Hope you’re having a great weekend!

I’m enjoying the great weather we’re having here in Boston.

There was a ton of great fitness info this week. Let’s get caught up.

 

Strength Tips and Training Videos

This was one of my top sets this week on bench, 325 X 8. Felt pretty good.

I’m going to be focusing on bench a little more for the next coming weeks due to my hamstring. I injured it doing some sprints, so I’m going to give it a little time to heal up before getting back to some squats and deadlifts.

For now, benching will be my focus.

I got a lot of questions about wearing flip flops in this video and it reminded me about all questions I get regarding training gear and footwear.

The truth is, that stuff doesn’t matter that much.

Sure, it has its place, but your equipment won’t make you strong.

Training hard, training smart, and staying consistent will.

Invest your extra time into learning more about technique, programming, diet, and recovery.

A video posted by Adam Pine (@adamnpine) on May 11, 2015 at 7:05pm PDT

Recommended Reading

1. How to Help a Dad-Bod via Bryan Krahn

2. How And Why You Should Start Strength Training via Pat Koch

3. Does Light Load Training Build Muscle in Experienced Lifters? via Brad Schoenfeld

4. The Definitive Guide to Strength Training Program Design via Jordan Syatt

5. 35 lessons from Precision Nutrition’s most successful clients. via Precision Nutrition

6. Fitness Professionals: Find Your Why via Tony Gentilcore

7. Build Strength: Quick and Easy Squat Drills via Pat Koch

8. Proper Hip Thrust Technique: Head and Neck Position via Ben Bruno, Bret Contreras

9. How I Cured My Squat Woes (so You Can Too) – Part 3 via Tony Bonvechio

10. Quick and Easy Ways to Feel and Move Better: Installment 63 via Miguel Aragoncillo, Eric Cressey

11. Three Problems with Your Bent Over Row via Eric Bach

12. Are Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns Best for a Wide Back? via Nick Tumminello

13. 3 All-Time Badasses, Part 3 via Chad Wesley Smith, Juggernaut Training Systems

14. How to Measure and Improve Muscle Strength via Justin Kompf, Personal Training Development Center

15. Deadlift Mastery: Paused Deadlifts via Adam Pine

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend.

Let’s catch up on all the great fitness info you may have missed earlier this week.

Training Videos

I did some sumo pulling this week for the first time in a while. I started with some speed work, doubles with 495. I worked up to a set of 495 X 10, which felt pretty easy.

A video posted by Adam Pine (@adamnpine) on May 4, 2015 at 5:43pm PDT

 

A video posted by Adam Pine (@adamnpine) on May 8, 2015 at 11:00am PDT

 

Recommended Reading

1. Sheiko interview via Juggernaut Training Systems

2. High Performance Exercises You Should be Doing: 1-1-2 Bench Press via Eric Bach

3. The 5 Best Exercises Ever via Dean Somerset

4. 4 Tips for Unconventional Fat Loss via Mike Robertson

5. Achieve Greater Glute Activation via Bret Contreras

6. 15 Expert Tips to Unleash your Athleticism via Eric Bach

7. Everything You Need to Know About the Reverse Crunch. Literally…Everything. via Jordan Syatt

8. 6 Reasons Why You’re Always Hurt via Tony Gentilcore

9. How I Cured My Squat Woes (so You Can Too) – Part 1 via Tony Bonvechio

10. Forget Your ‘All or Nothing’ Approach to Dieting via Rob Zand, Mike Samuels

11. How I Gave Up My Tupperware And Got My Life Back via Jen Comas

12. The Sport Psychology of Goal-Setting via Mike Israetel, Juggernaut Training Systems

13. First Powerlifting Meet: 20 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make via Bret Contreras

14. How I Cured My Squat Woes (so You Can Too) – Part 2 via Tony Bonvechio

15. StrongFirst principles in the Class Pass crowd via Garrett Nicole Wood

 

“Well done is better than well said.”

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend.

I had an awesome time in Kansas City this weekend at The Fitness Summit.

All the presenters were amazing. It was entertaining and an all-around great learning experience. Outside of the presentations, it was great catching up with friends, meeting new ones and eating some good Kansas City BBQ.

Let’s get you up to speed with all the great fitness info you may have missed this week.

Client Highlight

A video posted by Adam Pine (@adamnpine) on May 2, 2015 at 5:07pm PDT

Scott is a straight up beast.

Here he is putting up 400 like a paperweight.

While Scott is very humble and considers himself to be a Novice lifter (as he says on Instagram, @nordicberserker), he is going to be closing in on an Elite total very soon.

I can’t wait to see him hit some huge PR’s next week when he puts it all together at his mock meet.

Strength Tips and New Content

A video posted by Adam Pine (@adamnpine) on Apr 28, 2015 at 6:41pm PDT

Check out my latest article, Building a Bulletproof Core with The High Tension Plank for more info on how to perform, program, and progress the High Tension Plank.

Recommended Reading

1. The Bulgarian Split Squat: How to Fix the 2 Most Common Mistakes…Fast! via Jordan Syatt

2. The Difference Maker via Greg Robins

3. Defending Spinal Flexion: There Is a Time and Place via Tony Gentilcore

4. Can exercise really defeat depression? How to find out if it can work for you. via Precision Nutrition

5. What is Athleticism? via Ty Terrell, M

6. Squats and Deadlifts Won’t Make Your Waist Blocky via Bret Contreras

7. The Official Top 7 Best Books for Nutrition Coaches via Jordan Syatt

8. 5 Common Diet Excuses Too Many People Make via JC Dean

9. Building a Bulletproof Core with The High Tension Plank via Adam Pine

10. How to Choose a Good Group Class via George Kalantzis, Tony Gentilcore

11. Random Thoughts on Sports Performance Training – Installment 9 via Eric Cressey

12. Is It Your Duty to be Muscular?  via Bryan Krahn

13. The FMS: Awesome or Awful? via Bret Contreras

14. The Science Behind Caffeine via Examine.com

15.Hamstrings: The Most Overrated Muscle for the Squat 2.0 via Greg Nuckols

“Instead of dedicating your life to actualize a concept of what you should be like, Actualize yourself.”