C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

  How to Utilize Light Workouts for More Strength, Power, Mass, and All-Around Athleticism      When it comes to “things that confuse the average lifter,” I think it’s possible that the light-day concept takes the cake.   A lot of lifters either never train with light days or they don’t know how to properly utilize and implement them.   In this essay, I would like to explain the correct implementation of light days—this information can be used by a variety of lifters, whether you’re a powerlifter, a bodybuilder, a competitive athlete, a fighter, or just an all-around fitness enthusiast.   Most of the ideas that will be presented here are not my own, I must admit, but are culled from the wisdom of strength coaches or bodybuilding writers (from bygone eras) such as Bill Starr, Tommy Suggs, Bradley Steiner, and John McCallum.   (It must also be noted that there is a decided “Russian” influence on my lifting philosophy, as well—not just here bu...

Some Thoughts on Understanding and Avoiding Overtraining      When it comes to the state commonly referred to as “overtraining,” opinions vary. They run quite the gamut, too.  Some lifters are so bold as to declare “no such thing as overtraining exists.”  On the polar opposite, flip side of that you have the typical “hardgainer” advice that more than just two workouts—hell, maybe more than just one hard session—per week will lead to “OVERTRAINING.”  For some reason, the latter group typically capitalizes “overtraining.”  I guess that’s to show the rest of us overtrainers just how scary of a subject it can be.  The truth, of course, and you may have already surmised this, lies somewhere in between those two extremes.      There are three areas , I believe, in which overtraining occurs.  They overlap but are still particular enough that they each deserve their own mention.  You can overtrain your movemen...