by Geoff Roberts

It would seem that most people feel a person’s metabolism is tied exclusively to that person’s ability to lose or gain fat tissue. However, this is not 100% accurate, as a persons metabolism is more closely related to his or her overall body weight than it is his or her body fat percentage. Body fat is dependent on several different factors, whereas body weight is based heavily on only two things, a person’s metabolic rate and simple energy balance.
Read More »Fast Metabolism, A Blessing And…. A Curse?

by Mike Arnold

Like most individuals who are passionate about what they do, enthusiasm is generally not in short supply when it comes to weight training and the beginner. Frequently, the novice will invest a tremendous amount of energy in pursuit of his goals, often taking things to the extreme in the hope of developing his physique as quickly as possible. In a beginner’s mind, the more he does, the faster he will grow…or so he thinks. Unfortunately, in all but a very small percentage of cases, such as a plan of action is sure to result in not only a decline in muscle growth, but usually a complete cessation of progress altogether. In order to rectify this dilemma, the BB’r will frequently set out to train even harder by adding more exercises and/or sets to his program. Inevitably, he experiences more of the same…frustration.
Read More »Hard-Gainer Nonsense

by Geoff Roberts

In the world of bodybuilding, or life in general for that matter, few things are lied about as frequently as, or to the same extent as weight. Whether it is a fat person lowering their claimed weight, a skinny person and/or bodybuilder raising their claimed weight, or even a person lying about how much weight they can or did lift. The topic of weight tends to avoid the truth like IFBB Pro Jon Andersen avoiding carbohydrates. This is mentioned in bodybuilding circles now and then, most notably by Lonnie “The Swami” Teper, but it is rarely examined closely. When looking at some of the claimed body weights of different professional bodybuilders over the years, it becomes clear that the majority of our athletes may have larger noses than the woodcutter had originally intended.
Read More »Bodybuilding’s Weighty Issues

by Geoff Roberts

The question, “Why do all the good supplements get taken off the shelf?” is one that I and anyone else who works in the supplement industry hears on a weekly basis. The answer to this question, for anyone heavily invested in this industry, should be easy to come by. However, for the average person who, devastatingly enough, gets their information from the media or any other “mainstream” source, the answer is not so clear.
Read More »What Happened To Your Favorite Supplement?

by Gavin Kane

Alright, by now I assume you have read parts 1 and 2 and understand and have applied the principles listed. If not, stop reading this now and go back to the first two articles or this one won’t help you. This is not a crash course on cycling steroids; this is how to use steroids in conjunction with my first two articles that establish proper eating and training. Most of you will not need to add a cycle off season if you follow my principles in the first two articles closely. But since it is my job to fully educate you, and I am not naïve, I know this is the article you have been waiting for most of all.
Read More »Hardcore Bulking The Cycles – Part III

by Gavin Kane

In the first article of the series we attacked hardcore dieting and how to gain maximum mass without maximum fat gains. There are two more pieces to this puzzle, training and cycles. This article is going to focus on the aspects of hardcore training, the type of training that goes along with all those calories you have been eating. Off-season is the time we hit the heavy weights, a return to the basics, meaning no cable-curls, no chrome weights, and no listening to Backstreet Boys while training.
Read More »HARDCORE BULKING INTRODUCTION – PART II

by Gavin Kane

Off-season; a bodybuilder’s favorite time of year and the favorite words whispered after a recent contest. So the time is here, what are you going to do about it? First step is to determine what you want to do and set some goals. You cannot achieve anything without a plan. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. So let’s set some clear cut goals. You are going to need all the tools at your disposal before you begin. You are going to work on written goals, nutrition, training, and finally the hardcore cycle.

Write down your goals. Have everything written down and in plain sight as a reminder of what you are trying to achieve. So write down your target weight, your training days, your daily calorie goals, your cycle, etc. Keep a master log book of everything you are trying to do. Like I stated, you must plan for success.
Read More »Hardcore Bulking Introduction – Part I

by Cade Thomas

Mass at all costs. This is still the approach that some people apply to bodybuilding but times are changing. You will still come across the “I don’t care if I die as long as I need a big casket” asshole here and there (usually online behind a fake screen name), but it’s less and less common (maybe they…died? Sorry, too easy).
Read More »Healthy is the New Huge

by Blane Morton

Bodybuilding truly is the ageless sport. Unlike basketball or football or track and field, bodybuilders peak at all different stages in their lives. Shawn Ray and Jay Cutler were megastars in the sports by the time they were in their early 20’s, yet it took Toney Freeman and Ronnie Coleman well into their 40’s before hitting stride in their careers. It’s also a sport that can last throughout your entire lifetime. Show me football players that can still block and tackle after their 50th birthday. However, it’s the reason why bodybuilding is the ageless sport that intrigues me the most.
Read More »The Ageless Sport