Key Points: Do barbell back squats work your hamstrings? Depending on who you ask, you are bound to get different answers. My answer? Not really. The idea that your hamstrings are important for your squat has been around for decades, but is slowly losing ground as new research disproves it. Sure, your hamstrings contribute to … Read more
Key Points: What are the main differences between the close-grip bench press and the regular (or wide grip) bench press? And which grip width should you use in your bench press training? In general, there is a small strength difference between these two lifts, and they also work your muscles slightly differently. How to Perform … Read more
Key Points: *** The squat and the deadlift are two of the most popular strength training exercises in the world. Based on millions of workouts in our workout tracker StrengthLog, they are the second and third most trained exercises, surpassed only by the bench press. While squats and deadlifts work much of the same muscles … Read more
In this post, I’ll outline an intermediate deadlift program designed to increase your deadlift strength and build thicker back muscles. I will also explain how and why your training should differ from the beginner’s. Are you still a beginner? Check out our beginner deadlift program. If you’ve left the beginner phase behind, read on. (Note that … Read more
So you want to get started with deadlift training? Excellent! The barbell deadlift is a fundamental strength training exercise that targets many of your major muscle groups, including your lower back, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, and core. It builds strength in a movement pattern that we use a lot in our everyday life, making it a … Read more
How do you get stronger in the squat as an advanced lifter? In this post, I’ll outline an advanced squat program and explain how and why your training should differ from the beginner’s and the intermediate’s. Before we get into the details of the training program, let’s recap our definitions of what an advanced lifter is. How … Read more
How do you get stronger in the bench press as an advanced lifter? In this post, I’ll outline an advanced bench press program and explain how and why your training should be different from the beginner’s and the intermediate’s. Before we get into the details of the training program, let’s recap our definitions of what an advanced … Read more
Are you struggling to improve your bench press? The barbell bench press is one of the most popular exercises in the world (and the most popular exercise in our workout log) and is well-known for its ability to bulk up and build your upper body strength and muscle mass. Getting stronger in the bench press … Read more
The incline bench press and the flat bench press are both great exercises for building your chest and shoulder muscles. While they train the same major muscle groups, there are still some differences. In this article, I break down five of the biggest differences between the incline bench press compared to the classic flat bench … Read more
Madcow 5×5 is a workout routine for intermediate lifters looking to gain strength and muscle quickly. The program has three full-body barbell workouts per week, where the weights increase on a weekly basis. In this article, you’ll find an outline and description of the Madcow 5×5 program. This program is 100% free in our workout … Read more