C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

Some Thoughts on Programming Design and Proper Technique for Learning the Major Lifts Advice for Beginners or Those New to Full-Body Workouts or Serious Strength Training       Although I have covered the material below in various articles and essays, I wrote the following based on a couple of emails from new lifters that I have received the last few weeks.  If you’re new to full-body workouts or need to get “back to the basics” then pay attention!      When it comes to utilizing full-body workouts, I generally suggest using around 5 “big” compound lifts.  If you’re trying to pack on a lot of muscle—yes, this goes for any aspiring young bodybuilders who might actually be reading this instead of scrolling through mindlessly stupid Tik Tok shorts or YouTube videos that spit out the same information ad nauseam—then this is the route you want to take.  Whole body training isn’t just for strength training or for athletes, tho...

How to Make More Mass-Building Gains and Continued Progress Over Months and Years      In this essay, I want to go into detail over a subject that I’ve touched upon in other articles and essays over the years.  By using the methods that I will propose, you will make more muscle gains and continuous gains for weeks, months, and years to come.  This is one of the ways to ensure that you progress continuously with little in the way of ruts or plateaus.      We are often shortsighted, not just as bodybuilders but as humans.  Although it is important to focus on the present moment and the current workout that you are doing, you need to have a long-term vision regarding your training that will ensure that you make continued progress.  Many lifters start on a basic, muscle-building program and make good gains.  Maybe a lifter starts his training journey with a full-body routine or, at the least, a limited split routine ...