It’s certainly no secret that genes play a significant role in fitness and athleticism. But to what extent are genetics responsible for a person’s athletic success?

This article on genetic performance might provide some insight. It seems likely that in the near future, a simple blood test will be enough to determine whether a baby will have the potential to become a champion marathoner, bodybuilder, or boxer. Wouldn’t it be convenient if you could take a genetic test to determine how many hours a week you should be training? I’d love to know how much I need to train before it becomes ‘overtraining’…

Now that summer is just around the corner, I’m guessing that like me, many of you are in a ‘cutting’ phase. You want to look fantastic at the beach this summer, and make sure your abs look like they’ve been chiseled from limestone. One of the most annoying aspects about cutting is the cardio that’s required. It can be tediously boring to go for a run every morning or spend an hour on the stationary bike. Here are some ideas to spice up your cardio (some actually provide *better* cardio than traditional activities like jogging):

Swimming: If you work out at a rec center with a pool, this is especially easy. Swimming is a fantastic cardiovascular workout, and it is very low impact. Great substitute to running if you have bad knees or a bad back (like me). Try alternating a swim day with a jogging day.

Mountain biking: Fun! Need I say more? A great workout and a lot of fun. You don’t really need a ‘mountain’, just some dirt trails or gravel roads.

Squash: Wow, what a workout! Squash is one of my favourite sports, and nothing makes me sweat like a good game of squash. It’s easy to learn (I mean really easy) and it’s a ton of fun. And trust me, you won’t find a better cardio workout anywhere.

Boxing/kickboxing/martial arts: Boxing, kickboxing and martial arts are fantastic workouts. They’re fun, not overly expensive, and you leave each class having learned practical new skills.

Soccer: A full game of soccer with some friends can be an intense workout. Just make sure you play for at least half an hour, and there’s no doubt you’ll get in some serious cardio.

There’s plenty of other ways to make your cardio fun, these are just a few suggestions. For me, the key is variety – one day a game of squash, the next day a swim, and then a jog on the beach. Mixing it up keeps me motivated and interested. A little good music on my iPod doesn’t hurt, either!

I hate it when I’m injured. I hate any injury, not just those that result from weight lifting – everything from a stubbed toe to a broken bone. It’s not so much that I fear the pain, but rather that I fear the limitations that injury might place on my regular activities and routine (especially bodybuilding).

Over the course of my weightlifting career, though, I’ve come to accept them. If you spend all of your time worrying about injuries and how they’re affecting you, you’ll end up depressed and unmotivated. Instead, try to learn to recognize injuries as minor bumps along the greater road to success.

“No journey is perfect,” writes Sean Nalewanyj in one of his best motivational articles. “The difference between a successful bodybuilder and an unsuccessful one is in the way that they handle adversity.”

He couldn’t be more right. Next time you experience an injury, regardless of severity, take it in stride. Trust me, losing your cool or fretting about the injury will only do you more harm.

Last week, I finally decided I’d had enough of my gym. I was incredibly frustrated by many aspects of the place: the price, the overcrowding, and the people who frequented the place. I just couldn’t stand it anymore. 

Unfortunately, deciding to switch gyms presented a new problem: I needed a new gym. I’m sure a lot of people have experienced the frustration of finding a gym, so I’ve put together a few tips based on my recent experience and my past missions to find the perfect workout spot: (more…)

One of the hottest topics in bodybuilding right now is the issue of teenage muscle building. It’s evident that the popularity of bodybuilding among teens has reached an all-time high. The question, however, is what differences arise between ‘adult’ bodybuilding and ‘teen’ bodybuilding.

Based on my personal experience and all of the scientific literature I’ve read, the simple answer is nothing. There should be no fundamental differences between a grown adult’s training routine and a teenager’s training routine. The human body, regardless of what stage of development it is undergoing, is still physiologically identical. It will still grow given proper stimulus, whether you’re 12 or 90. This means that the basics should remain the same: if you focus on overload, progression and diet, gains will be swift and significant.

As for injuries and damage to health, there is certainly some merit to the theory that a developing body is more susceptible to injury. If you’re a young bodybuilder, be especially careful - injuries can happen at any age, but suffering a major injury during adolescence can be a huge setback for the rest of your life. Otherwise, all the principles should remain the same. Warm-up, stretching, and acclimation should be a part of every routine, regardless of age. Beyond that, it’s quite simple: lift hard, eat big and you’ll see great gains.