M&F Cheat Sheet: Core Construction

The term “core” has been a buzzword in the fitness industry for many years now. Most of us physique-minded folks still only think of our abs when the term is brought up but there is much more to the core than a six-pack. In order to develop a strong core, you need to understand its makeup, and how building it can translate into bigger muscles...

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Get More Out of Your Lateral Raises

There are some things in your training regimen you do because, well, everybody does them. Everyone benches for a big chest, and if you want big legs, you squat. But sometimes the masses seem more like lemmings --— they aren't sure what or why they'’re doing something. They just do it because they believe they should. Which brings us to the dumbbell...

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5 Things You Should Know About Walnuts

1) Even though there are 21 species of walnut trees, the nuts you’ll find in your grocery store are most likely Persian or common walnuts, but in America they’re often called English walnuts. Confusing matters further, the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan has the largest walnut-tree forests in the world. 2) One ounce of walnuts, or...

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The Best Olympia Body Part Workout

When Mary Shelley first introduced her reanimated monster in the 1818 novel Frankenstein: or, The 
Modern Prometheus, it sparked an impassioned debate that extended beyond literary circles, a debate that’s carried forward for nearly two centuries: Is immortality within the reach of modern science? The protagonist’s quest to abolish the limitations...

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Back to the Bench Press

QUESTION: I injured my rotator cuff bench-pressing, but I love it. How can I get back to benching as quickly and as safely as possible? —Sean O., Mattituck, NY ANSWER: Rotator cuff injuries can be devastating to anyone who enjoys benching. By understanding the function of the rotator cuff and learning to protect it, you can make rotator...

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Late Night Carbs and Body Fat

Question: What’s your take on consuming carbs later in the day? Do you think it can increase body fat even if your total daily carb intake is not surpassed? --Hank M., via Facebook Answer: No doubt the origin of this belief stems from the notion that carbohydrates simply turn into fat, especially carbohydrates that are not being used. However,...

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Training Techniques For Greater Muscle Growth

I talk so much about the many common ways to add intensity to your body - techniques like drop sets, forced reps, rest-pauses and holding peak contractions - that I sometimes forget the not-so-obvious ones. Recently, I thought back to some of the innovative ways that my fellow bodybuilders and I achieved that extra bit of intensity in a workout,...

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