In This Issue:
– Robertson Training Systems Updates
– Training Tip
– Nutrition Tip
– Performance Coach Spotlight: Anthony Roberts
– Education Corner
– Calendar and Coming Events
– New Articles
Announcements:
LA Strength Seminar – September 16th and 17th
The LA Strength Seminar is coming up fast, and you don’t want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Not only do you get to learn from some of the foremost experts in their respective fields, but you also get to hang out in LA for the weekend.
What are YOU waiting for? Sign up today – just follow the link: LA Strength Seminar
Ryan Lee Bootcamp coming up as well
Ryan Lee is slowly building one of the best bootcamps in the industry. Beyond the great fitness knowledge you’ll gain, many fitness professionals have no clue about how to succeed in the industry from a business perspective. Ryan’s boot camp is the ONLY seminar that dedicates a full day to business training, and this is just one of the reasons it’s so unique.
If you’re interested, check out Ryan’s Boot Camp here: Ryan Lee Boot Camp
One article out now, another coming soon!
The Modified 5×5 Squat Program ran yesterday at T-Nation, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, what are you waiting for?
As well, I have another article titled “Getting to Know the SQUAT” that will run at Wanna Be Big at the end of the month. Are we seeing a theme for this month’s articles? đ
Training Tip:
Stretch the Antagonist to Facilitate Better Recruitment
Most people have a hard time recruiting certain muscle groups, so use reciprocal inhibition to your advantage. Reciprocal inhibition tells us that if one muscle is activated (such as the triceps) then the opposite muscle must relax (biceps). However, if one muscle group is always active, it will inhibit the natural function of the opposing muscle group.
In this case, stretch the antagonist before performing an exercise to facilitate recruitment of the agonist or prime mover. A great example is the hip flexors and glutes: Stretch the hip flexors, and then perform a set of glute bridges to really get that butt firing!
Nutrition Tip:
The 10% Factor
by Dr. John Berardi
If some people eat one food not on their plan, their failure to be perfect sets in motion a psychological chain of events that leads to frustration and the inability to get right back on the plan. The all-or-nothing mentality sets in and BAM, they’re back to nothing. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 100% nutritional discipline is never required for optimal progress. The difference, in results, between 90% adherence to your nutrition program and 100% adherence is negligible. So allow yourself the extra 10% wiggle room. This will allow you the freedom to eat a few extra things not on your menu without the guilt and subsequent crash.
If you like this tip and want to learn more about JB and his products, check out his Precision Nutrition website.
Performance Coach Spotlight: Anthony Roberts
Anthony Roberts is well-known for not only being the world’s foremost author on steroids, but for also having a no BS attitude when it comes to training. After our recent “Building the Efficient Athlete Seminar,” I had the chance to chat with Anthony and I think you’ll like this little excerpt from our conversation; basically, I opened the door and asked him to do a “No Question” interview, where he could rant on any topic he chose.
Here’s what he had to say:
One of the things that I see as a trend in my little corner of the world (that is to say, the world of anabolic use) is people looking for the âsecretâ drug responsible for this person or that person’s physical development or strength levels. People buy books (hopefully mine) and e-books (again, hopefully mine) searching for a profile on a drug that’s been the missing link in their cycles. I hear things like âRonnie loves GHâ or âDorian loved Primoâ and âMilos got huge on insulinâ and things like that all the time.
And surely, people think, âIf I could only get this drug, or this pro’s secret – I would be on my way to being the next Mr. Olympia.â
Well, I’m here to tell you the secret. I know the thing that separates the greats of bodybuilding from the average person. You could say that I have more than a passing knowledge of anabolic use among professionalsâŚand I know their secret:
It’s effortâŚ
IntensityâŚ
And passion.
So my âno questionâ is âWhat’s the professionals’ Secret?â And my answer is that it’s not a drug. Anabolic Steroids, insulin, growth hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I, clenbuterol, DNP, MGF, whateve. None of that will create a great body without effort, intensity, and passion. If you’re looking for a secret drug, I’m sorry to say there is none. If you’re looking for a secret cycle or anything like that, I’m sorry to say that while some cycles are better than others- none will make someone into a champion without effort, intensity, and passion.
The most basic âsecretâ to an Olympian body or even to a good beach body is to put effort, intensity, and passion into everything you do. I wrote a book on anabolics, as well as 2 e-books covering the topic- and my new personal rule is that when someone asks about my book, I ask them if they own a good book on Training first. Then I ask if they own a book on Diet. If they don’t have both, I tell them to get those books before considering buying a book on anabolics (which I hope will be mine).
In short, if someone skips learning how to train and eat, and doesn’t put the effort into both of those areas FIRST- while using anabolics can help them- they’re destined to not go very far.
So that’s the secret. Learn how to train and eat. Apply yourself to those areas with passion, effort, and intensityâŚand you’ll never have to wonder what the âsecretâ to building a good body is.
I think that’s pretty sound advice, whether you support anabolic use or not. Get in the gym, train your ass off, and reap the rewards!
Education Corner:
As many of you know, steroids are currently one of the hottest topics in the industry today. Whether you are a current use, on-the-fence about the topic, or someone who takes great pride in their drug-free status, one thing I think we could all use is a little more education on the topic. As a fitness professional, I’m often asked questions about steroids that I simply don’t know the answers to.
HBO recently did a short segment on anabolic steroid use in healthy men; I think you’ll find it quite interesting. Here’s the link:
While I may not choose to do steroids myself, I think it’s interesting that there’s been very little scientific research to support all the claims of steroids being “dangerous.” At the very least, we owe it to ourselves to better understand a topic that is often adressed with wild theory and speculation, rather than true knowledge and scientific evidence.