for runners, including decreasing your risk … Read more
Water is one of the essential nutrients for life, health, and performance, second only to oxygen. You might not even think of oxygen in the context of nutrients, but since you won’t survive many seconds without it, it’s safe to say that it’s a crucial one. You can go without water for some time, but … Read more
A great diet leads to great performance! If you want to gain muscle, not only do you have to pay your dues in the gym. You have to eat to gain as well. Our article Eating for Muscle Growth: When, How, and How Much to Eat for Adding Lean Mass covers your bases in that … Read more
Glycogen – Key Points: Your muscles and your liver are your two main stores of glycogen. You fill them up by eating carbohydrates. Your body prefers to use muscle glycogen to fuel intense workouts and other demanding physical work. Liver glycogen keeps your blood sugar stable when you don’t eat, like when you’re sleeping. The … Read more
Beetroot juice can improve endurance efficiency in athletes, leading to better performance at many distances. It also increases time to exhaustion, and improves intermittent high-intensity performance. Research on the effects on strength training performance is lacking. However, a new study shows that you might also improve your bench press performance by chugging down a bottle … Read more
Strength training is awesome in and of itself. However, not everyone lifts weights to get bigger and stronger for the sake of getting bigger and stronger. Any athlete who trains or competes in any kind of sport can benefit from strength training. Is your main sport time-based, meaning you run, swim, cycle or row a … Read more
By now, it is well established that strength training is important to maintain muscle mass and strength as we get older. By engaging in weight training, we slow down the age-related decline in physical function that otherwise can be quite debilitating and dangerous. What’s the best type of strength training for the elderly in order … Read more
Want to perform at peak performance? Take a nap! A recent study had twenty young, physically active men take a nap at four different opportunities. During each nap time session, they performed jump- and attention tests. They also subjectively rated their feelings, muscle soreness, fatigue, and sleep. The first nap condition wasn’t actually a nap … Read more