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Flying Armbar !
2007-04-18 01:10:00
I joked about this in the comments section of the last post so I thought I should try and find a clip of it being performed.In boxing, fighters go for the knockout but with mixed martial arts you can also apply various chokes and locks which for me makes it a lot more interesting. The Arm bar is when you have your opponents arm locked out straight and if he doesn't give up you just break it and beat him to death with the now severed limb.
More About: Video , Flying , Fighting , Lying , Armbar

UFC 72 IN IRELAND !
2007-04-16 00:01:00
On Saturday the 16th of June it looks like the U.F.C. is coming to Belfast, Ireland .One or two guys I used to have a grapple with could be on the card for this event. I may be helping with their diets and thus should be able to find out more information closer to the time.What is the UFC ? - check this wikipedia link for a bit of background information on the worlds fastest growing and most painful sport !http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufc
More About: Event , Land , Elan

Exercises I dont do !
2007-04-13 22:02:00
When I say don't do, I really mean I rarely do as I may take a notion and try something completely different. (Which is why I'm dressed as a woman in this picture, banging out some concentration curls on a Swiss ball. You cant get more varied than that ! )Shrugs - I never train traps directly with the likes of shrugs. My traps are quite big already and large traps can often give the illusion of smaller delts which I don't want. Traps also grow quite easily and will already be worked with other compound shoulder moves and big lifts like the dead lift.Rolling Shrugs - Rolling your shoulders puts more stress on the shoulder and causes more harm than good. Gravity acts up and down so when holding a weight you simply lift up and down. Rear delts will be hit with your back workouts. If you feel your traps need that extra boost simply work up and down - no rolling !Upright Rows - I tried these a few years back and never liked them and in future literature I have read that they can lead ...
More About: Guide , Exercises

Cardio ?
2007-04-08 01:38:00
I'm pretty well known now for going against the grain in many ways when it comes to conventional fitness ideas, yet my clients drop fat, build muscle and get in better shape by doing the opposite of what they have always been told to do ! Below are a few common questions with my answers. Enjoy :-)But don't I need to do 'Cardio ' to burn the fat ?No you don't. You are fat because your diet is pants - not because you haven't yet purchased a treadmill from Argos. Check this article which shows why steady state cardio is a poor choice for fat loss -http://www.mikementzer.com/bodyfat.htmlW hat about High Intensity Interval Training ?This refers to sprint work over standard steady state aerobics such as jogging and yes it is a better choice for fat loss, but as the above article shows, it is better to increase ones metabolism by adding muscle and then reduce overall calorie intake by improving your diet. True HIIT training needs to take place outside the gym on grass where you can spr...
More About: Running , Guide

Protein !
2007-04-07 00:18:00
Carbs and fat deal with energy and hormones in the body whereas protein likes to look after repair and growth of new tissue - this includes muscle tissue - woohoo !Everything you need to know about protein on Wikipedia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prot ein Comm on myths about protein incluing the age old classic ' your body can only assimilate 30grams in one sitting. 'http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/hsn_ artcls_proteinmyths.htmlExamples of good protein foods ? Of course ! Just check this link to the Body For Life site.http://www.bodyforlife.com/nutrition /foodlist.asp
More About: Nutrition , Guide

Another Great T Shirt !
2007-04-04 00:18:00
Gym newbies may not get the joke here, but many experienced lifters will remember the day they went to do squats and some numptie was using the rack for bicep curls.Curls can be done anywhere - the same cannot be said for squats ! Respect other gym users and practise good etiquette at all times.For T shirt source click Cafepress link in the links section.
More About: Humour , Great , Shop , Shirt , Another

Hierarchy of needs
2007-03-31 13:05:00
I found an old article on T-Nation which everyone should read. Chris Shugart covers many great points about the 'Hierarchy of needs'.Many guys quiz me on various supplements yet they dont know how to train or eat properly. As Ive said in previous posts, its like studying advanced mathematics before learning how to count. Start reading !http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?a rticle=201dawg2
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Measuring Bodyfat
2007-03-28 18:18:00
So after dieting for a few weeks now and dropping just over a stone I decided to jump on the Body fat scales in work. They told me I'm now carrying more body fat than when I started dieting.Am I fatter ?Well no, as I can visually see a difference in both my clothes and in the mirror.So why the inaccurate result ?Check out this site which looks at every method and gives both the Pros and Cons of each.http://www.bodyfattest.com/index.php ?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&a mp;Itemid=32Another great article on why the scales lie for those who may have missed it on my main site -http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/ library/weight/scale.htm
More About: Suri , Ring

Quick Ideas
2007-03-25 23:54:00
Fed up with your workout ?Need a quick change to start you off again ?Gains slowing down ?Try these ideas -Start your workout back to frontPut your last exercise first and do it all the other way round.Isolation before compoundGoing against the grain on this one try something like a dumbbell fly before you try dumbbell bench pressing- Yeah you wont lift as much on your bench press but the variety is good for you. Also known as pre exhaust this technique is great for lagging bodyparts.SupersettingTry bench pressing then straight away go for barbell rows or chin ups. Try this with other opposing muscles like biceps and triceps, quads and hamstrings.21'sEveryone knows 21's - a technique normally applied for bicep curls where you lift the first 7 reps only half way up - the second 7 reps is only the top half of the lift and the final 7 reps are full and strict reps the whole way - Now try this for other exercises ie the squat or shoulder press - it burns ! (Obviously drop the weights ...
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Deadlifting Competition
2007-03-25 23:32:00
A good friend of mine is the head coach for the Northern Irish Powerlifting Team so Rachael and I went up to watch a few of his guys compete.Id only ever been to bodybuilding shows so it was good to have a look at the strength side of things, especially for the missus as she will be winning the next competition. :-)As seen in the pic there were young guys there aged 14, right up to master level guys. The best lift of the day was 300kg - impressive.Ill keep everyone posted on Rachaels training and future competitions. Might even go for one myself.
More About: Competition , Comp , Petition , Dead , Lift

Gym Playlist !
2007-03-22 17:18:00
Feel free to recommend some more. I like heavy stuff rather than dancey trance stuff. I would like to build a good playlist of tunes you dont normally hear on the radio but give you goosebumps and get you fired up to attack the weights !Aaron , before you mention it - no , Westlifes greatest hits may get you fired up but this does not work for the rest of us !
More About: Play , Playlist , List

Like to be laughed at on your way to the gym ?
2007-03-22 16:17:00
Then buy this !This remarkable product helps suppport your balls and keep then close at hand. Dont tighten too much though or they go blue !
More About: Your , Like , Laugh , The G

The Baseline Diet - Lyle McDonald
2007-03-21 00:47:00
Many people jump into diets and, like training, they skip the basics. As I said in a previous entry its like trying to study advanced mathematics without knowing how to count from 1 to 10.Lyle McDonald writes some great articles on his site and Id like to promote one of his articles here for those who have maybe skipped past the basics into the more complex stuff and got stuck.Basically Lyle looks at the basics and sets a 'baseline' hence the name. Nothing fancy. He just highlights the boxes that need to be ticked such as water intake and meal frequency before you ever get on to worrying about sodium levels or insulin spikes.For the first part of his article check this link - second part available once you get there ! Enjoy.http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/Ar ticles/baseline1.html
More About: Diet , Basel , Line , Base

Greg Kovacs
2007-03-20 01:36:00
This bodybuilder is massive. He weighs over 400lbs which makes him pretty much the biggest bodybuilder on the planet that I know of. He doesnt win any competitions because he looks like a pregnant woman about to pop - he needs to look at old photos of classic bodybuilders to find out what a small waist and 'V' taper looks like !Remember guys its not about being the biggest - its about looking the best :-)
More About: Greg

300 Trailer
2007-03-18 14:28:00
'Sorry for posting two videos in a row as I know some guys in work cant view 'Youtube' (harf harf) but I just had to stick this trailer up - These Spartans are almost half as hard as me !
More About: Trailer , Rail , TRAI , Trail

Posing routine
2007-03-15 01:33:00
For anyone wishing to compete as a bodybuilder, please remember this one simple rule...* spend more time lifting weights - less time learning how to dance *
More About: Sing , Posi

Stallone caught with growth hormone !
2007-03-14 01:32:00
Growth Hormone is a powerful drug. Yes - It can alter muscle size, but has also been known to enlarge other bodyparts such as the fingers, forehead and intestines (Many modern day bodybuilders have large bellies due to increase growth of internal organs). There is even potential to speed the growth of dangerous tumours.Since Stallone has been caught Ive seen an influx of guys on web forums wanting to know more about this drug - my advice - avoid it !!One final point - If you do decide to smuggle drugs, dont carry them in YOUR case. Try to sneak them into your grandmothers purse or some other similar 'safe place' which is less likely to be searched than a celebrity suit case !
More About: With , Growth , Tall , Growth Hormone

When powerlifters decide to diet . . .
2007-03-14 01:02:00
Check out this guy - Dave Gulledge - He starts at 320 pounds and decides to 'cut up' - in his final pic he is fully ripped and carb loaded.Heres a snip of what this guy ate while dieting !6:30am3eggs, 2 egg whites1.5 cups oats3 fish oil caps8:303scoops protein powder1tbsp flax oil1cup cottage cheese11:303scoops protein powder1tbsp flax oil1:30whole wheat pastalean ground turkey3:301cup oats2scoops protein powder5:00ground turkey7:30salmon patty sandwich on whole wheat toast1 chicken breast9:303 scoops protein powder1tbsp flax oil1cup cottage cheese3fish oil caps.* What can we learn from Dave ?- Eat small meals often (true for bulking and cutting although total calories vary)- Good food beats bad food- Each meal contains protein- Less carbs at night but still eat plenty of good fats and proteins- Carbs for during the day and around workout times- Heavy weights build a great body - lift big, eat big, get big !- Get big first - lean second- Always take photos when trying to change yo...
More About: Power , Diet , When , Lift , Cide

Brad Pitt - Fight Club
2007-03-12 11:24:00
Most guys tell me they want to look like Brad Pitt in Fight Club . Yes , he is lean, but Id rather be bigger :-)This picture is just a bit of motivation for those guys after the lean look. Very impressive artwork.Pic Source -http://joebluhm.blogspot.com/2006/04/ell ing-original.htmlPrevious blog entry on celeb muscle for those who missed it -http://wwwneilmctcom.blogspot.com/2006/1 2/celeb-muscle.html
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Clients Beware
2007-03-10 01:21:00
This will be your new workout from now on. Forget those heavy weights, forced reps and timed rest supersets. All you need is a big grey sponge and some dodgy porno music from the 70's.'Grey Sponge' available from my soon to be launched site. Useless gimmicks and dodgy porn soundtracks.com
More About: War , Ware , Clients , Beware , Client

Start of diet !
2007-03-07 13:32:00
(Star t ed dieting last week)I took a quick pic there with the self timer on my mobile so first let me apologise for being the size of a borrower.Last year I dieted and got pretty lean. I didnt get to the finals of the competition I was going for, but I did gain some valuable experience.Why diet ?* It lets you see your weaknesses which can be masked by higher bodyfat. After last year I felt my back was poor in relation to my front. This year Im a lot happier with my proportions.* After dieting and being in a calorie deficit your body bounces back and piles muscle back on pretty quick and then some ! - I noticed this last year. ( Think Christian Bale - Psycho - > Machinist - > Batman Begins ).*You feel better - quick fix detox plans are rubbish but a well thought out diet which takes you away from fast food and onto healthier options is no bad thing. I know I feel a lot healthier, less bloated and my periods are more frequent and less painful. :-)*You appreciate treats a lot more but y...
More About: Diet , Tart

My new routine !
2007-03-03 16:28:00
I plan to look like this guy in a few weeks although I would prefer bigger arms and better shoulders.Seriously though - Ive just changed my routine from a complex split routine which had each body part being hit quite often although with different rep ranges, to a 5 day rotation of mainly compound lifts that I love.The old routine had plenty of one rep maxes and some timed rest periods.Now the majority of this routine is timed, with 5 x 5 protocol replacing the single lifts and the amount of volume on each body part increasing.OK , so now -Day 1/Deadlifts - 5 sets of 5Front squat - 10 sets of 10Light lat pull down - just arsing about - maybe 50 reps - just for fun :-)Day 2/Skull crushers - 5 x 5Incline DBell Press 10 x 10Cable crossover - set or two of 50Day 3 /Bent over row 5 x 5Chins - 10 x 10Straight arm pull down repsDay 4 /Squat 5 x 5Stiff leg deadlifts 10 x 10Light leg pressDay 5 /Clean press 5 x 5 (flick from waist then military press)Seated DBell press 10 x 10Light cable sid...

Saggy skin !
2007-03-03 16:05:00
You should always aim to look better in your 'after' photos - not worse.
More About: Skin

Race to Size Zero !
2007-02-08 13:01:00
A British television station plans to screen a documentary featuring women who volunteer to slim to ultrathin sizes to expose the health dangers of excessive dieting, it said on Thursday. Britain's Channel 4 will show "Super-Skinny Me: The Race to Size Zero " early next year, as a group of female journalists film their attempts to drop to a size 2, equivalent to a U.S. size 00. "This documentary will highlight the dangers of aiming for a super-skinny look, and expose the serious health risks of extreme weight-loss methods, all of which are already in the public domain," said a Channel 4 spokesman. "At every stage of filming there will be continuous full medical support and expert guidance at hand." The channel said it hoped the findings would provoke the same type of debate as Morgan Spurlock's documentary film "Super Size Me," which showed the health effects of a month long binge on fast food. Two recent British studies found the average woman in Britain is a British dress si...
More About: Snowflake , Hillbilly

The Smith Machine
2007-02-08 12:32:00
The Smith machine is probably one of the most used pieces of kit in the gym. Its the 'Swiss army knife' of the free weights area. People use it for everything - chest, shoulders, back and legs can all be hit using this piece of equipment, but like all machines overuse can be the problem and ultimately nothing beats the barbells and dumbbells !Exercise prescription specialist Paul Chek of San Diego has identified what he calls pattern overload syndrome. In his seminar and videos, he stresses that the Smith machine bench press is one of the most common sources of shoulder injuries:"People get a pattern overload from using the Smith machine. The more fixed the object, the more likely you are to develop a pattern overload. This is due to the fact that training in a fixed pathway repetitively loads the same muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints in the same pattern, encouraging micro-trauma that eventually leads to injury. If Johnny Lunchpail always uses a Smith machine for his bench p...
More About: Mac , Machine , Chine , Mach

Kettlebells !
2007-02-04 00:32:00
I dont use them but thats simply because I dont have access to them and secondly I dont want to look like muscles here in the picture. Seriously though . . .what are they ?Check here at Wikipedia for more info -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettlebell s
More About: Bell

Warming Up
2007-02-03 23:47:00
A few 'pre workout' pointers on warming up - enjoy :-)1 / Don't go for a run - you are tiring out muscles and preparing slow twitch fibres before a fast twitch event. A walk is fine for a few minutes to prepare mentally and scope out the weights area if waiting for a free piece of kit.2 / Don't stretch - By performing point ' 2 ' above you are stretching the muscle as much as it needs to be stretched. Any excess can actually decrease strength before lifts !3 / Use the warm up to warm you up - not tire you out.4 / If I am going to squat heavy, I start with lighter squats and build up. This warms and prepares the body in the same way it will be used. OK - in the gym we are usually lifting a weight up and down. We are not chasing a ball/ changing direction or grappling someone to the ground. A martial arts workout for example, will involve stretching / grappling / light to heavy sparring etc etc - warm up is always specific to the event !6 / Don't warm up then stand about chat...
More About: War , Ming , Armin

Xmas pressie !
2006-12-07 04:22:00
Click to enlarge :-)If you still dont know what to get me for christmas then now is the time to part with some cash. . . I would love this t shirt !!For similar items just click on 'T shirts' in my links section.Ill take a large thanks :-)
More About: Press , Xmas

Working the lats !
2006-10-22 12:53:00
Here we have a pic of Bruce Lee spreading his Latissimus Dorsi, or' lats' for short.As with good delts and a small waist, the lats help give the upper body that 'V taper' look."The function of the Latissimus Dorsi is to pull the arm down towards the pelvis. When the arm is fixed (e.g. during a chin-up), the lats serve to bring the body up towards the arm. It is the same basic movement but with the directions reversed. The Lats also function to stabilize the torso during many movements, including the flat bench press."Exercises for working the lats include -deadlifts , bent over rows, d bell rows, chin ups and pull downs.Below is an animation showing a straight arm pulldown. This move would be considered more of an isolation move compared to the exercises above but that doesnt mean it isnt a worthy tool in the back workout toolbox !During back workouts the forearms, biceps and even grip, can all become fatigued before the lats are properly stimulated. This exercise can be used...
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My Before and After shots !!
2006-09-30 19:32:00
Started off skinny and bulked up during my teens. Recently dieted for the Mens Health covermodel competition (black and white pic) Last pic is my most recent and im about 14 stone or just over - think that makes me obese according to the charts - woohoo - result !!
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