You’ve just started surrendering to your cardio-happy friend who insists that you do something in the gym aside from picking up heavy barbells and putting them back down. Fine, you say, you’ll do…cardio. ... Continue Reading
The 10 Best Leg Stretches to Bolster Your Lower Body Training
If you do it right, leg day is an intense experience. Squatting, lunging, and hinging until you’re a puddle on the gym floor takes up a lot of time and mental real estate. But once you’ve crushed your leg ... Continue Reading
A New Study Reveals 2 Training Techniques to Maximize Muscle Growth
Muscles can stretch and contract. That might seem like an oversimplification, but who hasn't seen the gyms with countless members trying to get huge by slinging dumbbells around without loading their ... Continue Reading
Sam Sulek — Workouts, Biography, Height, and More
When people think of the biggest names in bodybuilding in terms of competition, the most popular athletes to come up tend to be five-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead and 2023 Mr. ... Continue Reading
Is 10,000 Really the Magic Number? The Science Behind Taking 10,000 Steps a Day
If you’ve got a fitness tracker, the number of steps you need to hit to close those rings is often a crisp, clean 10,000. Even if you don’t wear a tracker on your wrist, plenty of smartphones are ... Continue Reading
The 4 Best Kettlebell Circuits to Build Muscle Without a Full Gym
Kettlebell athletes come to the workout floor with any number of goals. You might want to become stronger or more mobile. You may want to enjoy moving more (and kettlebells certainly are a fun way to ... Continue Reading
What to Eat After a Workout — How to Find the Right Refueling Sources
You know what to do during your workout. You know your reps, sets, and the percentage of your one-rep max that you’re trying to crush. But lingering questions of what to eat after a workout may well linger ... Continue Reading
How to Identify Aerobic Vs. Anaerobic Exercise (And Why it Matters)
When you go to the gym, it’s to pick up heavy weights, put them back down, and repeat. But when your coach or gym buddy tells you it’s time to “do cardio,” you’ve got to admit that it’d be nice to be able ... Continue Reading
Cydney Gillon — Early Life, Career, Training, and More
In the world of bodybuilding and physique sports, winning one Olympia championship puts you in rarified air. Winning multiple titles makes you a legend. You may need a different adjective to describe ... Continue Reading
“I Think I Went Into Shock”: Dorian Yates Reflects on Winning the 1997 Mr. Olympia With a Torn Triceps
Bodybuilder Dorian Yates won six Mr. Olympia titles throughout the 1990s and, in part, ushered in the “mass monster” era that still influences the sport today. “The Shadow,” as Yates was known for his ... Continue Reading
What Is Tabata Training? How to Get Fitter in Four Minutes
From calisthenics training to gathering the best dumbbells at your disposal for a sweat session, there are endless ways to pack in a quick, high-intensity workout. One of the most popular of these training ... Continue Reading
What Is Clear Whey Isolate? Here’s the Science Behind the Buzz
You thought you'd tried all the protein powder the virtual supplement aisle has to offer. But recently, the internet has been abuzz with a new type of protein powder — clear whey isolate. An ... Continue Reading
How to Make the Ultimate Weekly Workout Schedule
Random workouts here and there may not be too difficult to plan. You show up at the gym, do whatever you feel like, and leave. But forming a consistent habit aimed at achieving specific goals is a ... Continue Reading
Ramon “Dino” Rocha Queiroz Biography: Bodybuilding Career, Workouts, and Height
In the eyes of many bodybuilding fans, the 2023 Classic Physique Olympia contest cemented Chris Bumstead as the G.O.A.T. after he claimed his fifth consecutive championship in Orlando, FL on Nov. ... Continue Reading
The Side Effects of Probiotics for Strength Athletes to Look Out For
Whether your main goal is to pack on muscle or pack more plates onto the bar, you’re likely cramming as much protein as you can into your diet. And while a high-protein diet is a generally safe approach, ... Continue Reading
Should You Fast In the Morning or Evening?
Intermittent fasting is among the most popular dieting protocols for weight loss and other health benefits, including decreasing fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance, leptin levels, and increasing ... Continue Reading
The 10 Best CrossFit Athletes of 2023
Another action-packed CrossFit season is in the books. The 2023 year in CrossFit included many changes, from the first woman in six years not named Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr taking home the Games crown to the ... Continue Reading
The 10 Best Bodybuilders of 2023
The 2023 bodybuilding season was full of tight competitions and standout moments that gave fans plenty to discuss over the past 12 months. We saw long-running dynasties continue on, others end in ... Continue Reading
Are There Foods That Burn Fat? The Science Behind the Weight Loss Claim
It’s happened to plenty of strength athletes. You’re scrolling your social media feed and come across posts listing out foods that burn fat — read: green tea and and apple cider vinegar — promising to shed ... Continue Reading
The BarBend Staff’s Favorite Stories of 2023
The team at BarBend produces a lot of content. Our news and editorial staff work tirelessly, week after week, to bring you the latest developments and most interesting stories in the worlds of strength and ... Continue Reading
Do Cold Showers Burn Fat? Everything You Need to Know About Weight Loss and Cold Water Exposure
Your experience with fitness may well take you through some unique lifestyle changes. From dialing in your nutrition to finally locking in that eight-hour sleep window, what you do in your downtime has a ... Continue Reading
Does Protein Powder Cause Acne?
Getting to the gym and consistently crushing your workouts makes you feel good and strong; that’s why you love it. In addition to training, keeping your protein intake high can help you build muscle, lose ... Continue Reading
What Is Erythritol? Is This Zero-Calorie Sweetener Too Good to Be True?
On your muscle-building journey, you’ll need protein. And if you’re on the hunt for the best protein powders, we imagine you’ve scanned the labels in search of the perfect formulation. Somewhere in those ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Nordic Curl to Power Up Your Hamstrings Without Weights
The Nordic curl is not for the faint of heart… or hamstrings. Don’t be misled by the fact that this move is “merely” a bodyweight exercise. Once you truly dive into this move, thoughts of adding weight ... Continue Reading