Exercise Over 50

Static Contractions: A Forgotten Training Approach that can Build Big Strength

A Forgotten Training Approach that can Build Big Strength Anyone remember static contractions? A quarter century ago these were mildly popular. However, like many training techniques that produce significant results but require unusual types of effort, it was largely...

Meaningful Data on Your Workouts

Meaningful Data on Your Workouts Powerlifting is all about numbers. But numbers alone don't mean anything unless they're related to some significant purpose you are trying to achieve. Many of us keep detailed data on our workouts. It is important that the data we keep...

Preventing Lower Back Injuries with the Kettlebell Swing

Preventing Lower Back Injuries With the Kettlebell Swing Preventing injuries is vastly superior to doing rehab. A huge percentage of American men will suffer from lower back problems. Depending on the source used as many as 80% of men will have a back problem at some...

No Brain, No Gain

No Brain, No Gain Having spent many years in gyms, I am consistently surprised by the number of...

Small Changes that Make a BIG Difference

Small Changes that make a BIG difference and a hard to believe story from long ago Regular readers of this column know that one of my enduring bits of advice is that working to achieve near perfect lifting technique is the only way to realize your full potential. It...

Longevity Research: Some Hard Questions

Longevity Research: Some Hard Questions Longevity research has gotten a lot of news coverage lately in part because Saudi Arabia has announced plans to spend a billion dollars a year on extending life. The bozo press has routinely concocted stories about amazing...

Turning 82 and Still Powerlifting

Reflections on turning 82 and still powerlifting I turned 82 this past week and am getting ready to participate in Bull Stewarts August 20 Bench Press-Deadlift meet at Alki Beach in Seattle. That sounds strange even to me. Im truly blessed to still be able to lift...

Making Improvements as an Experienced Lifter

Making Improvements as an Experienced Lifter We are all aware of how easy it is for a beginning lifter to make significant gains in the first two months of training. Beginners can show a massive improvement in a short time. When you begin in a weak and/or...

Mini Practice: Stealth opportunities for valuable strength building

Mini Practice: Stealth opportunities for valuable strength building Most of us make a clear distinction between the time when we are doing our workouts and all the other time in the day. Time in the gym (or wherever) is when you focus on physical training. At other...

Fitness Metrics: Stick to what is important

Fitness Metrics: Stick to what is important The fitness market is awash in apps that promise miracle results through providing a huge amount of physiological data about the user. Any activity that can be monitored is recorded. Realtime information on physical...