The Influence of Supernormal Stimuli on the Evolution of Bodybuilding
A conversation took me down the rabbit hole of supernormal stimuli — exaggerated stimuli that attract animals. It explains why people are attracted to over-the-top curves and beefy muscles... which you'll find at bodybuilding competitions.
Leg Workout of the Day with 8x8x8 Banded Leg Extensions
No, you're not seeing deja vu. This workout features: 1. Lying Leg Curls 2. Leg Extensions 3. Cambered Bar Squats 4. Banded Leg Extensions 5. Dumbbell Stiff-Legged Deads. Per the usual, click to see the sets, reps, equipment used for this leg workout, and find out what's super-setted.
Bodybuilding for the Powerlifter: The Hamstrings (with Sample Deadlift Routine)
In this "powerbuilding" article, we’re looking at hamstrings — a muscle group bodybuilders and strength athletes alike struggle to develop. If you’re naturally lower-body dominant, you don’t need to spend tons of time on 'em. But if you’ve got piglets instead of hammies, I don’t need to convince you to read on.
Don’t Let the Wheels On The Bus Run Your Ass Over
If you were on a serious and strict diet in 1985, you really had very few, if any, options to go out to eat and you were relegated to eating only at home. In 2019, there really is no excuse not to eat relatively well while out at a restaurant unless you simply DO NOT WANT TO.
Workout of the Day: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps with Mark Dugdale
1. Incline Bench Press 2. Banded Dumbbell Flat Bench 3. Dips with Chains and Machine Flyes 4. Shoulder Press and High Lateral Plate Raises 5. Machine Laterals 6. Rear Delt Swings and Close Grip Bench — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this chest, shoulders, and triceps workout.
A Snapshot of My Off-Season Diet — Health, Recovery, and Efficiency
It’s been 19 months since I competed. My family and business required all my attention over that period of time. Some days I worked 16-hour days. I train more as...
Workout of the Day: Back and Bis with Mark Dugdale
1. MAG Scapula Retraction Pulldowns 2. Max Tension Hammer Strength Rows 3. Decline Banded Pullover 4. Away Facing Pulldowns 5. Isolation Curls 6. Incline Dumbbell Curls — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this back and biceps workout.
A Bodybuilding Rewind with Lee Haney and Dr. Fred Hatfield
Every once in a while, you find a rare gem hidden deep within your computer's files. This particular jewel was an interview I did with bodybuilder Lee Haney and the late Dr. Fred Hatfield — Dr. Squat himself! — in 2014.
The Time In-Between Sets Matters
You see lost lifters jumping from one diet to another or from one program to the next, thinking they bought a long-lost ingredient to the stew that is strength and power. But the actual missing ingredients are right in front of them: consistency and an understanding of the basics.
Workout of the Day: Legs with Mark Dugdale
1. Unilateral Leg Curls 2. Cambered Bar Squats with Chains 3. Blood-flow Restriction Leg Extensions and Goblet Squats 4. Cable Pull-Through — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this leg workout so you can enjoy the same pump.
The Good and The Bad About Insulin
I don't think most bodybuilders who use insulin as a performance enhancer truly understand WHY they are using it and what it can actually do to their bodies — both good and bad. So let’s dive into the nitty-gritty on the subject of insulin...
Bodybuilding for the Powerlifter: Why and How to Use the Maximal Effort Method
You're not a competitive powerlifter or bodybuilder. You want to move big weights in the gym, look good naked, and still have fun training and eating. You need the maximal effort method.
Skip’s Guide to the Best Burgers in Columbus, Ohio
You're heading to Columbus, Ohio for the Arnold in a couple of weeks. We know. If you care more about eating really good food and not as much about the crowd and being seen, here are my top-3 burger recommendations based on my foodie research.
Feet Mindfulness
I pose the following questions: How mindful are you of your feet? Do you think about where you want to go versus where you are heading? Are your feet on the right path, and if not, why? These questions and the wisdom you can obtain from them extend far beyond chalk and iron.
My Dream Gym
I decided to make some notes about the main things I would have in a gym if I owned one and didn’t care as much about making money as I did about just having a badass gym to train in. I think every meathead has done this at one time or another.
WATCH: 8x8 Back Blast
This part of my program has got your back. Literally. This time around, we're going to focus on the back. We're gonna send it shooting off like a rocket. Blast-off!
I'm a Bodybuilder and I Don't Drink
I am that guy who takes his food to get-togethers like this one. I figure it is a casual get-together and everyone will be eating and drinking so bringing my own small cooler of food should be no big deal. Slowly, it turned into a big deal — everything turned into a big deal.
Grow BIG Quads Without Lower Back Pain
Due to a few low back tweaks, while squatting 700 pounds in my early 30s, I've had to completely revamp the way I train legs. This article lays out the foundation in which I continue to stimulate quad development in the absence of big pounds.
Ed Corney: A Life Well Spent
Whenever one of the greats of bodybuilding or powerlifting passes away, it's a good time to pause and reflect on the present and learn from the past. With the recent death of Ed Corney in mind, let's take time to do just that.
WATCH: 8x8 Shoulders and Triceps
This part of my 8x8 program will give you shoulders like boulders. We're keeping it honest with 56 total sets, 7 exercises, and 8 sets with 30 seconds of rest.
Just the Fats Ma’am
I knew going in that this could be one of those situations where I was going to listen to someone tell me how smart they were and I was going to play my typical role of “dumb older guy who used to work out and now just wants to not be fat and live a long time.”
Six Weeks to Bigger Biceps
In this article, I can’t promise you Lee Priest-proportioned bicep development, but I will share some ideas to unlocking new growth over a six-week period of time.
Cash-Register Lady, Your Mom, and Applebee’s
Don't lie. You know it's gonna be good based entirely on the title.
WATCH: 8x8 Leg Blast
Like all portions of the 8x8 program, this leg day is going to consist of eight sets of eight reps, with a thirty-second rest in between each set. JJ, who is helping us out in this video, followed the program for six weeks and saw great results.