Yesterday I was in a park with a friend of mine soaking up some sun. As we were lying there restocking our vitamin D supplies, we got to talking about bodybuilding. When we were younger, both of us were obsessed with strength training. We were in the gym lifting heavy many times every week, we […]
How Deep Should You Squat?
May 21, 2017 by 1 Comment
The squat is a an excellent exercise for building the lower body, in particular the glutes, hamstrings, and quads. Not only that, the squat can help you improve your posture, metabolic and cardiovascular health, and hormone levels. Not all squats are equally effective at producing these positive health effects though. A bad squat, performed with […]
Ask Eirik: What Type of Strength Training Program Should I Follow?
April 19, 2017 by 2 Comments
I’ve talked a lot about strength training here on the site. This is not by coincidence. Strength training has been one of my main interests for more than a decade. Not only have I done a lot of resistance training myself, but I’ve also set up strength training programs for hundreds of other people and […]
6 Exercises That Can Help You Improve Your Posture
March 31, 2017 by 4 Comments
Our modern lifestyle, characterized by prolonged sitting and inadequate physical activity, is not kind to our bodies. Lumbar hyperlordosis (“swayback”), thoracic kyphosis (“hunchback”), and other similar musculoskeletal conditions are very common in our society today. Very few contemporary humans have truly great posture. As I pointed out in my recent article entitled The Muscle Imbalance […]
Ask Eirik: What Can I Do to Fix My Quad-Dominant Squat?
February 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The barbell back squat is one of the most popular and effective strength exercises in existence. When properly performed, it strengthens the posterior chain, quads, and core, helps correct muscular imbalances, and brings about positive changes in body composition. Unfortunately, a large majority of gym goers don’t perform the squat with good technique. They fail […]
Forget What You Think You Know About Fitness
January 30, 2017 by 7 Comments
The fitness community is covered in a fog composed of anecdotes, broscience, dogma, and myths. Everything is covered, except for a few small sections on the outskirts of the community. Most people never find their way out of the grey cloud surrounding them and into these clear areas. They remain trapped in the fog their […]
20 Tips to Master the Big Four
November 9, 2016 by 5 Comments
During the years I’ve worked as a strength coach/personal trainer I’ve helped hundreds – if not thousands – of people learn how to train effectively and correctly. I’ve done a long range of strength and conditioning exercises with my clients; everything from push-ups to kettlebell swings to indoor rowing to the clean and jerk. However, […]
Is Static Stretching a Waste of Time?
September 17, 2016 by 4 Comments
The idea that static stretching is good for us is highly ingrained into our society. Soccer players are from a young age instructed by their coaches to stretch their hamstrings and hip flexors both before and after exercise, fitness instructors incorporate various stretches into the workout programs of their clients and fitness classes, and many […]
Obesity: A Cause or Consequence of Physical Inactivity?
September 5, 2016 by 1 Comment
Physical inactivity makes you fat, right? If you ask a dozen people on the street whether they agree with this supposition, the vast majority, if not everyone, will probably say that they do. If you then go on to ask why individuals who carry around a lot of excess body fat tend to exercise less […]
The Dangers of Excessive Strength Training
August 26, 2016 by 9 Comments
Strength training is great. No other activity has such a profound impact on bone health and body composition. You can run for hours on the treadmill every week and go to every Zumba class at your local gym, it’s not going to give you a strong, muscular body. You need to lift something as well, […]
