Great idea.

And yes, the idea of a 'virtual gym & training partner' just got one step closer. Love it.

btw, although this particular video focuses on the gaming aspect, the potential use as both a fitness and health device is wonderful.

Cybershoes (Virtual Reality Footwear).

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Conditioning Without Trying - Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Time for a stroll.

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 10, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Heavy Weights vs Light Weights for Big Biceps (Athlean-X)

Very interesting ideas (for biceps, and in general).

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Karsten Jensen.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Finding a Good Training Partner

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from the Gymchat on 'Motivation', and is part of a longer discussion of training partners. Enjoy.

Over to Roger :

Roger Lawson.

Finding a good training partner is rough and really all depends on the person's temperament. Some like to train with someone who is far above them as motivation to get better while others like someone who is at their level or slightly beyond them, otherwise they get discouraged because the gap is so wide (a prime example of that negative self talk).

I would start by just searching the gym for someone who does a similar style of training (or something completely different if you're in to trying new things) that you do or someone who has attributes that you'd like to have (e.g. freaky strong, etc) and strike up a chat with them. You already have at least the gym in common, so start there.

Checking Out : Cybershoes (Virtual Reality Footwear)

And yes, the idea of a 'virtual gym & training partner' just got one step closer. Love it.

btw, although this particular video focuses on the gaming aspect, the potential use as both a fitness and health device is wonderful.

Cybershoes (Virtual Reality Footwear).

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : DIY Equipment Competition - Let the Voting Begin
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Ready to make your own? Great.

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 3, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Joe Rogan Experience #1234 - David Sinclair

We've been discussing longevity for quite some time around here. If you'd like to dive a little deeper into this area, I highly recommend the video above - David Sinclair on The Joe Rogan Experience.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Pierre Johnson.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Strengthen Your Neck, Reduce Pain, Increase Lifts

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is from Josh Hewett's excellent 'Bulletproof Your Body' series. The 'right' way to strengthen your neck.

Over to Josh :

When starting a neck strengthening program, you must be careful to be very progressive... start slow and easy and work your way up to more challenging exercises over time. For example, you can begin your exercise program by doing simple chin tucks while sitting or standing. (See video)

Once you get comfortable with basic sitting/standing chin tucks, you can try doing the exercise lying down. Build up to doing around 10 reps, holding for 5 to 10 seconds each rep. The goal is to increase the muscular endurance of your muscles as well as their strength. Your neck is designed to carry the weight of your head all day, not to lift trains or buses!

Good stuff. Note that this is only a snippet from the full piece - swing by Josh' blog for the entire article. A great read.

Checking Out : In Search of Greatness (Film)

Although I first stumbled across this one a while ago, I'd actually forgotten sbout it until Tim Ferriss mentioned it in a recent newsletter. To give you an idea of what the film's about (and who's included), check out the trailer :

In Search of Greatness.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : A Little Yoke Work - 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Whether it's for protection, stability, or simply to look good in a suit - a strong neck's a great thing to have.

  
  

• Looking At : Jan 27, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Strongman Home Gym Tour (Brian Shaw)

Wonderful setup.

NB : if you've never seen the Swisswing (the first item in the above tour) in action, he demonstrates it here.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Stephen Duncan.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week: How to Fix Your Back

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is from Josh Hewett's excellent 'Bulletproof Your Body' series. The 'right' way to fix up your back.

Over to Josh :

What happens when you sit all day (at a desk, watching TV, or while driving) is that certain muscles, ie: glutes, can become lengthened and weak while other muscles compensate and become tighter to take up the slack, ie: QL (lower back) and psoas (hip flexors). This can lead to all sorts of issues including back pain. Weak abdominal muscles is also a culprit.

So what can you do to restore muscular balance and function to get rid of that pain? The progressions I follow are very similar to what I outlined in my Fix Your Knees blog post:

1. If it's an acute injury see a medical professional and get assessed. Rest and ice.
2. Test your Active Range of Motion as comfort allows (avoid passive stretching).
3. Use Isometric Exercises to activate the weak muscle groups.
4. Once muscles start to "fire" better, you can add in some isolation exercises to target and strengthen those muscles.
5. Progress towards compound multi-joint exercises that incorporate those muscles.

Good stuff. Note that this is only a snippet from the full piece - swing by Josh' blog for the entire article. A great read.

Checking Out : Plexus Wheel Plus (Back Roller)

Brian's home gym video (above) got me thinking about several items in my own setup, including the various recovery tools. The Plexus Wheel (Back Roller) looks like a great addition to the collection.

Keen to try one out. A spot of video :

The Plexus Wheel (Back Roller).

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Interesting device.

The RIDM is a handheld bodyfat analyser, with data displayed via a smartphone app. Not sure yet if it connects to existing health services like Apple Health and Google Fit; or if it can export the data to a third-party app somewhere.

Keen to try one out. A spot of video :

The RIDM.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : The Hack Squat
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Wonderful exercise.

  
  

• Looking At : Jan 20, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Fasting and its Effect on Insulin (Thomas DeLauer)

If you've ever fasted for a few days (or more), you may have noticed this. Great explanation Tom.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Chas Melichar.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Knee Rehabilitation Progression

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is from Josh Hewett's excellent 'Bulletproof Your Body' series. The 'right' way to fix your knees after surgery.

Over to Josh :

Good stuff. Note that this is only a snippet from the full piece - swing by Josh' blog for the entire article. A great read.

Checking Out : RIDM (Fat & Muscle Tracking)

The RIDM is a handheld bodyfat analyser, with data displayed via a smartphone app. Not sure yet if it connects to existing health services like Apple Health and Google Fit; or if it can export the data to a third-party app somewhere.

Keen to try one out. A spot of video :

The RIDM.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.