Author name: Brian Dick

Squat Variations for Functional Strength

Functional Workouts, Miscellaneous / By

Brian Dick While I’m a huge fan of the behind the back squat for developing useful athletic functional strength, I’ve recently heard an interesting perspective on squats from an older bodybuilding.com forum comment. (FYI – Bodybuilding.com has a tremendous amount of interesting information including a lot of information on things completely unrelated to fitness.) A person on …

Squat Variations for Functional Strength

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What are the benefits of doing push-ups and other “functional” exercises like pull-ups in addition to a weight-training routine?

Functional Workouts / By

Answer by Brian Dick: The benefits of functional exercises such as push ups, pull ups, body squats, burpees, handstand push presses, etc. are: 1. They are free or virtually free. You can do them at home, at a park, or as an add-on to your standard gym workouts. 2. They are compound movements (usually the …

What are the benefits of doing push-ups and other “functional” exercises like pull-ups in addition to a weight-training routine?

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Interesting Research: Hydration’s Effects on Functional Strength

Strength Research / By

Brian Dick Dehydration Results in Decreased Functional Strength As many know, being dehydrated has profound effects on one’s functional strength levels. What many people may not know, however, is how little dehydration is needed to begin experiencing negative impacts on performance. For instance, one research study has shown that even a small amount of dehydration (i.e., a …

Interesting Research: Hydration’s Effects on Functional Strength

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How do people have the energy to go to the gym almost every day before/after work?

Motivation Tricks / By

Answer by Brian Dick: Ironically going to the gym can actually increase your wakefulness. And as others have said it becomes a routine, and just talking yourself into going is the hardest part. Once your there and do almost anything it’s usually easy going. From personal experience when I have had extended breaks from the …

How do people have the energy to go to the gym almost every day before/after work?

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What are some mental toughness training regimens used by elite athletes?

Motivation Tricks / By

Answer to: What are some of mental toughness training regimens used by elite althetes? by Brian Dick: I just found an awesome book on the Russian and East German psychological training methods for their athletes. It was written in the mid 80s and was called Red Gold. Haven’t looked to see if it’s on amazon… …

What are some mental toughness training regimens used by elite athletes?

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What are good assistance exercises for improving your squat?

Functional Workouts / By

Answer to: What are good assistance exercises for improving your squat? by Brian Dick: I don’t think I’m answering your question directly, because you asked specifically about “assistance exercises,” but assuming positive results will help you overlook the indirect answer, here are my suggestions: Squatting with chain/band resistance. By adding chains or elastic bands to …

What are good assistance exercises for improving your squat?

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