It sounds silly at first, sure: When you think of work capacity, your mind calls forth images of sweat pouring down your face, your heart pounding in your chest, and the ominous, authoritative beeping of a ... Continue Reading
The 12 Best Upper Body Exercises and 5 Workouts
At BarBend, upper-body workouts are our bread and butter (but don't get it twisted; we love a good leg day). From bench presses to barbell rows and everything in-between, our editorial staff is packed to ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Muscle Snatch for Better Weightlifting Performance
If you’re on the hunt for a new way to improve your weightlifting game, the muscle snatch is an absolute game-changer. The muscle snatch can help you build explosive leg power, teach you how to be a ... Continue Reading
How to Build Muscle and Strength With Calisthenics Training
Calisthenics is a timeless style of exercise. It comes from the ancient Greek words kállos and sthenos, meaning beauty and strength. The beauty of strength training throughout history is that it’s always ... Continue Reading
The CrossFit Nancy Workout, Explained and Scaled for Every Skill Level
You didn’t sign up for your local CrossFit gym just so you could go running. CrossFit is about a diverse array of training styles and techniques, not just pounding the pavement. But just because this sport ... Continue Reading
The Best Nitric Oxide Foods to Increase Blood Flow and Boost Performance
When you’re at the gym with your music playing and your blood flowing, nitric oxide is at work in your body. It helps to widen your blood vessels, and in turn can boost your training, improve recovery, and ... Continue Reading
How to Train Powerlifting Once Per Week (And Make it Count)
If you’re a competitive powerlifter, you know firsthand how demanding this sport can be on time, energy, and resources. And even if you don’t compete, the rigors of loyally training the squat, bench press, ... Continue Reading
16 Best Quad Exercises and Quad Workouts for Muscle Gain
Quads are all the rage nowadays — we blame the rise of shorter shorts, but hey, we aren't complaining. If you're here for quad-focused exercises, the best quad workouts, or the best movements for quad ... Continue Reading
How Much Protein Do You Need for Bodybuilding?
Protein is the lifeblood of bodybuilding. An entire industry is built around the idea that bodybuilders need a lot of protein all the time; particularly before, during, and after their workouts. And in the ... Continue Reading
When to Take Pre-Workout — What’s the Best Time to Drink Your Pre-Workout Mix?
According to your training schedule, today’s the day to get after it. You’ve been ramping up and progressively overloading just like your program says to. You want to go as hard as your regimen calls for, ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Clean for Explosive Power, Muscle Growth, and Much More
The first time you ever saw someone doing a clean probably blew your mind. Most free-weight exercises are slow and controlled; take a bar (or pair of dumbbells) from here to there with a nice, consistent ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Heels-Elevated Goblet Squat for Superior Quad Gains
The movements you select on leg day make all the difference when it comes to making gains. You’re probably already doing the back squat and/or front squat. If you’re in the mood to switch things up, one ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Reverse-Grip Bent-Over Row for Bigger Lats and Beefier Biceps
You might not realize it, but the moment you step into the gym, you’re racing against the clock. Whether that’s a literal time limit, or a perceived point of exhaustion, the truth is you only have so much ... Continue Reading
The 8 Best Biceps Stretches to Support Long-Term Arm Thickness and Strength
Picture this — you crush your biceps curls and pull-ups at the gym, and the next day you feel that sweet pain of not being able to straighten your arms. Your biceps muscles flex and supinate your forearms. ... Continue Reading
How to Lubricate a Treadmill
We all want to add the best equipment possible to our home gyms, but with any expensive purchase comes one very crucial responsibility — taking care of it. If you’ve bought a treadmill, ... Continue Reading
The CrossFit Karen Workout, Explained and Scaled for Every Skill Level
You can’t talk about powerlifting workouts without mentioning the deadlift. And what are strongman competitions without some type of stone event? In CrossFit, the name of the game is unpredictability — but ... Continue Reading
9 Best Upper Chest Exercises for Stronger Pecs
There’s a reason Mondays are colloquially known as “International Chest Day.” An impressive set of pecs can change your whole physique. Beyond helping you look good at the beach or pool this summer, we ... Continue Reading
Our Favorite Forearm Workouts, + the 11 Best Forearm Exercises
At BarBend, we’re big believers in getting a grip, both literally and figuratively. Your forearm muscles are essential for holding onto heavy objects — how else would you perform a deadlift otherwise? — ... Continue Reading
The Best Powerlifting Workouts for Beginners to Break Into the Sport
The squat, bench, and deadlift are staples in the strength training realm no matter your sport. But when you put these three lifts together, you get the sport of powerlifting. If you’re a fan of the ... Continue Reading
Can Meal Replacement Shakes Help Me Lose Weight?
Nutrition is a huge piece of the strength training puzzle. The more effectively you fuel your workouts, the stronger you’re bound to get. But not everyone savors making meals in the kitchen like they love ... Continue Reading
12 Best Exercises for Abs, From a CPT
We’ve got a bone to pick with ab exercises: They’re usually boring. Unfortunately, exercising your abs is a bit like eating your vegetables. It’s tedious, but necessary — this goes for both appearances and ... Continue Reading
5 Benefits of Vitamin D for Strength Athletes
If the sun is shining where you are, you can get a free supplement just by heading outside. Although the sun is a direct source of vitamin D, nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, most people don’t get enough of ... Continue Reading
What Is Isotonic Exercise (and Why Does It Matter?)
Resistance training has undergone plenty of evolution over the years; modern-day gyms carry far more than treadmills and punching bags. That said, when it comes to improving your fitness, all roads lead to ... Continue Reading
Try This Biceps Workout With Dumbbells for Superior Muscle Growth
There are more arm workouts out there than you could possibly know what to do with. Workouts that swear up and down that you’ll move up a shirt size before you know it, or that you’ll soon have biceps that ... Continue Reading