Grow That Muscle: Build A Quality Body

Best Bodybuilding Books You’re Missing Out On

By

It’s 2019 and not many people read books, nevermind books about bodybuilding. There’s so much information out there that people don’t take advantage of. There’s a million Bodybuilding.com articles about chest exercises, but how many books have they published? If you’re not reading books, you’re missing out on golden era information. Solidified pillars of information about bodybuilding have stood the test of time.

News Flash! Human musculature hasn’t changed in the last 50 years, so fortunately bicep curls still work your biceps. You don’t need the latest workouts from Mens Health magazines. Back workouts haven’t changed much, just pick up some heavy weight and row it.

Today I’m going to go over the best bodybuilding books money can buy right now so YOU can benefit the most and build a quality body.

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised

Okay, if you haven’t heard of this book then you must have been living underneath a rock.

This should be your starting point in learning about bodybuilding from the man himself, Arnold

From exercises, tips on lifting to even the health aspects, such as nutrition and diet, this book covers everything you need to know. Hell, he even covers proper posing techniques as well to fit your physique the best. Small biceps? Maybe don’t do front double bi then 🙂

Starting Strength

While this is not strictly a bodybuilding book, this is an awesome book for your basic strength principles. The author, Mark Rippetowe, was a competitive powerlifter for 10 years and has worked with many weight training coaches. Having the perspective of a powerlifter can greatly change your attack and programming towards the three big lifts (bench, squat and deadlift). You should be changing your training up anyway, so why not change up your opinion?

This book should be your starting point in basic barbell training. Not only does Starting Strength go over the basic barbell movements, but allows you to notice movement errors and corrects them.

Bodybuilding relies on several barbell movements to build the fundamentals of strength. These skills will transfer to other movements, such as barbell squats transferring movements to a walking dumbbell lunge. Small steps to the bigger picture of working out.

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning

If you’re looking for a more indepth and scientific approach to bodybuilding (and weightlifting in general) this is the book for you. One of the things I find most fascinating about the book is regarding the biomechanics of the body. For example, the science of how weight is loaded and distributed on muscles.

Before you start lifting weights in the gym, do you actually warm up or do you jump right in? If you’re jumping right in, you’re doing it wrong. Read this book and start lifting better.

The M.A.X. Muscle Plan

There’s tons of buzzwords and acronyms in the fitness industry, so you may stay away from things like MuscleMaximizer3000 2.0. To quote the book

“M.A.X. is an acronym for Mitogen Activated Xtreme training, a scientifically proven program to help you maximize your muscle potential and transform your physique.

The author, Brad Schoenfeld, has been a certified personal trainer and member of the National Strength and Conditioning Associations (see the above book!) so his credentials speak for themselves. A drug free competitor as well, he’s written several books about achieving the most from your body and the best way possible.

The MAX Muscle Plan covers his own proven training technique to maximize your gains. Over 100 exercises are included, as well as pictures of the exercises. The goal around the training theory is to increase growth-oriented training response to attain the maximum muscle growth.

Cannabis And Bodybuilding: What You Need To Know

By

With many states and provinces legalizing the consumption of cannabis (marijuana), the rise of use among bodybuilders and casual gym goers is increasing. There’s less social stigma around use because of research showing positive benefits of cannabis use. Certain extracts of the plant, such as CBD oil, helps treat chronic pain, lowers chronic pain and can allow you to sleep much easier.

Marijuana isn’t the scary substance it was made out to be, and for the casual bodybuilders out there, it’s a fantastic tool and alternative to many medications.

We all remember that scene in Pumping Iron where Arnold Schwarzenegger is smoking a joint and eating fried chicken.

Arnold Schwarzenegger smoking a marijuana joint in Pumping Iron
[Read more…]

I’ve spent over $2500 on Protein Powders – These taste the best

By

I’ve transformed my body from a fat, pack a day cigarette smoker to a 6 days a week, work my ass off, wannabe bodybuilder. To get where I am today, I had to pack on lean muscle. What do you do to pack on lean muscle? Lift heavy shit and get your protein in. What’s the easiest way to get protein in? Whey protein shakes.

Unless a friend recommends a flavour or you sample it beforehand, trying a new protein powder is taking a risk for your tastebuds. I can’t count how man times I’ve tried a new whey protein powder flavour and it tastes like literal garbage. Orange creamsicle? You’re better off licking the sidewalk. You think plain old vanilla is any better? Unless it’s naturally flavoured, the stevia taste is going to sit at the back of your tongue for the rest of the week.

I’ve spent over $2500 on protein powders over my fitness career trying to find the ones that taste the best that I can actually stomach. Trust me, this is harder than you think. If you’re going to drink something twice a day you might as well enjoy it, right? 

Alright enough jibber jabber, here are the BEST tasting protein powders available right now.

[Read more…]

Cheap Protein Foods for Muscle Growth

By

Getting your daily protein in shouldn’t be expensive, nor should it hinder your overall muscle growth. Bodybuilders get stuck in their ways and get stuck on the “plain chicken breast, white rice and broccoli”-train and never venture out. Don’t get me wrong, boneless skinless chicken breast is a fantastic choice but it gets old and boring after a while. Just like your training, you should switch up your diet as well to keep things fresh.

But if you’re bulking on a budget, one of the things top of mind is finding the least expensive meat for muscle growth. Protein sources come in many forms, and it doesn’t always have to rack up a high bill.

For the rest of us, it’s time to try something new. Start your year off right with these cheap protein sources for optimal muscle growth.

[Read more…]

Best Tricep Stretches For The Gym To Avoid Injury

By

We’ve all been there: you get so pumped up going to the gym you don’t properly stretch and you end up injuring yourself. You say “next time I’ll stretch more!”. But you don’t.

Chances are if you’re working your triceps, you’re moving some heavy ass weight. And when you injure yourself moving heavy ass weight, the results aren’t good. Stretching your muscles prior to warm-up is crucial in preventing injury, increasing range of motion and mental focus. Start your workout with these easy and effective tricep stretches.

[Read more…]