by Geoff Roberts

I often wonder how the strategies in which people make a living today got to this point. Who decided it was a good idea to have a boss and work for someone else? Who decided that it was perfectly normal to hate one’s job and or career? When it comes right down to it, there is really no reason that these ideas have to exist at all. If you hate your job or career, in general, you essentially are unhappy with what you are doing at least forty hours a week, for the better part of sixty years or so.
Read More »Pursue Your Passions

by Cade Thomas

The bodybuilding world seemingly has two entirely separate communities that at times seem almost clueless of the other’s existence and importance. In the first batch, we have the people who are involved actively at the contests and are involved with the local scene and surround themselves with people who are similarly involved. They talk to people at the gym about who is going to be in the upcoming shows and who will be moving up the ranks etc. While they are very likely aware of who is doing what in the IFBB they quite possibly are not “in the know” about the daily gossip amongst the top professionals on a global level.
Read More »Bodybuilding: Online vs in the Flesh

by Mike Arnold

Of all the different subjects associated with the world of bodybuilding, no other is potentially more confounding than contest prep. Whether this is due to the wide range of knowledge required to effectively and efficiently manipulate all the variables involved, or being overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the endeavor, makes little difference. The fact is, despite the combined experience of multiple generations of bodybuilders being freely available to us, no other undertaking provokes such self-doubt. At a time when bodybuilders should be growing increasingly more confident in their ability to navigate this complex, yet necessary aspect of competitive bodybuilding, we are seeing more and more individuals just throw their hands up in the air without even bothering to educate themselves on the basic principles required for getting in contest condition. Hence, the ever-rising number of career coaches in this industry.
Read More »The 10 Biggest Mistakes Made During Contest Prep

by Geoff Roberts

Misconceptions are rampant in our society. With all of the different sources of “information” available today, it is far easier to stumble across bad information than it is good information. Misconceptions of the past come to be simply via a false assumption, followed by habit. The topic of nutrition is not all exempt from these two misconception breeding grounds. Certain dietary “rules” have been accepted for so long that a large majority of the population simply assume they are true, without even thinking critically about said fact or rule.
Read More »The Great Calorie Conundrum

by Mike Arnold

Everything tends to move in phases. This is true of training, diet, drug use, and even the smaller, less recognized aspects of the bodybuilding experience. Although some of the younger guys won’t remember this, it was only about 15 years ago that the use of aromatase inhibitors was heavily frowned upon when attempting to build muscle mass. We were taught that estrogen was an integral component of the muscle building process and therefore, if a little was good, more must be better. Despite a complete lack of scientific evidence in support of this claim, many bodybuilders chose to forego estrogen management almost entirely, even when employing large dosages of highly aromatizable compounds. Although Nolvadex was the usual go-to treatment for dealing with gynecomastia, as a S.E.R.M it was entirely ineffective at lowering estrogen levels. This allowed systematic estrogen to continue wreaking havoc on one’s health and appearance; both internal and external.
Read More »Does Estrogen Promote Muscle Growth?

by Cade Thomas

Many books have been written and many debates have been held over how to keep a healthy relationship with your partner or significant other. A list of things that men need in order to be happy compared against a list of things women need, sometimes contradicting each other and leaving everyone more confused than ever.
Read More »Bodybuilding and Relationships: The Curse Continues

by Mike Arnold

Over the last several years, I have considered myself privileged to have witnessed the evolution of the BB’ing community as it continues to advance and grow. In many ways, this progression has been a positive experience, leading to an increase in knowledge in the areas of training, nutrition, and supplementation. As BB’rs, it is in our nature to take advantage of these advancements, doing everything we can to help create our own idea of the perfect physique. For many, the desire for physical improvement is all-consuming, with lifters of all ages sacrificing the normal pleasures of life in the pursuit of their goals. To the uninitiated, our passion for the sport is often viewed as obsession, but to us, it is just another day in the gym.
Read More »Training Intensity, the Missing Link

by Mike Arnold

Anyone who has even the slightest bit of insight into the supplement industry is well aware of the popularity of traditional nervous system stimulants among not only bodybuilders, but the entire fitness community. Typically included as part of a comprehensive fat-loss or pre-workout product, stimulants are used by millions of people on a daily basis for a multitude of reasons. Even coffee (i.e. caffeine), which is the most widely used drug in the world, is included among this group. The benefits of these drugs are well-documented and numerous, including increased energy, improved mental and physical performance, accelerated fat loss, heighted mood, and about a dozen others.
Read More »Nervous System Stimulants and the Bodybuilder