I’ve been around a long time and I’ve seen most of the muscle building programs promoted on the internet.  And let me tell you something, they are missing MANY very essential components.

I’ve summarized these missing components in my new killer video.  It is the one you’ve been waiting for from me.

It has PROOF!

Proof that AMD works and builds sick muscle.  I know what I’m talking about and guess what, in the AMD manual, I list all of the scientific studies that back up the program!

I think you’ll like this one, you have to check it out.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

Here is an old video of us hitting heavy support grip holds for time on the GRex.

Support grip is one component of grip strength. The others are crush, pinch, wrist postures and hand health.

Grip strength is the forgotten element of functional training and is essential since the hands are involved in all athletic and strength training endeavor (including building muscle or losing fat).

In fact the hands are the end point of the kinetic chain, so they must be developed if we hope to transfer the power created and accumulated from our bodies and express it through our hands.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

You’ve probably heard of using foam in the weightroom.  Previously, you might have only thought of using it for resting your knee on, while your stretching your hip flexors.

Well, a recent talk with Mike Hanley of HanleyStrength.com changed that.

He told me that he had his clients marching on thick foam to help with their knee and hip problems.  He said Louie Simmons had told him about it.   How he has been using it for activation and rehab purposes.

It is also well recognized in the powerlifting community that foam can also be used on the box squat, and we will talk about this too, later in this article.

Now, this of course got me thinking about other uses of foam.  I ordered a few blocks and started incorporating it into my program and the program of my clients.

Let’s look at a few different ways that you can incorporate foam into the weightroom.

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Quick Studies:

As you learned in the Chaos Manual:

Unstable foam surface = good rehab

Unstable foam surface = not good for power development

Studies from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) confirm my publication:

“Instability resistance exercises induce high muscle activation of postural limb and trunk muscles. The increased activation has been attributed to the increased stabilization functions.  Instability resistance training with its high muscle activation and lower external stress on joints could also be beneficial for general musculoskeletal health and certain types of rehabilitation.”

“Unstable conditions can lead to decreased force and power output, decreased range of motion and velocity. Furthermore ground based weight training exercises such as squats and dead lifts can provide equal or greater trunk activation than using instability devices. Another study has also reported that highly trained individuals do not experience greater trunk activation when performing exercises under light or moderately unstable conditions.”

“Since many of the benefits of instability devices can be achieved with high resistance involving ground based free weights, advanced resistance trained individuals may not need to emphasize this type of training in their strength and power training programs.”

“The benefits of instability resistance training may be more pronounced for those individuals pursuing primarily general health and rehabilitation benefits and not participating in training with free weights involving high loads.”

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Got Torso Strength?

The core is not only about building strength in fixed movement patterns, it is also defined as developing the required torso rigidity (isometric contraction of the anterior and posterior chains) to prevent injury and express power.

Lats are part of the core too!

In this new video, you’ll see another Diesel Crew original, Kettlebell Rocks.  They are named rocks because you have to remain rigid and unwavering during the partner engagement.

The partner will throw the kb side to side at the peak of the swing.  This is the exact moment that the lifter will brace, flex their lats, contract their abdominals and entire posterior chain to keep the kb path in line with a conventional swing.

The partner should be forceful and not tentative with their part of the movement.  This movement is very CNS intensive and because of this, I would recommend anywhere from 8-12 reps to ensure quality.

Embed this video on your blog or point to it in your newsletter, let’s get the word out.

Oh yeah, check out the side bar.  Make sure you follow us AND send me an email to let me know what your favorite Diesel articles and videos are and we’ll get them up in our new Popular section!

If you want to learn more about strengthening the core, pick up the product that Eric Cressey called “the best product of 2008!”

Thanks everyone,

Smitty

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

Excuse me sir, you need a tic tac

I’ve got a few clients I’ve been training who are frustrated.

They’re frustrated because they are not reaching their goals… QUICKLY.

The simple fact is, it takes time.

Whether your goal is to gain muscle or lose fat, it doesn’t happen over night.  It takes day in and day out consistency.

For nutrition, remember the 80/20 rule?  It means that if you stick to your sound nutritional plan 80% of the time, you will be successful.  The other 20% would include your reward “day” after being consistent all week.

For strength training, everyone talks about the 23/1 rule.  That basically says, during the 1 hour in the gym, we have to activate what has been shut down, mobilize what has become immobile and warm-up/train/rehab – to counterbalance the negative effects of the other 23 hours.

Yes, I flossed this morning sucka

If you have clients that aren’t reaching their goals, you have to reel them back in.  Do not allow them to slip on their nutrition by having them keep their food journal more diligently.  Ensure their intensity in the gym is appropriate with their program.  Provide them with the tools to build their support structure; family, friends, facebook support groups, etc.

This is not a game of 12 weeks and I’m done.  You have to explain to your clients that this is a lifestyle change for there to be any chance of longevity.

Also, knowledge is power and the more you “teach” while you train, the better equipped your clients will be to make informed decisions moving forward.

Sometimes, you will have the “you’ve got no where else to go” moment and you have to be honest, dig in and recommit yourself back to consistency.  Then you will be able to power through it and reach your goals.

Did you know that AMD is coming out soon?  It is my new muscle building program that provides the “how-to” and the “why” on how muscle is build and the strategies to be successful – long term.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site