Life imitates meme…or why the gym is always packed the first week of January.

It commonly said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. And yet, in spite of decades of gym-going experience every December I find myself tut-tutting at all those lame “new year’s resolutioners” memes and snarky posts to forums and Facebook groups. Every year I tell […]

The evolution of a Powerlifter.

I happened upon strength training almost by accident. I had been going to the gym for a number of years, nay, decades, more or less consistently. So I went to the gym regularly, but aimlessly, without clear goals. I’d do whatever I felt like doing once I arrived at the gym and the exercise choice […]

Gym may be life…but keep it to yourself.

As I’ve said in previous posts, if you want to stick to a strength-training program it’s absolutely necessary to find your motivation. Strength-training, per se, is not necessarily fun. People who stick to strength-training programs are those of have developed an interest in which weight-lifting plays a part. Often, these are athletes in heavily strength […]

To sleep, perchance to dream…

An anecdotal account of the effects of sleep deprivation on training and general health The internet is awash with well being and sports training advice. All of the reputable sources of advice and coaching, without exception, stress the importance of quality sleep. “Yes, yes”, you think, “I get it…it’s the low hanging fruit type of […]

An ode to fringe activities…

OR THE LONELINESS OF THE POWERLIFTING WINE-CHUGGER. OR HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE BY NOT BORING THEM TO TEARS WITH YOUR HOBBY/SPORT/LIFESTYLE CHOICE/DIET Happy new year, everyone. I made an early night of it last night so after a nice dinner with friends I went to bed shortly after midnight CET. As a […]

What to do when you don’t feel like training…

Sooner or later, it happens to everyone. You take your physical training regimen for granted and little by little, it becomes less of a priority. Whereas before you’d broach no interruption to your training program, now work and family stress become a valid reason for missing workouts. Inevitably, as your training become crappier, so too […]

The 4 rules of the SQUAT

I had an epiphany a few days ago. Thanks to time, rehab and mobility training, I have recently been able to perform back squats for the first time in 11 months. I knew that I was going to lose strength in squat…and I sure did. What surprised me, however, was how much my technique […]

When the squats don’t work…

If you’re reading my posts I don’t think I really need to convince you about the benefits of physical training in general and strength training in particular. Exercise improves the quality of your life, period. This post is targeted at those of you who have taken the red pill as concerns physical training. It’s unquestionably […]

Why is this so popular? Rant o’ the day

Today I’m going to bend one of the golden rules of this blog The gym should be a judgement free zone, not in the infantile, disempowering “here, have a donut” Planet Fitness sense, but rather a positive place where you do challenging things. Mirin’ is encouraged, but haughty disdain of one’s fellow gym-goer is the […]

Powerlifting, skateboarding and why keeping it real is so much fun.

I’m a middle-aged man who, in his lifetime, has had some modest athletic gifts that have allowed him to compete in Karate, Boxing, Kick-boxing, Baseball, Cross-country, Track and Field (high jump), various semi-marathons and, most recently, Powerlifting. Try as I might, I can’t do “fitness”, it bores me to tears. The idea of working out […]