C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

  For fans of Bill Starr - or if you've never heard of him but are  interested in one of the greatest strength training systems ever created - my new book "The Strongest Shall Always Survive: Lifting Lessons from an Iron Legend" is now available! You can purchase a copy from Amazon today.  Here is the link: The Strongest Shall Always Survive It is available in both a "trade" paperback or a Kindle e-book version. If you want to know more about ALL of my books available for purchase, then go to the My Books page of the blog.

Tips and Advice for Tailoring Your Training Routine Part 1: Workload Basics       “In order to create a successful strength program, you must design it to fit your individual needs.  You must consider your weaker bodyparts, and build it around such factors as time limitations, old injuries, and your ability to recover from the workload.  A program that brings results for your training mates of the same age and bodyweight may not be right for you.  Some people thrive on lots and lots of work in the gym, whereas others become chronically fatigued and eventually injured if they attempt to carry a heavy workload for any period of time.” ~Bill Starr      I open with that quote from Bill Starr since those are the very things that I want to cover in this series of essays.  Lately, I have received the most questions from readers on this very subject.  With all of the programs that I write for the blog, I give workout “ex...

UPDATE: This book is now available for purchase .  Go to the My Books link below for all of the details!  I have a new book coming soon.  It's titled "The Strongest Shall Always Survive: Lifting Lessons from an Iron Legend."  If you haven't guessed already, based on the title, it's on the training of Bill Starr.  It includes all of the H-L-M essays that I originally wrote for the blog, though they have all been revamped with new material, along with some never-before-published chapters.  Here is the tentative cover: Whether you're a long-time fan of Starr or this is your 1st time hearing of him, I think you will find plenty of great workouts, training ideas, tips, and strategies for getting bigger, stronger, and more athletic.  Outside of owning Starr's original book "The Strongest Shall Survive: Strength Training for Football," it will be the best book available for understanding Starr's methods.  (Yes, I'm aware that I might be a bit b...

Build a Massive Grip, Tenacious Strength, and All-Around Muscle Mass with “Fat Grip” Workouts and Programs      One of the best ways to build tremendous strength and plenty of all-around mass is through thick bar or “fat grip” training.  I think it’s probably one of the most under-utilized methods of training.  Have you done a lot of thick bar training?  If not, then my point is made.  If you have then you understand well its power to transform your physique.      I first read about thick-bar training probably in ‘96 or ‘97, when I got a copy of Brooks Kubik’s "Dinosaur Training.”  I like that book for many reasons, but Kubik insisted that thick bar training was one of the best methods that you can use, and not just for building your grip strength but for simply building “all-around” strength.      At that time, however, there was an issue.  Where in the world do you get a thick b...