First, you need to understand that when a study is done on health or fitness the amount of people which they use is very small compared to the general population.  Second, these studies don’t take into consideration the stresses and trials of real life.  Third, they are looking at one aspect and are not getting a broader picture of how the thing they are studying affects other aspects of your health.

Basically studies are a guide or warning of what could happen.  Take for example eggs, do they raise cholesterol do they have no effect.  I don’t know, but I do know I had four grandparents who lived to 89 or above and they ate eggs at least 5 days per week for 70 plus years.  Looking at this example you can see studies don’t always give the answer to your questions.

Really all you can do is take in the information given to you and find what works best for you.  This doesn’t mean giving up because it’s easy it means actually trying different things a finding out what works best.  So stay strong and give it some time and you will get the answer you are looking for.

To you success

Blaine

Below is an example of a great way to build upper body strength and core stability.   These exercises are the precursor to a hand stand and a handstand push-up.  By adding these to your workouts you will see a huge difference in you stability and strength levels in your shoulders.

Now get to work and add these into your workout.  Try using them in your warm-up or as a way to superset with abs or legs.

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

So being the guy I am, I decided to see how a couple of my athletes stacked up to his.

The Challenge

Pull-ups, Squat Jumps, Push-ups, Lunges Jumps no rest reverse ladder 10,8,6,4,2 for time.

Now the guys you see below, hit the challenge after a triset of double DB Cleans, 1 arm DB snatchs and V-ups repeated 3 times.

So if you want a challenge get warmed up properly and try the challenge.

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

This video is not for the weak at heart.  And most of you won’t be able to most of the things you see here.

But instead of using that as an excuse use it as motivation to work for something.

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

Remember there are precursors to using such a lift.  First off you will need to be able to Clean at least 150 lbs.  Second, you will need to be able to Push Press 150 lbs.  Third you will have to be able to Clean the tank.  Now proceed at your own risk.

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

You might be thinking, if you are going for a back workout why not perform these seated?  That is a great way to perform this exercise but it lack in some areas.  When you are standing the core involvement is greater considering you need to keep from falling on you face.  The other reason I prefer standing is the activation you get in your hips.  By activating you hips in this manor you are adding key components for a crazy stabile base.

As you can see in the video we don’t load the sled down much with weight.  This is why:

The sled its self is 75 lbs, we are in grass which adds to the difficulty by slowing the forward momentum, and if you can’t tell the second pull is up hill

By using the hill to our advantage the sled can be pulled at faster speed on the way down working on more  power endurance  while going up the hill adds to the development of more strength.

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

Stop Sittin, Start Doin

Blaine

1. Trap Bar Deadlifts are a great way to build yourself up to regular deadlifts with out the injury potential regular deadlifts have for the untrained individual
2. Trap Bar Deadlifts are a wonderful way to strengthen the legs and break squatting plateaus
3. Trap Bar Deadlifts give you a great way to build posterior chain strength 
4. Trap Bar Deadlifts are a great way to get grip work in
5. Trap Bar Deadlifts are a great exercise to include in a conditioning circuit due to the ease of teaching the lift

Get it!!!

 Now this doesn’t mean you have to load the bar up with a great deal of weight or even use a bar at all.  You just need to perform some type of squat movement with all your workouts.  A squat is one of the best exercises you can use.  So why aren’t you squatting? 

 Most people don’t squat for 4 reasons.

1. They don’t know how to squat properly – this leads to pain while performing the movement
2. They have been told by so called experts that the squat is bad for your knees or back or what ever – WRONG
3. They are injured and can’t perform a squat – Justified
4. They don’t know any better – Now you do

 Looking at the reasons why most don’t include squats in their workouts, do any of these sound familiar?  Now, only one of the previously listed reasons is justified, injury.  Even though not performing squats do to injury is justified, I would bet that most of these so called injuries are mental or just plain laziness. 

 Now for the other 3 reasons, they are just excuses.  You have the world at your finger tips to answer any question you want answer it just might take some work to find it.  So if you didn’t know that squats are good for you now you do and as far as form well you will have good examples of how to learn the squat in the near future. 

To Your Success,

Blaine