Strength and Physique

Q: I meant to say a while back [that] your third book is great! Very cool workouts that I want to try in the future. Love the article for women as well. Now I can finally get my girlfriend in shape.  Anyway I just have two questions: 1. For the size and strength workout, you say to alternate between 2 workouts for 5 days a week. So this means Monday, Wednesday, Friday I do Workout #1, and Tuesday, Thursday do Workout #2? And for pull ups, should weight be added? Same question for sternum pull ups during the 3x3 week. 2. I'm wondering if you were thinking about writing a book related to other aspects of bodybuilding? Like the importance of sleep, dietary guidelines for bulking/cutting/etc, supplements and other important topics? I know it sounds like I'm kissing your ass or something but I don't know: ever since I started working out with your workout regimens I actually made progress. Your workout ideology is smart, and when I have better results doing one exercise per bo...

"Hi, I have been reading some articles (not all yet) of yours on Bodybuilding.com. As a fellow Police Officer (just 3 years) I appreciate reading articles regarding police fitness by someone who has been there, done that. "I am currently only lifting weights with minimal cardio right now. I like the idea of the HIIT cardio, and will do that from now on. "My question is regarding training, specifically to martial arts. I love to train with weights and want to continue to gain mass and functional strength, but I also want skill and training. I love the idea of doing some MMA training, Muay Thai, etc. but have not enrolled into any programs yet. I am afraid those courses will be ‘too much’ and ‘unnecessary.’ They will also burn a tremendous amount of calories which will hinder my weight training/gaining mass. I was thinking more of a Judo or Aikido approach, where the workouts won’t burn your through thousand plus calories everyday. "Does this at all...

Just a heads up readers. Strength and Physique:Tactics and Strategies is now available for purchase. Order your copy today! Q: "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 P. 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 consis...

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.  I've written another strength training and bodybuilding book. This one is titled, STRENGTH AND PHYSIQUE: 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 ...

   I'm currently in the middle of writing an article on kettlebells for bodybuilding, which is not a new concept. If you look at pictures of John Grimek, you'll find him doing kettlebell curls, which were a favorite of his.

Q: I must say I enjoy reading what you write and find you somewhat an inspiration. I have wanted to be a police officer my entire life, but considering a juvenile criminal record (JUST expunged) I can't join the Marines as an MP. I can't join period either, because I got my GED and so I'm volunteering at the YMCA, and answering phones at the fire department until I start college for a degree in Education. I do have one area of concern. I used to box. I'm 17, but started boxing when I was 16. I weighed 115 and was benching 180. Around New Year’s I cut myself on the wrist and severed several tendons, which put me to all running and biking for a good many months. Just this past month I've gotten back to work out, but I've found myself hesitating from the bench press due to a concern that it might affect my push up reps. My goal I've set is 100 push ups by New Year's, as well as squatting 200 pounds 20 times, running 5k, and 20+ chin ups. It...

Normally I'm a very low profile guy. I don't like talking all the time, but when I talk, I'm make sure my words are meaningful. I don't have a lot of manic energy like some people. But something happens when I'm pushed past a physical limit. It's like a back up drive of adrenaline that kicks in. It' always been like this for me.  One day as a recruit in the police academy, we all had to line up in the hall and do group push ups in cadence. In other words, we all had to go up and down at the same time on command of the TAC officer. Of course the TAC officer barking the push up commands would make the class stay in the bottom push up position for prolonged periods of time to make them exceptionally painful. My classmates would collapse on the floor, because their arms felt like spaghetti and their chests were burning with lactic acid.  I remember being in that bottom push up position with my nose an inch from the floor, when out of the corner of my eye...