In many ways, the sport of weightlifting is like skipping rocks: If you aimlessly chuck a rock out into the water, it’ll hit with a distinct plunk and sink right to the bottom. But if you get low and sling ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Chest-Supported Row for a Bigger and Stronger Back
You walk into a crowded gym on your upper-body or pulling day and you’re ready to do your rows, but you find that all of the barbells are taken. Here’s what you should do: spot an open weight bench near ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Plank Jack for Killer Abs and Better Conditioning
No exercise can do it all: Planks are a tried-and-true core-builder, but they don’t burn many calories. The jumping jack — a gym-class classic — will get your heart rate up and your blood pumping, but it ... Continue Reading
These Are the 10 Best Bodybuilding Cable Exercises for Consistent Muscle Growth
A good bodybuilder uses every tool at their disposal to build muscle: Barbells for maximal loading, dumbbells to identify and attack muscular imbalances, and, especially, cables. The cable tree is, in many ... Continue Reading
The 5 Best Personal Trainer Certifications of 2025, According to CPTs
While the best personal training apps can offer a great exercise experience, some folks still prefer in-person training. "Personal trainers can assist with maintaining correct form to avoid injuries and ... Continue Reading
REP Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell Review
A kettlebell is a versatile piece of home gym equipment since it can work every muscle in the body with both static and dynamic movements. Even though kettlebells don’t require as much room as a full set ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Single-Arm Lat Pulldown for Spectacular Back Development
You’ve probably heard that the best way to build your back is with rows, pull-ups, deadlifts, and so on. And, for the most part, that’s sound advice: Large and heavy compound exercises are phenomenal for ... Continue Reading
Sole F63 Treadmill vs. Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill Review
If you’re actively looking to deck out your home gym with a solid treadmill, then you’re likely aware of two facts: Treadmills are expensive, and there are more market options than bead ... Continue Reading
Arnold Schwarzenegger — Bodybuilding Career, Competition History, and Biography
People around the world have their own thoughts when they hear the name Arnold Schwarzenegger. Most may know him as the star of blockbusters like Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator series. Some may ... Continue Reading
How Derek Lunsford’s Chest Day Looks When Coached by Hany Rambod
2021 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford has a coaching program, UC-Fit, where he helps bodybuilders with contest prep and body transformations. However, the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up ... Continue Reading
16 Weeks Out from Competition — Bodybuilder Keone Pearson’s Full Day of Eating
Returning after an almost three-month absence, bodybuilder Keone “The Prodigy” Pearson published an informative vlog detailing a full day of eating as preps to compete at the 2023 Texas Pro on Aug. 19, ... Continue Reading
The 10 Best Mass Gainers of 2026, Tested by Experts and MD Approved
If you’re trying to pack on muscle, eating thousands of calories of whole foods is no easy task. Just like the best protein powders, a high-calorie mass gainer supplement can help increase your daily ... Continue Reading
The Best Weightlifting Shoes of 2026, Approved by Trainers and Lifters
While a high-quality pair of the best cross-training shoes are plenty capable for a range of workouts, some exercises and training disciplines can call for specific footwear. “Weightlifting ... Continue Reading
The 7 Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts of 2026, Get More Energy without the Caffeine
Many of the best pre-workout supplements pack high doses of caffeine, which may not jive with the diets and training schedules of many athletes. "Caffeine can stay in your system for several hours, so if ... Continue Reading
Coaching the 2-Time Fittest Man on Earth® (with Adam Neiffer)
Today I'm talking to CrossFit coach, athlete, and affiliate owner Adam Neiffer, who joins The BarBend Podcast for the second time. Adam is perhaps best known today as the coach of two-time reigning Fittest ... Continue Reading
Here Is Men’s Physique Bodybuilder Steven Cao’s 3,040-Calorie Prep Diet
Men’s Physique competitor Steven Cao is prepping for his next pro show: the 2023 Mile High Pro, in Denver, CO, on June 10. Should he win, he will qualify for a return trip to the Olympia stage after his ... Continue Reading
Whey vs. Plant Protein: How to Choose the Best Option for You
Figuring out the best protein powder for you can be tricky. In addition to personal factors like taste and texture preference, you’ll likely want to know which type of protein powder is best for your ... Continue Reading
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Bodybuilding Show Results
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro took place on the weekend of May 12-13 at the Wyndham Grand Downtown Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. The fans in attendance were joined by some of the biggest stars in the sport. Among ... Continue Reading
The Best Chest and Triceps Workout, Scaled for Every Experience Level
When you think of organizing yourself a body part split, your chest and triceps seem to just…fit. They’re so inseparable that many of the most popular splits will inevitably have you train them ... Continue Reading
Sole E20 Elliptical Review
Finding a solid elliptical for your home gym can be essential for those who want to skip out on the stress that running can have on your joints, and one of our favorites is the Sole ... Continue Reading
The Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements for Taste, Probiotics, Fiber, and More
We all know that kids don’t always like to eat their fruits and vegetables, and that preference can carry on into adulthood. Some simply dislike the taste, while many others find the texture off-putting. ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter Jamal Browner Shows a Full Day of Eating As He Preps for His Strongman Debut
Powerlifter Jamal Browner is undeniably one of the best deadlifters on the planet. The 27-year-old phenom has pulled everything from 426.4 kilograms (940 pounds) to a milestone 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) ... Continue Reading
What Is TDEE? Your Guide to Total Daily Energy Expenditure
What you do in the kitchen and what you do in the gym are intrinsically linked. Nutrition for athletes is the physical fuel behind everything from bodybuilding workouts to finally cracking the strength ... Continue Reading
The Murph CrossFit Workout, Explained and Scaled for Every Experience Level
Every Memorial Day, CrossFitters emerge from their boxes ready to rumble. Totaling a two-mile journey — plus 600 bodyweight reps while wearing a weighted vest — the Murph CrossFit workout will challenge ... Continue Reading