Jill St. Laurent figure competitor, fitness model, bikini model
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by: Jeff Anderson
 Still straining to get past that personal record on your bench press, lat pull down, bicep curls, or any other exercise? Can't quite seem to squeeze out that last rep without popping a vein in your forehead and gushing blood all over the gym floor?
We've all been there, and that's exactly where I was one day in my local gym, flat on the bench press, with the weight laden bar dangling over my head, three quarters of the way up, threatening to come crashing down on my cranium! Thank goodness for spotters!
I finally managed to hoist myself up to a seated position, my head hung low with the disappointment that I had failed to set my new record weight, when I saw a pair of old white canvas sneakers topped by a pair of black dress socks. I looked up to see Marty, the crusty old gym rat nobody paid much attention to, dressed up in his usual old coach's shorts (you know...the ones with the two buttons at the top and the skintight support that no one really wants to envision) hovering over me with one of those "Are you just going to quit sissy boy!" looks on his face.
Memories of my old elementary school gym teacher came streaming back through my mind...memories of trying to climb that damned rope all the way to the top and having Mrs. Kavorkian (at least I THINK it was a Mrs...could have been a MR.; we never could quite tell) yelling at me to keep climbing while my arms threatened to give out, sending a gangly 9-year old crashing to the floor in a twisted pile of bones and flesh. (This article's turning out to be a bit more gory than I expected!) |
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Melyssa Buhl fitness model, bikini model, glamour model
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by: Dennis Weis
Some time ago I had the pleasure of listening to former world bench press champion Ken Lain talk about the secrets of Gaining Maximum Bulk and Power! He talked about many bodybuilders’ failure to pack on all the muscle weight and power they desire.
I then asked him to describe his training strategies, which would land a smashing blow against the somewhat ancient, inefficient and non-effective training methods that some individuals follow. Here is what he told me.
Let me ask you a question: "Are you as a power bodybuilder completely satisfied with the size and power of your muscles?" Before answering that question think it over for a moment. I can tell you, though, that quite a few of the folks, especially the younger ones, who come into my Power Shack Gym here in Abilene, Texas, ask me, "How do I get a massive body?" or "How do I build up a bulky, powerful physique?"
These are the most common appeals for training guidance I hear on an almost day to day basis. These folks tell me practically the same story: "I have tried some of the muscle gaining routines that are published in various mainstream bodybuilding magazines, but I don’t know where to begin." "Sometimes there is so much information that it’s hard to put into practice because the workouts are too long in duration. I don’t have time to use all the exercises and the program overall makes me work too hard." |
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Brooke Adams fitness model, bikini model, glamour model
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by: Jeff Anderson
Clint Eastwood wouldn't have been a very intimidating Dirty Harry if all he pulled out was a little .22 caliber pistol to make his point. He knew that to really make the bad guy's knees shake and the lady's legs quiver, a .44 Magnum was the weapon of choice?!
So when it comes to bicep development, why should you settle for second rate pea-shooters when you can pack some really big guns?
Let's face it, all men want big biceps. They're the easiest muscle to show off without getting undressed, women love to wrap their arms around them when walking down the street, and they're small!
Whoa, hold up there sparky…I didn't mean YOURS were small. I simply mean that compared with other muscles of the body, like your chest, back, and legs, your biceps are a relatively small muscle.
That's good news for you and me because it means that it's much easier to target your biceps for growth than it is to take on larger, more complicated muscle groups.
So why aren't YOURS the size of softballs yet? |
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Val Wiseman fitness model, glamour model
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by: Tom Venuto
 "A commitment to excellence" is one of those catchy phrases you hear all the time and maybe even use yourself without knowing what it really means; and almost certainly without practicing what it embodies.
So what is excellence?
If you were blessed with special physical, mental or artistic gifts, then a commitment to excellence means making the most of your talents and striving to be in the top 1% in your field - possibly even being the best in the world at what you do.
Excellence is not necessarily winning or being number one, however (although winning is certainly a by-product of excellence). Excellence simply means that you make the decision to be the best YOU can possibly be. Excellence also means continually striving to become better than you used to be.
For example, excellence in your fitness or bodybuilding endeavors means making the commitment to get in the absolute best shape you can given your genetic potential.
Your commitment to excellence should not end with a decision to get in great shape - although that's a good place to start. Excellence is a state of mind that should permeate every area of your life. |
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Wendy Fortino figure competitor, fitness model
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