You can read a great discussion on the value of screening for structural and movement problems on Dave Draper’s Iron OnLine. (Dave will be featured in a future Bodybuilding Greats post.) For the hard trainer, who doesn’t have access to a coach/PT who can do a screen for them, Laree recommends Gray Cook’s Athletic Body in Balance. It’s a great book that gives you a simple set of movements to do and corrective exercises based on how well (or otherwise) you do the movements. You should check out both the article and the book. In fact, my copy is even now sitting on my desk next to me.

Over the years I have experimented with a wide variety of training styles, from the short intense Heavy Duty style training of Mike Mentzer to a more volume based approach, I have used high reps and low reps, fast and slow tempo etc. etc. In this time, I have come to the opinion that there is no one best style and that all training styles have some validity.

You can get results from any training system, at least for a short time. I think it was Charles Staley that said that “the best routine is the one that you aren’t doing at the moment”. It is important to remember that a drug free lifter has to be careful about doing too much (too much volume,too much intensity, too many sessions per week,) so don’t blindly follow the routines of the pro bodybuilders who often have genetic and chemical advantages. It is important that you and your coach or personal trainer organise your programming to ensure that you get the results that you are after.

If you have been around strength sports or bodybuilding  for any length of time you have probably read or heard that your body can only process about 30 grams of protein at one sitting. Given that one of the general “rules” for increasing size and strength is adequate protein intake, where does the 30 gram recommendation fit? This question is answered by Mike Roussell, author of Your Naked Nutrition Guide in this recent Q&A. You should read the whole thing but the bottom line is “For the time being don’t put too much stock in the 30 grams of protein per feeding “rule.” Your body will digest and absorb all the protein and use it as it sees fit.”