ExRx.net

You hardly see incline, decline, or flat dumbbell flies in routines anymore, and I rarely see them done in the gym. Why is this? I always thought they were a great finishing exercise after barbell work or even heavy dumbbell pressing. I feel a terrific burn in my pecs when I do them. Dave Draper sti...

I've seen lots of stupid people get big and strong lifting heavy objects -- that's genetic predisposition at work. I have also seen lots of smart people waste years in the gym using routines that will never work -- that, too, may be a case of genetics. Conclusion: You can't measure bodybuilding inte...

Thanks, TIM, for the heads-up on elbows-in. I was always confused about that. HERE'S A PARADOX: Lots of stupid people get big and strong lifting heavy objects, which may support the genetics argument. On the other hand, I've seen lots of smart people waste their time, using the same stupid routines ...

My outer pecs are getting a nice, full shape, but the inner portion is still rather thin without much "cleavage" for lack of a better term. What exercises would be best to hammer away at this area? Would close-grip benches help? How about heavy dumbbell declines? Flies and cable work are in my routi...

Based on my experience as a seasoned lifter and the information I have accumulated since my heart attack, you may have a partial blockage in one of your arteries. Get an EKG immediately . If it doesn't show an abnormal event, monitor your blood pressure before and after your workouts. A year ago, I ...

I have a Bullworker. It has a green handle at each end, a chrome, spring-loaded cylinder, and a cable on each side. They are still around and used ones sell quickly on Ebay. I used mine to come back for a torn rotator cuff. You can either pull the cables to compress the cylinder or squeeze the green...

I want to start an in-home personal training service (where I visit the clients' homes). My only experience is as a competitive bodybuilder, and I was an NPC national champ in the late eighties. Eventually, I will probabably want to become certified through a reputable organization, but I need more ...

Swiss Balls do have one virtue: When females use them for crunches and dumbbell work, it can be especially inspiring to a guy resting between his sets in the free-weight area. Unstable surfaces = Ass-a-nine!

Draper and Arnold frequently wore flip flops during workouts. Draper, the original nature boy, was photographed numerous times at the gym with no footwear whatsoever. I suppose it kept you alert, knowing that smashed toes were only a reps from reality. To me, it's like wearing a brain bucket when yo...

I'm still trying to figure out why you had a heart attack when you have kept your weight down, and exercised. I've done almost the opposite, and my dad died of a heart attack at 57. I do have a few problems in that department, but the va is going to do some checking soon. I hope you are ok It's no ...

Frank: Get an adjustable dumbbell set at Walmart, the kind with spin-lock handles that accept 2 1/2, 5, & 10 lb. plates. Then, you're using real weights with exercises that can gradually stretch and strengthen those tendons and ligaments. Using bodyweight for exercise is also safe and excellent. I h...

Thanks-a-million, Tim! I really enjoyed prowling through this stuff. I've been to York, PA quite a few times, including my participation in a Jr. Olympic program for high school athletes in '66. Few of the gyms had York Standard Olympic sets back then, so it was quite overwhelming to step onto a pla...

One more thing about the KB/DB thing., Brooks Kubick (Dinosaur Training) had a newsletter circulating a few years back, I have a full collection (it wasn't expensive considering the volume-much barely pennies in proportion to anything you can get from Dragondoor) and in it he has a collection of ol...

I don't know about Swiss balls, but kettlebells are hardly new. Many a strongman in the late 19th/early 20th century used kettlebells, including Eugene Sandow. Who can argue with him? Iv'e seen them at the York Barbell museum and have read that they were primarily used by physique artists for posin...

I need to add here, that the Swiss ball has served as a clever marketing tool for gyms, especially those where "personal trainers" need to attract new clients. Because they're a trendy fitness phenomena, many people expect thier gym or personal trainers to employ them. For me, it's pure entertainmen...