muscles

It could be argued that the three most popular pieces of gym equipment are in no particular order are the flat benches, standing cable machines and the lat pulldown machine. Take a look around your gym, while the adductor machines remains empty. Often you will find lifters milling around these...

Collagen protein is an important source of energy for your body. But did you know that it has many other benefits? From lean muscles to smooth skin, collagen offers a lot! There are two main kinds of protein: Whey and Collagen. Both provide great benefits but they do different things. We’re...

If you hit the gym often but can't get the V-shape you want, you're probably not paying enough attention to your shoulder muscles. And that's why it's crucial to select the best shoulder workout to fit your goals. But exercise plans for these muscles should be about more than aesthetics...

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...

Did you know that back pain is one of the most common chronic conditions in Canada? Every four out of five adults between the ages of 30-50 will experience at least one episode of back pain at some point in their life [1]. Whether you’re looking to build muscle for the aesthetic, increase...

One of your goals, when you hit the gym, is probably well-defined pecs. A built chest gives the appearance of strength, but also stabilizes the shoulders, improves posture, and promotes overall upper-body strength. The chest is made up of two major muscle groups—the pectoralis major and...

Targeting excess facial fat is tricky as evidence that you can spot-reduce body fat remains limited [1]. The good news is there are a handful of studies suggesting facial exercises can help define and rejuvenate facial appearance by strengthening muscles of the cheeks and jaw [2]. However...

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...

The angled deadlift is for intermediate to advanced lifters who have enough experience with the basic pulling and pressing exercises that they're ready for a new challenge. This exercise hits the posterior-chain muscles you'd use in a traditional deadlift, along with the shoulder and arm...

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...

Working your muscles through a full range of motion is almost always a good idea. It'll develop your muscles to their greatest potential and accelerate your gains. However, there are a couple of things you must consider. It's important to keep tension on the working muscles and increase the...

You're sitting in the audience at a strength and conditioning conference, there to learn a thing or two about building bigger, stronger muscles, and the speaker calls you up to the podium. The speaker has set up a barbell onstage with a stack of plates next to it. He tells you that you're going...

OUT OF HARMONY Antagonist and agonist muscles oppose each other and have opposite functions. Think biceps and triceps: while one muscle contracts, the other relaxes. Unfortunately for most people, these muscles aren't living in perfect harmony. Individual genetics, training styles, movement...

Here’s something most of us can agree on: Lunges are awful. No matter the type of lunges you are doing side lunge, reverse lunge, forward lunge. Very few people jump for joy when it’s time to do lunges —even less are able to jump afterward because of the exercise’s brutality. Like downing...

With the vegan and vegetarian lifestyles gaining in popularity, people are somehow telling themselves that a plant-based diet is going to fulfill all of your nutritional needs. Taking a look at other diets such as Paleo that are supposed to be based on what our great ancestors ate, how can you...

If you're exercising on a regular basis, it's easy to get frustrated when you're not seeing the results you're working so hard to achieve. After all, consistently going to the gym or working with a personal trainer is a big time and financial commitment. Yet before you get down on yourself or...

Neck tension refers to neck pain that develops when the muscles in the neck cannot relax, which can lead to soreness, muscle spasms, and headaches. It has numerous possible causes, ranging from joint problems to inflamed nerves. Depending on the underlying cause, people can experience different...

When it comes to making changes to one's appearance, increasing one's muscle mass is often considered to be of the utmost importance. The addition of muscle mass will enhance your lean body mass, boost the definition of your muscles, and add bulk and dimension to your frame in all the correct...

I read the other day from an “IG exercise expert” that barbell rows aren’t as effective as machines since the tension isn’t “focused” enough on the target muscle. Bullshit. These “experts” are always small. Well, usually…more often than not. I’m all for targeting muscles. I use a ton of...

One of the most overlooked muscle groups in a beginning bodybuilders' training program is legs. They aren't as impressive as the chest and arms, so novices often make the same error and skip exercising them. However, this is a mistake because they don't realize the overall high development...