exercises

The calf muscles are neglected by many gym-goers, and those who do train their calves seem to treat them like a "cool down" after annihilating every other muscle in their legs. It’s no surprise that people often complain they can't get their calves to grow. The reality is they just don’t put...

There’s a chance you’ve walked into a gym and seen those weighted round balls in the corner more than likely gathering dust. That neglect ends now. These colorful weighted balls are med balls, and when incorporated into your daily workout routine med ball training exercises will supersize your...

FOR ABS, SQUATS AND DEADLIFTS SUCK A few studies have taken the position that multi-joint, free-weight exercises such as barbell squats and deadlifts activate "core" muscles better than isolation core exercises. These studies have led many trainers, coaches and exercise enthusiasts to...

If you’re looking for a shapely, contoured midsection you may think training your abdominal muscles daily and incorporating heavy weights into the equation is the answer. However, that might lead to the opposite of what you’re looking to achieve and result in boxy, bulky, or square-looking...

Ever since former Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick created his vision out of a jiu-jitsu belt and parachute webbing, suspension trainers like the TRX have become commonplace in gyms and homes worldwide. It’s convenience—an entire gym in a bag—arguably created the fitness phenomenon of taking your workout...

If you’ve picked up a dumbbell or any weight, you’ve probably heard the term “isolation exercise” tossed around. In theory, isolation exercises are meant to target one muscle group—in reality, that’s not normally the case. No single muscle truly works in “isolation” because the human body is a...

There’s more total-body benefits to be gained inside the squat rack than just everyone’s favorite legday staple, the squat. And, no, we’re not talking about biceps curls, but other heavily effective moves not quite mainstream yet that you should be aware of. At one time, the squat was...

Landmine training was invented long before the barbell attachment was created—unofficially—when the first gym bro stuck a barbell in corner and created a T- Bar rows variation long ago. For lifters who have shoulder mobility issues, landmine training is an excellent method to lift overhead...

If you’ve been around the gym trenches, you have heard the term if you cannot grip it, you can’t rip it, and forearms play a big part in it. Forearm strength and endurance are critical in all grip-intensive exercises like deadlifts, chin-ups, and all row variations. The grip often fails before...

Not everyone has bodybuilder-size calves—this writer sadly included. But if your calves need growth, you can still do what Arnold Schwarzenegger once did: Work on them—daily if necessary. You can begin your quest for quality calves by trying out some of the moves below—hurry, because shorts...

USE ALL NEW EXERCISES FOR ONE WEEK Next Saturday night, take a few minutes to sit down, grab a pen and paper or your preferred Notes app, and literally write down every exercise you did over the last seven days. Most likely, you'll come up with flat bench, back squat, and conventional deadlift...

Good exercises can still be overrated when you have an exaggerated perception of their importance. Why does it even matter? Because you'll overuse them at the expense of other valuable exercises. Here are some examples of good exercises that are commonly overused and alternative exercises that...

I wondered if there were any exercises with the same multitasking elements. A few came to mind, but the one that stood out was the push-up. As I thought about all of the scenarios I've used some sort of push-up in, I began to appreciate its versatility. I also realized that even though the...

A FAT BURNING WORKOUT, NOT MUSCLE BURNING Fat loss is simple, but improving body composition – losing fat while retaining or adding some muscle – is a lot trickier. It requires the use of smart nutrition and the best training methods. A lot of people who focus on "fat loss" think of their...

Athletically speaking, there’s very few things more visually appealing than watching an NBA star dunk a basketball or an NFL wide receiver elevate to catch a football, or an Olympic-caliber sprinter run a sub-10-second 100 meters. What do these feats have in common? These displays of power are...

Adding instability to your weight training in the form of unstable surfaces or reducing points of contact was all the rage a while ago. But mixed with social media and the fight for eyeballs, some may have taken creativity a bit too far. It was (and still can) more circus trick than strength...

Cardio machines like the treadmill, rowing, elliptical and stationary cycling are convenient and practical tools to enhance cardiovascular strength and endurance. You set the duration and intensity, and off you go. But they are not the only machines to get your heart rate up and work up a sweat...

Nowadays you don’t have to visit a CrossFit gym to see battle rope exercises in use. What used to be reserved for specific fitness niches and professional athletes is now utilized in home gyms, outdoor workouts, and boot camps. The simplicity of battle rope exercises are what makes them a...

The foam roller is still a fantastic tool to help release tension and soreness from muscles you never knew were tight or sore. It is a must pre and post-workout recovery tool. It comes in all shapes and sizes to improve mobility and movement and reduce muscle soreness, particularly if you are an...

Plyometric exercises are explosive moves (like jumping) that allow the body to gain power, strength, speed, and fast reaction time. Athletes and those dedicated to increasing their muscular power (amongst other athletic gains) utilize plyometric training as a way to level up their athleticism...