Monthly Archives: April 2019

An Open Letter to New Fitness Professionals

Oh, hell0 (new) fitness professional. Congratulations on (pick whichever pertains to you): (A) Recently graduating college with a Health Science, Health & Wellness, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, or History in Shakespearian Literature degree. (B) Switching careers from accountant, computer programmer, or, I don’t know, professional mustache grower…to strength coach. (C) Passing your weekend personal trainers course…. Read more

How to Optimize Your Training For Maximal Hypertrophy

Today’s guest post comes courtesy of strength and conditioning coach Kevin Finn. It’s a doozy with tons of information related to how to add slabs of muscle to your frame in the most time efficient and scientifically backed way possible. So, pretty much everyone will be interested in reading it. Enjoy! Step One: Optimize Your… Read more

You Want to Get Leaner. Here’s Why You Should Still Lift Heavy Things

With Avengers: End Game right around the corner it’s inevitable we’re going to be inundated with articles, interviews, and videos on how to get a Thor or Black Widow bod. Follow “x” routine, and you too can look like a superhero. To be fair: I have nothing against said routines. Pretty much anything will get… Read more

Chalk Strength Podcast w/ Simon Bungate

First things first, an apology. I have been woefully delinquent – bordering negligent – on providing my own content on the site of late. I’d like to sit here and say it’s because of a noble cause like spending my time reading scripture to orphaned kittens or, I don’t know, writing a screenplay. But all… Read more

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 4/5/19

BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT 1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – 2019 Locations & Dates Philadelphia, PA: April 27-28th Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: May 25-26th Sydney, Australia: July 13-14th Melbourne, Australia: July 19-21st (<— JUST ADDED. Includes bonus “Psyche Skills for Fitness Pros” pre-workshop with Dr. Lisa Lewis). This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered… Read more

Why You Can and Should Lift Weights With a Herniated Disc

You all know the stat: upwards of 80% of the population will experience some form of debilitating back pain – often times a disc herniation – in his or her’s lifetime. It can strike with one dubious rep on a set of deadlifts, bending over to pick up a child, or, I don’t know, during… Read more

Complete Overhead Press Warmup

My good friend and fellow Massachusetts based strength & conditioning coach, Matthew Ibrahim, comes through today with the final installment is in “Complete Warm-Up” series. Previously he covered: Complete Squat Warm-Up – HERE. Complete Bench Press Warm-Up – HERE. Complete Deadlift Warm-Up – HERE. He completes the quadrilogy (<– new term?) today with the overhead press.   The shoulder… Read more