Call Me Frank

"With the books you have out on Amazon, which one of them would you recommend first [given my back condition]? With my birthday being in September, I can tell a friend of mine to give me a gift credit from Amazon. Which one [of your books] do you think will benefit me the most right now? I am sure I will get the others also but not very soon."

Thanks again,
Ryan


My Answer: Well given your ataxia, I would say none of my books are appropriate for you. I know it seems a little weird for me to tell you NOT to buy my books, but the fact is, I wrote these books for hardcore bodybuilders. I didn't write them for the general public. The books are not about physical rehabilitation.

As an independent trainer, I am very frank and candid with people, because that is what a consultant does: tell it like it is. It should not be solely about money, contracts, sales or ego.

So I have to tell you that my books are too advanced for your condition. However, I'm sure you're more interested in my books not for rehab, but because you want to sculpt the ultimate physique. In this regard, you will find a lot useful information, but it is up to you to make sure you're training safely. For you, I would not recommend SPV2: Neo-Classical Bodybuilding, because the programs are very grueling and are meant for advanced bodybuilders. SPV1: The Articles and SPV3: Tactics and Strategies would be worth your investment, because both books have chapters on postural realignment and maintenance as well as physique enhancement.

I Want to Be Ripped!

Just a heads up readers. SPV3: Tactics and Strategies is now available for purchase. Order your copy today!

"James, how is it going? I am starting my police officer program in September 09. Going back to school to get a 2 year or less degree, taking firearm training, hand to hand training, hand cuffs, baton training etc. I want in, and I will do whatever it takes as long as it's legal obviously.

"I was wondering if I could get some guidance for work outs. I am 40 and used to be a hockey player, but I have not worked out since 2005 seriously. I have 2 kids and a wife, and we'll be in school full time. However, I want to be ripped. I am 5'9 and 195 lbs.

"I appreciate any help you can bring!"
- Martin Parrot


My Answer: If you haven't seriously worked out since 2005, then get back into training. Any type of strength training. You're at a point where your primary goal should be consistency. Once you're consistent, then figure out a specific training routine to follow. Hit the gym or weights at least 3 times a week. Do full body workouts no longer than an hour. If you have a home gym setup or can afford to create one given your space, then do it. This way you have no excuses. Or try working out at the school gym.

Once you are consistently training, then follow the principles outlined in my Strength Training for Fat Loss article.

Pull-ups Revisited

"Hey James. My name is Andy, and I am a police officer in NYC. I saw your 4 Shocks Technique to Widen Your Back article on Bodybuilding.com. My main problem is my back is very weak, and I can't do more than 5 or 6 pull ups! Any tips on how to strengthen my lats, so I can do more pull ups with my body weight or other exercises to help me improve? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again and stay safe."

-Andy Barron


My Answer: Four to five pull-ups is better than none, so don't worry. At least you have a foundation of strength with which to work on. I've written about this before: Increasing Your Pull-ups. For you, the first 2 methods are best suited for your level of pull-up strength.

Supplementation for the Academy

"My name is Recruit Ruiz, and this recruit has just began training in the police academy. To give you a brief history, this recruit is a former correctional officer who has decided to make a career change to a police officer. The reason this recruit is emailing you is because this recruit would like to know if you had any recommendations of supplements/vitamins to aid in the muscle growth throughout training. This recruit would greatly appreciate any advice that would be offered and is not asking for a 'get big quick solution.' This recruit is asking for healthy additional fuel for the body."

Sincerely,
Recruit Ruiz


My Answer: Recruit Ruiz, it's OK. You're in the real world, and nobody here in the real world refers to him or herself in the 3rd person.

I'm just joking with you Ruiz.

Anyway, to answer your question as far supplements, I'm partial to Biotest supplements for muscle. Protein Factory has some good stuff too, plus they allow you to customize your supplements with whatever ingredients you want. If you're in the academy, then your primary goal is performance (athletically and mentally). Muscle growth is secondary, but the 2 goals are interrelated. Here's what I suggest for both goals:

1) Surge Recovery Post-Workout Drink
2) Micronized Creatine Monohydrate
3) Fish Oil (this will help with recovery and conditioning)
4) Protein supplement consisting of a micellar casein/whey protein combo

This should be the core of your supplement program. If you add more supplements, then make sure it addresses an area where you are lagging, whether it be muscle mass, fat loss, mental clarity and focus, cardiovascular conditioning or recuperation.

Good luck!

Preview of Volume 3: Tactics and Strategies

As always, I've been quite busy as of late, with several different things going on in my life. Not only do I run 2 blogs, write magazine articles and work full-time as a cop (I recently made detective), but I'm also going to be a dad. I'm going to be so busy, that I actually let go of my training clientele in anticipation of all the craziness that's going to happen.

One project that I will be finishing up fairly soon, however, is... yep, you guessed it:

STRENGTH AND PHYSIQUE, VOLUME THREE!!!

I've written another strength training and bodybuilding book. This one is titled, "SPV3: Tactics and Strategies."

Tactics and Strategies is a bodybuilder's version of a football playbook. I've compiled new training techniques and programs not mentioned in my previous books. Tactics and Strategies contains a plethora of muscle-building routines to choose from:

- Explosiveness, power, strength, size. Want to have it all? You can have it all with the program found in the chapter "The Complete Strength Athlete."

- Learn about the "Evolution of the Set System" and how sets have evolved into a wide variety of training techniques, techniques you can use in the gym to SMASH any training plateaus and achieve new muscle and mass.

- Discover the four "Anabolic Blowtorches," an elite group of exercises that have a profound anabolic effect on your entire musculature.

- "Harness the Power of Partial Reps!" Most trainees haven't a clue on how to go about doing partial reps. This chapter shows you how to fully exploit the various partial rep techniques for greater size and strength.

- Love kettlebells? Kettlebells are incredible tools for mass building, but why is it that so many kettlebell lifters have unimpressive physiques? The final chapter reveals how to incorporate kettlebells into your training and ramp up your muscle gains by ten fold.

Of course, this is just a taste of what's in the book. There's much more to it than what I mentioned. SPV3: Tactics and Strategies will be out soon, so stay tuned.