C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

     This is the 2nd part of my new series on Adventures in Muscle-Building.  Part One covered arm training, so read that if you haven’t yet and are interested in growing big, massive, and massively strong arms.  Unlike other series that I have, this one doesn’t require that you read the previous articles in it.  That’s one thing that I like about this series.  Even if I end up writing something like 50 separate essays, you will be able to read any of them without having knowledge of the others.  The only thing that “holds” this series together is that each one will be about the methods, techniques, and various training programs and workout routines that lifters have used throughout the history of lifting for that particular lift, muscle group, or even competitive sport.  For instance, I might do an “adventures in track and field training” or something even more specific such as “adventures in throwing” where I discuss the workouts...

Turn up the Volume for More Size and Strength      Okay.  Yeah.  I know.  If you’ve read even a smattering of my articles or essays, you’ve probably seen me say that squatting is king.  Well, it is.  If you give it your all on squats—whether it’s back squats or front squats, barbell squats, kettlebell squats, or just your bodyweight, really high-repetition squats or heavy-as-heck, low-rep squats—you will make gains.  In fact, if you’re not going to squat, you might as well hang it up as far as gains are concerned.  No squats.  No gains.  It’s that simple.  (Okay, I did write THIS article on how to make gains without squatting, but that aside…)  But let’s just go ahead and assume that squats are mandatory.  Because the truth is also this: You can squat and not make any gains if you’re on a crappy program where you train infrequently or just do random “whatever” workouts.     ...