Counting Trace Macros Is Overrated
Counting Trace Macros Is Overrated

Tired of inputting your nutrition information into an app to count your total macros and calories? Give this method a shot.

The Basics of Macronutrient Tracking
The Basics of Macronutrient Tracking

If you’re interested in tracking macronutrients but aren’t sure how to get started, no worries. With the assistance of fitness apps and smartwatches, it’s easier to track macros than ever before. I’ll teach you the basics, gram by gram.

Cheat Meal vs. Cheat Day(s)
Cheat Meal vs. Cheat Day(s)

Which is the best method?

5 Things Every Competitor Needs To Be Successful
5 Things Every Competitor Needs To Be Successful

In my 30 years of competing and 20 years of training competitors, I have narrowed the endless list of requirements for success down to five main variables.

Does Muscle Turn into Fat?
Does Muscle Turn into Fat?

Muscle is a constant consumer of energy and fat is an organ that stores it, but they do share some common cell lineage. Can one become the other?

5-4-3-2-1 Program for Size and Strength
5-4-3-2-1 Program for Size and Strength

This program aims to take advantage of periodizing training frequency by training one lift five times per week, one lift four times per week, one lift three times per week, one lift twice per week, and one lift once per week.

Six Off-Season Bench Cycles to Replace Dynamic Effort Work
Six Off-Season Bench Cycles to Replace Dynamic Effort Work

The six cycles in this article are a great way to add variety, cycle out of traditional dynamic effort bench work, or add some needed muscle mass.

3 Missing Links in Your Hypertrophy Training
3 Missing Links in Your Hypertrophy Training

Before you can ever execute advanced training techniques, you must first master what I call The Three I’s.

Another Supplement Store
Another Supplement Store

I have tried it all, and I will not sit here saying I never spent money on crazy supplements thinking I would make huge gains. Learn from my mistakes.

10 Nutrition Myths That Just Need to Die
10 Nutrition Myths That Just Need to Die

Despite how inaccurate these nutrition beliefs are, they just won’t seem to go away. It’s time we kill them.

An Argument for Post-Training Cardio Gains
An Argument for Post-Training Cardio Gains

Worried that too much cardio could hinder your muscle growth? Performed the right way, at the right time, low-intensity aerobic activity can actually improve muscle hypertrophy.

The Post-Contest Reality of Food
The Post-Contest Reality of Food

I recognize the value in celebrating an accomplishment, strategically spiking carbs within the context of your nutrition plan, or the need for a psychological break from the humdrum monotony of dieting. But it can go too far.

Check Your Ego at the Door and Maximize Your Gains
Check Your Ego at the Door and Maximize Your Gains

I’m going to share four key components to packing on more muscle and getting stronger by actually backing off the weight.

Why I Need to Make a Change — The Plan
Why I Need to Make a Change — The Plan

Change is difficult but can hold great rewards. Here’s how I’m going to make it all happen.

Bench, Squat, and Deadlift Alternatives for Bodybuilding
Bench, Squat, and Deadlift Alternatives for Bodybuilding

If you’re beat up from powerlifting or more concerned with hypertrophy, some of these variations may prove useful. In all honesty, alternatives of the basic lifts have done the most for the development of my physique and hypertrophy.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Lifters
7 Habits of Highly Effective Lifters

When you look at the best lifters, you find that they have several things in common. Make these behaviors a regular part of your life and you’ll continually see progress, too.

5 Things to Know for Your First Show
5 Things to Know for Your First Show

Competing in a bodybuilding show can seem overwhelming, and you may have no idea what to expect. Don’t let fear hold you back.

Pull Through Reps: How To Maximize Back Gains
Pull Through Reps: How To Maximize Back Gains

It is my opinion that most body parts do not necessarily need to be worked through a full range of motion to be effective. Exclude the back.

The Five Factors of Being Stage Ready
The Five Factors of Being Stage Ready

After back-to-back-to-back wins, Mark Dugdale is sharing his methods for making sure he is stage ready on show day.

Chalk Dust and Trail Runs: Cardio for Powerlifters
Chalk Dust and Trail Runs: Cardio for Powerlifters

How do we glean all the benefits of cardio without compromising our strength and size? It really comes down to two things.

Enjoy BBQ Season Without Wrecking Your Diet
Enjoy BBQ Season Without Wrecking Your Diet

You don’t have to turn BYOB into BYOF (bring your own food, often in a cooler).

Backward Sled Pulls for Quad Size and Strength
Backward Sled Pulls for Quad Size and Strength

If your leg development is lagging, it’s time to start dragging.

A Call to Arms Series: Building Billy Club Forearms and Perfect Peaks
A Call to Arms Series: Building Billy Club Forearms and Perfect Peaks

You won’t win the arms race with puny forearms and flat peaks. Enter the Fat Bar Reverse Curl.

New Product: elitefts Brain Torch
New Product: elitefts Brain Torch

After months of research, development, and testing, we’re finally releasing an ammonia product unlike any other.

How Powerlifting Saved My Life
How Powerlifting Saved My Life

Years of self-destructive life and eating habits led me to 430 pounds and a combined diagnosis of pre-diabetes and hypertension. I had two options: make a change or die.

WATCH: Julia Ladewski Q&A — Hamstring/Glute Exercises, Youth Training, Lifestyle
WATCH: Julia Ladewski Q&A — Hamstring/Glute Exercises, Youth Trainin...

Responding directly to your questions, Julia offers training insights in these short clips.

An Unconventional Motive for Muscularity
An Unconventional Motive for Muscularity

There are a whole shitload of really good reasons you should get as jacked as you possibly can.

The Best Exercise
The Best Exercise

The future success of your training program hinges on the inclusion of this one exercise. Don’t train without it.

Get Bigger With Giant Sets
Get Bigger With Giant Sets
Find out if "Giant Sets For Giant Gains" can help you get bigger. Video of Milos Sarcev and Dennis Wolf giant set training video included.
Training Women: Deadlift Considerations
Training Women: Deadlift Considerations

Before making the assumption that all women have wide hips and should therefore squat wide and deadlift sumo, consider these other factors that will inform good technique.

Are You Getting Enough O2? — Oxygen's Role in Muscle Growth
Are You Getting Enough O2? — Oxygen's Role in Muscle Growth

On the quest for hypertrophy? Take note of these facts before shunning cardio.

New Research Unlocks “Steroid Gene” in Humans
New Research Unlocks “Steroid Gene” in Humans
Scientists have identified a gene which replicates the effects of steroids without the negative repercussions.
Cheat Day Delusions
Cheat Day Delusions

You’re going to need to meet a very specific criteria before you can indulge on a day full of crunchy, salty, sweet, rich, and savory taste-bud bliss.

3 Old School Bodybuilding Techniques We Need to Bring Back
3 Old School Bodybuilding Techniques We Need to Bring Back

Calf raises with my training partner’s sweaty ballsack on my back can stay in the past, but it’s time to bring back these other forgotten exercises.

40 Things All Real Lifters Do
40 Things All Real Lifters Do

How many of these things apply to you?

WATCH: Table Talk — Dave's Best Cheat Meal (13,909 calories!)
WATCH: Table Talk — Dave's Best Cheat Meal (13,909 calories!)

If you have only one opportunity per month to eat the foods you want, you don’t waste it. By the end of the night I felt like I was going to die.

3-Week Cycle of Off-Season Volume Fun
3-Week Cycle of Off-Season Volume Fun

We’ve had great success devoting three weeks to volume in transition from and to competition prep with this 2-on/1-off/2-on/weekend-off setup.

WATCH: Clint Darden Shares Weight Gain Secrets
WATCH: Clint Darden Shares Weight Gain Secrets

Gaining weight is comfortable. Said no one ever. These methods will have you sweating, grasping for air, and searching of the nearest sink and fan.

Diet Manipulation Strategies From Team elitefts
Diet Manipulation Strategies From Team elitefts

I dug deep into the archives of elitefts nutrition articles and compiled the six best pieces of work to help you on your way to a bigger and leaner physique.

Don't Fear the Carbs: Understanding and Dieting with Carbohydrates
Don't Fear the Carbs: Understanding and Dieting with Carbohydrates

Confused about how and when to eat carbs in your diet? Understanding the science behind this macronutrient is where you need to start.

Cardio in the Off-Season: Make Up Your Mind
Cardio in the Off-Season: Make Up Your Mind

Here’s how to know whether cardio is your friend or foe between shows.

Cardio in the Off-Season: Blasphemy, Beneficial or Badass
Cardio in the Off-Season: Blasphemy, Beneficial or Badass

Can off-season cardio make for a leaner, healthier growing bodybuilder or will it nip your gains in the bud? Stevenson solves the cardio conundrum.

WATCH: The Justin Harris Training Philosophy
WATCH: The Justin Harris Training Philosophy

This unique, time-proven methodology has made Harris a master of both bodybuilding and powerlifting.

Peri-Workout Nutrition, Part I
Peri-Workout Nutrition, Part I

A fair amount of research exists about peri-workout nutrition. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of myths. So, what is true?

Calories: Count Everything or Ignore the Incidentals?
Calories: Count Everything or Ignore the Incidentals?

Those extra/uncounted calories can really add up.

Are You Really a Hardgainer?
Are You Really a Hardgainer?

Hardgainers exist. It’s true. You may actually be one! But are you…really?

Set Point Theory
Set Point Theory

I think you guys are really going to like this one.

Muscle Cell Sensitivity and Building Lean Mass
Muscle Cell Sensitivity and Building Lean Mass

Do these three things, no matter what level you are on, beginner or professional and you will see improvements in performance, recovery, and body composition.

Project Six-Pack (Part 2)
Project Six-Pack (Part 2)

Have you been fumbling around with your training, adding things in and out for no apparent reason?

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