With the exception of 1-rep max smith machine squats (just say no), just about any exercise can serve a purpose in a well-designed workout routine. But most trainers will tell you that some exercises ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: Everyone Should Meet These Strength, Mobility, and Body Fat Baselines
The vast majority of your training should be based around the big three of Strength Mobility Body composition For many athletes and regular folk, ‘training gaps’ appear because they chase ... Continue Reading
How to Deal With Fitness Information Overload (3 Rules to Live By!)
As part of my work as a coach, I’m constantly reading — about technique, programming, psychology, diet, and everything else that goes into making a successful strength and physique athlete. I’m lucky that ... Continue Reading
The Surprising Benefits of Doing Push-Ups In the Sand
This summer, you might find yourself on beach vacation with only a sketchy motel gym to keep your lifting program alive. Or, you might be heading out for a day with family and friends and want to get a ... Continue Reading
6 Meet Mistakes An Elite Powerlifting Coach Always Sees
Being one of the head coaches for Team Canada Powerlifting since 2012, I’ve worked with hundreds of world-class powerlifters, and have submitted over 4,500 attempts in international competition. With this ... Continue Reading
6 Reasons Walking Is the Most Underrated Exercise
There’s an eternal chasm between the athletes who think that the only way to do cardio is high intensity interval training and those that think something like jogging or cycling is the way to go. I’m ... Continue Reading
Why Are People Annoyed That Chick Fil-A Uses MSG?
The popular fried chicken chain Chick-Fil-A is in hot water this week after somebody read the ingredients list and learned that the tasty breading contains, horror of horrors, monosodium glutamate. (That’s ... Continue Reading
6 Kettlebell Finishers to Improve Powerlifting Performance
So, you’re a powerlifter. You spend most of your time with barbells, plates, and more barbells. Hey, I feel you: so do I. But eventually, we all hit the dreaded plateau: no matter how hard we try, we can’t ... Continue Reading
How Strength Athletes Can Structure Low and Medium Carb Cycling Days
In my last article, I wrote about how I’m taking a break from powerlifting to apply my strength to building my physique. My goals are to give my joints a rest and my body time to heal, and to get my ... Continue Reading
The Fascinating History of the Keto Diet
The Ketogenic diet has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years especially among the lifting population. In layman’s terms, the Ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet plan based on ... Continue Reading
5 Steps to Becoming a Great Powerlifting Coach
When I was young and thought about my career, like many, I dreamt of being a police officer, doctor, lawyer, or pilot. Coaching was not something that came to mind. In fact, when I was younger, I was not ... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why No Two Squat Stances Look Exactly the Same
To be great at squatting, you need multiple factors to be aligned. Outside of understanding the movement's mechanics, you also need baseline levels of strength, coordination, mobility, and proprioception. ... Continue Reading
Three BIG Reasons Why Every Powerlifter Should Try Bodybuilding
You all probably know that I’m taking a break from powerlifting to focus on getting my pro card in bodybuilding — an ambitious feat, to be sure, but one that I truly believe is possible based on my last ... Continue Reading
A Transmasculine Person’s Guide to Building a Strong Upper Body
Trans guys, bois, nonbinary and transmasculine folks, and we could never forget our trans women sisters who want to stay or get super jacked in their upper bodies: welcome, welcome all. Whether you have ... Continue Reading
When You Should Withdraw From Your Powerlifting Meet
You’re training for your upcoming powerlifting contest, and something happens: an illness, an injury, or an unexpected life event which impacts your training. And now, you’re stuck facing that dreaded, ... Continue Reading
Two of the Most Popular Squat Cues That Need Rethinking
We hear the popular and broadly used squat cues time and time again that goes something like, "drive through your heels" or "sit back into the heels", and it's time they receive a rethink. In ... Continue Reading
3 Unconventional Ways to Prep for Powerlifting Meets
Well, it’s officially the month of the US Open, and I have to say, I’m pretty psyched. After my mishmashed foray into bodybuilding last year, I re-found my love for heavy lifting, and so far, the result ... Continue Reading
Squats and Deadlifts Are Not Enough to Build a Strong, Defined Core
How many times have you heard the phrase or the idea that squats and deadlifts are enough to build a strong core? More than likely you've heard this phrase at least once in your lifting career — and it's ... Continue Reading
3 Front Squat Tips From a Professional Powerlifter
When it comes to powerlifting, the squat, bench, and deadlift are king — but if that’s all you do in the gym, there’s a good chance you’ll end up either burnt out or just straight-up bored. I’ve written ... Continue Reading
4 Tips for When You Love Lifting But You Live With Depression
(Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice and/or supervision from a medical professional. The opinions and articles on this site ... Continue Reading
The Underrated Benefits of the Leg Press for Powerlifters
By now, I’ve written a lot about assistance exercises for powerlifting — including the importance of not overdoing them. In case you don’t have time to watch the video, it basically comes down to this: ... Continue Reading
4 Reasons Why Everyone Should Try Using Hook Grip
Ah, the hook grip. The incredibly secure grip style that you keep hearing so much about. In the past (pre-Instagram age), hook grip was thought to be more of a weightlifting style grip, but now we're ... Continue Reading
4 Household Items You Can Use for a Killer Workout
You’re stuck at home for whatever reason, and you’re slightly bummed that you can’t get a workout in. However, do you have a couch, paper plates and a bath towel lying around? If you said yes, it’s time ... Continue Reading
3 Anti-Rotation Exercises For Stronger Olympic Lifts
Stability and strength. Two key components that will take your performance to the next level. When moving heavy loads from point A to B (yes, this can also mean your bodyweight), there’s really no ... Continue Reading