No matter how hard I fight it as a coach, I get it: Some movements are just perceived as sexier than others. Butterfly pull-ups, handstand push-ups, pistols = Sexy, and must be ... Continue Reading
4 Bench Press Variations When You Have Shoulder Discomfort
The bench press is a rite of passage for most gym goers. Even the newbies who know next to nothing about lifting always seem to know two exercises: the bench press and biceps curls. And ... Continue Reading
The Female Cycle and Strength Training: When to Push and When to Hold Back
(Men, feel free to sit this one out): The cramps are crippling. You feel bloated, and you keep running to the bathroom between sets of squats. You’re not sure if it’s the coffee or just period poo, but ... Continue Reading
7 Lessons for Powerlifters Taken From a Boxing Class
Powerlifters often avoid group fitness classes like the plague: whether it’s because we’re often preferentially allergic to anything that might actually resemble cardio or because lifting can be such a ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: When Research Comes Up Short In the Gym
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
3 Great Deload Strategies to Use When Traveling This Holiday Season
Well, it’s that time of year again: with the winter weather comes the winter holidays, and for many people, winter holidays mean a lot of travel. Travel is great: you get to take a break from the monotony ... Continue Reading
Ben Pollack AMA: What Trend In Training Needs to Die, Best Exercise for Glutes, and More
I posted an AMA on my Instagram page yesterday, and I was really thrilled with the response it received. Of course, I can’t really offer any in-depth answers or analysis on Instagram, so I made ... Continue Reading
Program to Your Own Cycle: Working Out And Menstruation
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
Why Membership Numbers Tell You Nothing About A Gym’s Success
“How many members does your gym have?” I lost track of how many times affiliate gym owners or coaches asked me this question when I was at the 10-year CrossFit Affiliate Gathering in Whistler, B.C. ... Continue Reading
The Small Muscles That Will Make Your Lifts Bigger
There’s nothing more impressive than a massive lift, but it's worth pointing out that even the biggest and strongest lifters can neglect the smaller, less sexy muscles in their quest for getting ... Continue Reading
How to Solve the Charcuterie Conundrum if You’re Gluten-Free, Keto, or Macro-Counting
When I was growing up in the 1990s, the cracker market was dire: Loaded with white flour, various preservatives and ingredients I still can’t pronounce, while others were so structurally sound you could ... Continue Reading
3 Methods for Using Rest Times Strategically, and When They Don’t Matter
We all rest between sets, but few people do so strategically, with their individual goal in mind. This article will help you choose the right amount of time to rest based on your goal, be it strength, ... Continue Reading
3 Kettlebell Variations That Will Improve Your Barbell Back Squat
Google the word squat and you come up with over 168 million hits. Then Google the word deadlift and you only get 24 million hits. According to Google, the squat is the king of all exercises. See how ... Continue Reading
“You Have Nice Legs”: One Woman’s Take On Unsolicited Gym Comments
Last week, while at my regular coffee shop in my usual tight-fitting Lululemon pants, a stranger yelled, “Whoa!” I looked over, to which he pointed to my legs and brought both of his hands together the ... Continue Reading
How Many Times a Week Should You Bench Press for Strength and Mass?
The bench press is an unusual exercise when it comes to training frequency — and for good reason. Over the last two decades, training frequency has been a hot topic across every strength and ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: 5 Workout Challenges Every Athlete Should Try
Personally, I'm not fan of extreme racing — if you’re the type of person who likes competitions, pain, and/or physical punishment, I prefer different kinds of fitness challenges. When your training gets ... Continue Reading
Do You Really Need to Squat for Big Legs?
Yep, it’s an age-old question – but one that we can learn a lot from. If you listen to the bros (whether in the gym or online), you’ll probably think that you have to squat if you want big legs, or if ... Continue Reading
5 Keys to Keeping Personal Training Clients for Years
When I first started coaching in 2009, I thought it was my job to convince the prospect that we would provide them with the most effective training program they had ever followed, so they would get as fit ... Continue Reading
5 Keys to Earning a Professional Wage As a Fitness Coach
In my 10 years coaching fitness—and through interviewing quite literally hundreds of small gym owners and trainers of the CrossFit variety and otherwise—it’s apparent there are some real shortcomings in ... Continue Reading
Get Jacked-o’-Lantern With These 4 Halloween Inspired Exercises
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and training is my favorite…well, it’s just my favorite. Combining two awesome things sounds like a pretty darn good idea to me, so let’s take a look at four ... Continue Reading
Reaching Is Easily the Most Underrated Movement for Shoulder Health
If you’ve lifted weights for any length of time you’ve probably hurt your shoulder. That sucks. The shoulder is a shallow ball and socket joint that has the very handy ability to move in multiple ... Continue Reading
5 Great Bulking Foods for Digestion, Intra-Workout, and More
Winter is here, and that means it’s bulking season! Personally, I’m aiming to move up from my competition weight of 184 lbs to a whopping 240 pounds this offseason – a pretty massive gain, but one I ... Continue Reading
Introducing the NOBULL Dress Shoe, Is It a Hit Or Miss?
Need to get a quick lift in before your next job interview? Have no fear, NOBULL has you covered. Over the last three years at BarBend, I've reviewed over 40 of the best cross-training and lifting ... Continue Reading
Why Powerlifters Should Be Accessory Lifting With A Swiss Bar
Maybe you’ve seen the bulky, kind of odd-looking bar in your gym, or maybe you’re contemplating buying yourself a new toy for your garage gym. Or maybe you’ve just finished a meet or hit a lifting plateau, ... Continue Reading