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You are here: Home / Archives for Training

5 Ways to Build Better Biceps

October 19, 2014 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 4 Comments

Build Bigger Biceps

Most people who weight train want to get bigger biceps. Some believe that if you simply do a million repetitions of barbell curls with each arm workout you must improve your biceps size. While that sounds wonderful if it worked, there are some tried and true methods for increasing your biceps size and I am going to share those with you today.

  • Vary your grip width when doing barbell curls. A shoulder width grip uses the long and short head of the biceps evenly. As you go wider you emphasize the short head and as you go narrow you emphasize the long head. Both need to be hit hard to see the kind of growth most of us want. By varying your grip you will insure that this is accomplished.
  • Use the seated version of barbell curls. This removes the bottom part of the movement and causes you to work the top part more. This enables most people to use much more weight during the exercise.
  • Get a good stretch in the long head of the biceps. You can accomplish this by doing seated incline dumbbell curls. With the greater emphasis placed on the long head of the biceps you will see better looking biceps from the side.
  • Incorporate hammer curls into your arm routine. Honestly, I have seen the most change in my biceps since incorporating hammer curls into my routine. Make sure to curl the weight across the front of your body slowly.
  • Change the angle on dumbbell curls. Sometimes do them standing and other times seated. Sometimes do them at a 45 degree angle and other times at a 90 degree angle. Just continually change the angle and you will see some amazing results.

Biceps will grow if you focus on these 5 tips. I will bring others your way as time passes. Give these a try and leave me a comment about your experience.

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Filed Under: Featured, Training

5 Things You Should Remember at the Gym

October 17, 2014 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 2 Comments

5-things-gym

It happens to me all the time. People at the gym annoying me with poor etiquette. There really are some simple things to remember when hitting the gym that will make everyone much happier.

1. Re-rack your weights. When you use something at the gym, be sure to put it back where it belongs. If you are done with your exercise, take the weights and put them back on the rack where they belong. If you took a bar from the rack put it back where you got it from. This will make it easier for the next person to find what they are looking for. If everyone adhered to this simple principle we would all be happier at the gym.

2. Let people work in. Yes, you may be doing a massive 5 sets on the squat rack, but that is no reason to hog the the thing. Let people work in. When you see someone standing waiting for your equipment offer to allow them to work in. If they refuse at least you made the offer. This will keep things moving. The gym will avoid a long line for the most popular equipment. At the same time, you may make a new friend.

3. Keep socializing to a minimum. There is nothing wrong with talking to your buddy while training, but keep it to a minimum. Don't hold up the equipment to have a discussion about that big football game last week. At the same time, avoid trying to pick up on women. It is the gym, not a night club.

4. Wipe off the equipment. Nobody wants to swim in your sweat. Take the time to wipe down the equipment before moving on. This includes cardio equipment.

5. Don't offer unsolicited advice. If someone asks your opinion on their lift by all means tell them, but don't just offer up your advice. Let the coaches coach and the lifters lift.

Remember these 5 simple things while at the gym and you will have a much better experience. Remember, humans tend to be followers, so anyone watching and observing you will likely follow suit and start doing these things as well.

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Filed Under: Featured, Training

Monday Madness: Can You Imagine Not Lifting?

October 13, 2014 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 1 Comment

monday-madness-not-lifting

Most of you read this blog because you enjoy weight training and bodybuilding. It got me thinking because I hear so many people complain about having to hit the gym. Can you imagine not lifting?

I love to lift. When I have to miss time in the gym I am not in as good of a mood. I feel out of sorts. Things just don't feel normal for me. I cannot imagine giving up lifting entirely unless I was forced to for some physical limitation.

Weight training became a big part of my life 8 years ago right after I had back surgery. I had a wise surgeon who understood the benefits of weight training. He encouraged me to hit the gym, but implored me to be careful and use proper form. From that day forward I have had a passion for weight training.

It wasn't until I got stuck trying to lose weight that I gained a huge passion for participating in bodybuilding activities. Even that became somewhat of an obssession with me right away. The passion I had for reading about and watching bodybuilding carried over into me actually competing. I competed twice and then went through some major trauma in my personal life and have not been back on stage since.

I simply cannot imagine not lifting. I cannot fathom what it would be like to not have the gym as part of my regular life schedule. Life just wouldn't be th esame without lifting. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

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Filed Under: Featured, Training

Monday Madness: Get Bigger Faster and Stronger

October 6, 2014 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

bigger

Most people who go to the gym have some sort of goal in mind. Maybe they are looking to get leaner? Perhaps a few want to get bigger. Even some more want to get faster. Today I want to share with you some tips for getting bigger, stronger and faster.

Do 4 Hard Strength Training Workouts Per Week

If you want to get bigger you are going to need to recover properly. By hitting the gym 4 times a week you will give yourself ample recovery time. The key here is that your strength training workouts need to be hard. Do not just phone them in. Work until you can't work anymore.

Limit Your Workouts to 45-60 Minutes

In order to stay in the anabolic state and enable muscle growth you need to keep your workouts shorter. Get the job done in 45 to 60 minutes. This will insure you are working hard enough because if you can't get the job done this quickly then you are half assing it.

Lift Heavy and Use Big, Compound Exercises

Lifting heavy with squats, deadlifts, military presses, rows and chin ups should be the basics of your routine. If you can deadlift 600 lbs I guarantee you will have a strong muscular back. The heavy compound exercises really get the job done and quickly.

Always Keep a Training Journal and Push Yourself with It

The principle of Progressive Overload is a very basic one. It should never be ignored. This means adding weight on a regular basis. If you fail to do that you will stall your progress. Log down your results and then aim to improve upon them as often as humanly possible.

Change Up Your Program Every 3 to 8 Weeks

In order to avoid your body adapting to your routine you will need to change things up every so often. If you are a beginner you can go longer before making a change. If you are more advanced do not wait longer than 3 weeks before changing things.

Maximize Your Recovery

In order to grow you need to fully recover. Utilize the tools available to you to help with recovery. Be sure to stretch, use ice, use foam rollers and walk or swim on days off. These things will maiximze your recovery.

Related Posts:

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Filed Under: Featured, Training

6 Ways Rest Changes Everything

October 5, 2014 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

get-some-rest.fw

Rest is something most people tend to overlook. They believe that if they take “some” time off or get “some” sleep that it is “good enough” but that couldn't be further from the truth. Rest is a variable that effects recovery, growth and future strength gains. The following are 6 ways rest can change everything.

Maximize Recovery

As soon as you complete a workout your body goes to work attempting to recover. It tries to mend the torn muscle fibers. Recovery can be thrown off by the number of days you train or the amount of sleep you get. Adjustments to both can help you recover better.

When I was doing a High Intensity Training (HIT) routine, it asked me to lift 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). After pushing hard for 3 weeks my weights were at an all-time maximum. Suddenly I was having trouble with my favourite exercise—-the deadlift. At the suggestion of my friend and mentor, Carlos DeJesus, I cut one day out of the weekly schedule. I dropped to 2 days a week. My instincts said this was crazy, but I listened to my mentor and took the extra day off. Almost instantly my weights began to grow again. I saw gains after a period of being stalled. Just trimming one day from the training schedule gave me what I needed to take my body to that next level.

Maximize Growth

It is during rest that the body repairs and grows the muscles. The more rest you get the more you will wash your muscles with natural growth hormone. You need to sleep to grow.

Maximize the Next Workout

Resting aides in recovery and recovery makes it possible to do our best at our next workout. By resting properly we will be able to follow the Overload Principle and continue to add weight, sets and reps to our routine.

Maximize Strength

Rest makes us stronger. It is a fact. Our body cannot run efficiently when it is run down. Take the time to rest in order to improve your strength.

Avoid Illness

When we let our body run down we increase the odds of getting sick. Being sick will likely keep us out of the gym. This is why it is important to get enough rest. Stay healthy and you can continue making gains in the gym.

Maximize Mental Ability

I don't care what you've read, the brain plays a huge part in our training. I personally use visualization when doing exercises, seeing myself in my mind maximally contracting each muscle on every rep. Getting enough rest will boost your mental capacities considerably.

Do not ignore the importance of adequate rest.

Related Posts:

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  • The 5 Best Back Training Exercises
  • Build a Bigger Chest Quickly
  • How to Periodize Your Training
  • Is Rest Overrated?

Filed Under: Featured, Training

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