I’m constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you’re looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you’ll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : The Fat Bar
  Max Shank (Strong as Hell)
  The joy of a 2″ bar with spinning sections. Wonderful.p>
  

• Looking At : Oct 22, 2023 Scott Andrew Bird | follow @scottbird What’s been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

Over to you. I’d love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on. NB : if you’re keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : What Are the Theoretical Limits of Human Strength? (Alexander Bromley)

Very, very thorough. Love it.

Gymchat 278 – TBA

We’re still finalising the details for this week’s discussion. I’ll post them on the blog (and X, Facebook etc) shortly. In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show – (there’s an example below, and a full list here). And if you’ve got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we’d love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.
Previously : In Gymchat 246 we discussed The Pursuit of a HUGE Deadlift with Strongman and Strength Coach Craig Bongelli, together with Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Great conversation. And if you missed it the first time (or just want to go over a particular point again), check out the full video : https://straighttothebar.com/2014/05/09/video_for_gymchat_246_-_the_pursuit_of_a_huge_deadlift_craig_bongelli/ .
NB : If you’d like to take part in a future episode – either as an interviewee, or as a guest host – just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Checking Out : Aura (Smart Sleep Mask)

Looks great. The Aura is a sleep mask with a some wonderful features built in. In addition to the typical blackout functionality is relaxing audio (or a guided meditation), light therapy and a sunrise feature that gradually wakes you up with light. A spot of video :
The Aura.

Tip of the Week : Getting Back Into It

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via X (Formerly Twitter), the blog; and the newsletter. Wherever you are, there’s always a way to improve what you’re doing.

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If you’ve been away from the iron for a while, how do you get back into it?
Vic takes a thorough look at this in the ‘Returning to Heavy Training After a Break‘ ebook. For a brief overview though, check out the discussion we held on that very same topic.
In Gymchat 136 – Heavy Training after a Break, Vic noted :

I lost a LOT of strength on some lifts. It was surprising. That’s why that initial 3 weeks of lighter work was important to me – it was smart to underestimate my strength at first.

And

It’s important to consciously do less those first few weeks. I was off for almost 2 years – as a rule I did not put any more than 135lbs on the bar the first week. I did not push any sets to failure the next two weeks while still staying at 5 reps or less for most sets.

Good stuff.

ExerciseFeat Of The Week : The Kviahellan (Husafell Stone)

The Husafell stone (aka Africa stone) is a fairly flat, almost triangular stone weighing around 175kg (385lb) [1] which has been used in Strongman events for a number of years.
In the World’s Strongest Man competitions the Husafell stone is lifted from a waist-high platform to chest height, and carried for distance. Once the stone is dropped, or in the case of the competitor moving outside their designated lane, the carry is terminated and the distance measured [2]. During the years in which this event took place on African soil, the stone was known as the Africa stone (and shaped accordingly). A spot of history : This stone originally formed the basis of a challenge in Iceland’s Husafell Valley (hence the name). The task was to lift and carry the Kviahellan approximately 50 meters around Sira Snorri Bjornsson‘s goat pen – quite a feat. Those who were able to achieve this are known simply as ‘Fullsterker‘ (fully strong). Fantastic. References 1. World’s Strongest Man Wikipedia 2. The African Stone World’s Strongest Man Further reading Video 3mb, .mov] of Dr. William Crawford achieving fullsterker (full strength) status by hoisting the Husafell Stone and taking it for a walk around the goat track (approx. 50m). To Lift a Heavy Stone[1.8mb, .pdf] Rick Walker A detailed look at the techniques involved in heavy stone lifting.

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Incidentally, if you’d like to get in touch regarding this or any other aspect of strength, you can contact me here. Look forward to hearing from you.

Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘Boot Camp For Emotion’ (by Derren Brown)

It’ll come as no surprise that we discuss a lot of fitness-related books, courses & podcasts; on this site as well as the various networks noted in the sidebar. This is a wonderful series. A while back we checked out Derren Brown’s ‘Boot Camp for Life’, an incredibly thorough and insightful look at the ways in which we’re wired. This time it leans a little further into the mental health side of things – Derren Brown’s ‘Boot Camp For Emotion’. Dive in. Incidentally, I’m always looking to add to the ‘books to read‘ list. If you’ve come across something which you’d love everyone else to check out, drop me a line. There’s also a list of our all-time fitness suggestions over there. Dive on in.