BT: CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF? Thompson: I grew up in Rochester, Michigan but now reside in beautiful Denver, North Carolina. I have been married to my coach/trainer for the last five years. I have taught seventh grade mathematics at East Lincoln Middle School for the last[…]

How much can you bench press? If you have been working out for any length of time you have certainly heard this question. The bench press is the ego exercise. You can add poundage to your max squat, dead lift, shoulder press, etc. But for some reason it doesn’t give[…]

One of the most neglected types of training for the average gym goer is explosive strength. Almost everyone is taught to lift weights with a “slow and controlled movement”. However, in all sports athletes need to be explosive. When a baseball player swings a bat, when a soccer player kicks[…]

I hesitate to even write this article for 3 reasons… One, because it’s one of my SECRET weapons for building a massive chest; Two, I’ve historically saved it for the EXCLUSIVE privilege of my clients in the Optimum Anabolics Program; and Three, because any knucklehead who doesn’t follow my instructions[…]

Question: I have heard that the bench press is a crappy chest exercise. Is this true? If it sucks, what’s better? Answer: The bench press is a great exercise. If you bench properly, there will be minimal pectoral involvement, however. The triceps and front delts will do most of the work.[…]

Been stuck at 185 on your bench press for what seems like DECADES and looking to FINALLY crack 200? Well, no promises… …but these 4 powerful little mental “tricks” COULD help you add an IMMEDIATE 20% more to your bench press and break a new personal record! BENCH PRESS POWER[…]

The big thing now is, Ronnie Coleman’s back. It used to be the mammoth Brit who had set the standard for back development. I remember when Mr. Olympia Lee Haney had the back of the century. How times have changed. But, back training has not. Have you ever noticed that[…]

Let’s continue with some more “Triple Drop Pre-Exhaust” ideas like I mentioned in the last issue, but this time for working your back. “Pre-exhaust” involves using an isolation exercise immediately before a compound exercise to pre-fatigue the muscle without involving the secondary muscle groups. For example, to pre-exhaust the pecs[…]

When it comes to the question of how to build big traps the discussion starts and finishes with deadlifts. This incredible mass builder will pack huge slabs of beef on your traps faster than just about any other exercise there is. Just look at powerlifters and you will see that[…]

DECLINE DUMBBELL TRICEPS EXTENSIONS MRI studies show this to be the most effective exercise for recruiting all three heads of the triceps. Position your body in a supine position on a decline bench, hooking your feet under the padded rollers. Lift the dumbbells overhead in bench-press fashion. Your grip should[…]