Experts are pretty sure that chili peppers evolved their spiciness as a defense mechanism to keep them from getting eaten. But somewhere along the line, humans decided they love the feeling of their food ... Continue Reading
5 Super Simple Rules to Get Your Weightlifting Competition Prep on Track
Everyone’s got that ideal version of themselves created inside their mind. Some days, we fully live who this person is and the “perfect” lifestyle they lead, other times, we completely fall off the wagon. ... Continue Reading
3 Keys to the Perfect Weightlifting Workout Program (Partnership with TrainingIQ)
If you're already a weightlifter, then you're probably well aware of how long it takes to really dial in proper form for the snatch and clean & jerk. It can take years to fully understand the Olympic ... Continue Reading
Does Caffeine Actually Burn Fat?
Caffeine is already the most widely used stimulant on Earth, and in the United States alone it’s estimated that 90 percent of people consume it every single day. So when research started suggesting that ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilder Josh Wade Share’s His Most Important Offseason Tips
Josh Wade’s 2018 season was highlighted by his first career appearance on the Mr. Olympia stage. Not being one to settle, he knew he had to make the most out of his offseason so that when he returns to the ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Barbell Curl for Biceps Size and Strength
It’s not just about busting through your shirt sleeves (although that’s pretty cool if it’s your thing). Building strong biceps isn’t just about aesthetics. The best biceps exercises will prepare you to ... Continue Reading
3 Awesome Deadlift Progressions for Beginners (VIDEO)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, a great deadlift isn't built overnight. The deadlift is simplistic in nature, but it's also a movement that can easily go wrong and lead to injury when form isn't ... Continue Reading
Jump, Run, Lift: Why the UA TriBase™ Reign Excels in Each
The term cross training isn’t new to the shoe world, but over the last few years, the needs of athletes have changed quite a bit — and the shoes have changed to match. A lot of this development is spurred ... Continue Reading
8 Natural Ways to Decrease Appetite
You can try and increase your fat oxidation, you can try and exercise more, but the boring yet undeniable truth is this: weight loss comes down to consuming fewer calories than you burn. A lot of time ... Continue Reading
New Review Challenges the “Use Or Lose It” Muscle Memory Notion
Have you ever heard the notion that if you stop lifting weights, then you'll instantly lose all the muscle that you've spent forever working on? New research dives into this topic and challenges the ... Continue Reading
Mr. Olympia 2019 Brandon Curry Shares His Arm Building Tips
A few years ago, there were a few names that came to mind when you thought about the “elite” of bodybuilding. Names like Heath, Jackson, Ramy, and Rhoden were easy to think of. One that may not have is ... Continue Reading
Vegan Diet for Athletes: Can You Build Muscle with Plant-Based Nutrition?
The notion that a person can’t be strong without eating meat belongs in the same category as “low fat diets are best” and “jogging is the one ideal form of exercise.” It’s outdated. Performing at one’s ... Continue Reading
What Equipment Is In the BarBend Gym?
In case you didn't notice, we film a lot of videos here at BarBend spanning from reviews to educational content. Over the last year, we've spent a considerable amount of time connecting and working with a ... Continue Reading
So You Wanna Be a Powerlifter? Attempt Selection During a Meet
In our previous episode, we talked about the rules of a meet and the process by which the meet actually runs. In this final installment of the So You Wanna Be A Powerlifter series, we will go over attempt ... Continue Reading
Perfect Your Conventional Deadlift Setup In 5 Steps (VIDEO)
Much like Rome, a beautiful deadlift is not built overnight. A great deadlift is composed and built with multiple training elements that all work hand-in-hand with one another to manifest an efficient and ... Continue Reading
7 Workout Finishers to Improve Hypertrophy and Conditioning
You walk past the mirror at the gym, sweating and heading to the locker room, and can't help but flex. You would have liked to spend more time on arms today, but you’ve only got 5 or 10 minutes to ... Continue Reading
World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis Shares His Stone to Shoulder Secrets
As the 2018 Arnold Strongman USA was drawing to a finish, Martins Licis needed to complete five reps on the Stone to Shoulder event to tie for the lead in that event and clinch the win. If you saw a look ... Continue Reading
The Ultimate Guide to Building Muscle in College
College comes and goes incredibly fast, which means it should be treated as a sacred time for many things. Outside of the budding friendships and career connections being made, college is also a great time ... Continue Reading
Pro Strongman Rob Kearney Teaches Us How to Z Press (VIDEO)
The Z Press is a shoulder press variation that can benefit every type of strength athlete and lifter. This shoulder press variation was first popularized in the sport of strongman, and it is often ... Continue Reading
How to Fix Your Weakest Strongman Movements
You can’t be great at everything, but you certainly can get better. Everyone has their least favorite movements and those are usually the ones that do not come naturally. There are a number of techniques ... Continue Reading
How Strongman Jerry Pritchett Trains the Log Press
If you’re one of the people who plan on being at the Santa Monica Pier on January 19 to watch the first Arnold Strongman USA competition, then the first event you’ll see will be the Log Press for reps. ... Continue Reading
Why Olympic Weightlifting Makes Great Wrestlers
The sport of wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports on record and was one of the first disciplines included in the ancient Olympic Games program. Wrestling was first highlighted in sport science ... Continue Reading
3 Ways to Get Stronger In the Next 5 Minutes
My article about Five Things You Can Do Outside The Gym to Get Stronger got a great response, so I decided to hit up Reddit for some more inspiration… and I wasn’t disappointed! Shoutout to the Fitness ... Continue Reading
How to Approach Strength Training During Menopause (And Why You Should)
The way we perceive strength training today has dramatically evolved over the past decade, especially around the subject of weight training for women. Yes, men and women respond differently to strength ... Continue Reading