C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

The Art of Building Big, Muscular, Powerful Arms      Where exactly this new series will go, I’m not entirely sure.  I want to discuss and analyze the myriad of workout routines, training techniques, tips, and various pointers that I’ve learned over the years—training both myself and others—for gaining muscle and building strength.  For no reason other than it’s what’s currently on my mind, I thought I’d start with arm training.  No matter who they are, where they’re training, or what their ultimate goals are, every man wants big arms.  I realize that this isn’t so much the case for many female lifters—men tend to think of chest, arms, and abs when it comes to aesthetic goals, whereas women think primarily in terms of leg and glutes—though even they want to prevent sagging triceps for a visually pleasing body.  And let’s admit it, there is something quite beautiful—for me, so I figure it’s got to be that way for some other men reading t...

On the Joy of Creative Training      I love training for many reasons.  Like a lot of lifters, I’ve always loved training because, more than anything else, I just loved the feel of moving heavy iron.  I also loved the kind of training that goes along with being incredibly strong.  I can think of fewer pleasures in life than a workout that involves near max sets of squats, bench presses, deadlifts, overhead presses, and curls.  But I also love training because I love the creativity of it all.  I am a creative, after all.  An artist.  Writing is one of the arts that my creative side is attracted to—not just attracted to but needs .  But I love lifting for the same reason that I love writing.  The gym is where I practice the art of training.      Training is both science and art.  If you neglect either side, you’re neglecting the full range of benefits that lifting provides.  Nowadays...