February 16, 2013 by Will Brink

Podcast Interview With Yours Truly and Shawn Phillips.

Of Laser Sharks And Other Topics!

Shawn Phillips and I had a candid conversation about a bunch of topics people should enjoy. Shawn has been in the industry as long as I have, and we talk about various current topics, as well as tell some funny stories about what was the “Golden Age” of the supplement industry, when Muscle Media (which was published by Shawn’s Brother Bill Phillips) was the best magazine out there. Some of the topics we cover in this Podcast:

The Truth About Whey Protein Isolate and the Unfounded Rumors
Why Whey Protein is the Choice of Champions
The Final Word on Creatine that works (and water retention #myth)
How Supplement Companies Make Fools of You
Laser Sharks (don’t ask, just listen)
A Funny story about a famous fitness icon!! Good one Will!
Pre-workout supplements: What you really need, why
Full Force the choice of Elite Operators (where is it now?)
Where to buy supplements, why

And more! To listen to this Podcast, click below:

Episode 17: The Truth of Fitness, Diet, Supplements and LIFE with Will Brink

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February 4, 2013 by Will Brink

Slayer Barbell Review!

It’s not often I come across a new piece of training equipment that makes me say “I wanna try that!.” Most of what I see for “new” training equipment is either a rehashed concept, or more a novelty.

The Slayer Barbell is a new design that has merit, so I decided to get my hands on one and try it. I also left it at my gym for other members to use, and it’s quickly become one of the most popular training tools in the gym. Below is a vid I made with a few friends using the Slayer.

Although the “bread and butter” of this bar is arm training, one can do a surprising number of effective exercises with it in a very small footprint as well as a few specialty exercises, such as bridges. See an example of whole body training I did with fitness model Kelly HERE.

As with any training tool, it’s a tool in the tool box. Not going to change your life and make you “a mass monster in 20 days and give you a body of a God” or any such nonsense, but I think it makes a great addition to a home gym or commercial set up. There’s more that can be done with this bar then my simple vids shows.

The manufacturer is currently giving away a copy of my book The Sports Supplement Bible FREE with any purchase of a Slayer Bar for the month of February, so if you’ve been thinking of trying one, you’ll have my book to read! Hit HERE if interested

PS, they liked my video so much they asked permission to use it on their site, so you’ll see the above vid their too

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January 10, 2013 by Will Brink

Your Foam Roller On Steroids!

The Rumble Roller Takes Soft Tissue Work To The The Next level

Like many people, I have my fair share of aches & pains, tight muscles, and hard earned small injuries and such. Like many, I have been using a foam roller for soft tissue work or SMFR (Self-Myofascial Release) work to improve sore muscles, tight muscles, and general recoup. I generally do my foam rolling in the morning for 15-20 minutes while the oatmeal cooks and coffee brews. It gets me ready for a day at the computer also. I also use it at the gym before workouts, a few times per week, and I find doing so reduces DOMS. Foam rolling is often referred to as “the poor mans massage therapist.” In terms of time and $$$ spent, it’s a no brainer in terms of benefits you receive. If you’re not using a foam roller regularly, you should be, like starting yesterday!

Rumble Roller comes in two sizes and firmness

As time goes on, one notices the standard foam roller not as effective, and or, they start to break down, and a replacement needed. Some seem to last longer than others. Enter the Rumble Roller, which takes foam rolling to another level and seems to last far longer than the standard rollers. I was going to make one of my usual videos talking about the benefits of foam rollers, and why the Rumble Roller superior, but coach Charles Staley – who has some great articles here on the BrinkZone – did such a good job of it, I decided to use his vid on the topic. If interested in more information, I purchased both the standard length and shorter smaller (12″x 5″) travel length HERE

Personally, I prefer the standard (blue) firmness Rumble Roller. Highly recommended if you already use foam rollers, not recommended for those new to foam rolling for soft tissue/SMFR work as the Rumble Roller is very aggressive. Watch coach Staley’s excellent vid on the benefits of foam rolling, and why he likes the Rumble Roller over standard rollers in particular.

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January 7, 2013 by Will Brink

Exercise Focus: Bridges

Bridges: An Underrated and Underutilized Exercise

I’m often asked what’s a good exercise for the gluteus and hamstrings. Bridges are one of the most underrated and underutilized exercises for working those muscles. The bridge is an excellent exercise to isolate and strengthen the gluteus, hamstrings, core stability muscles, hip/lower back as well as improve spinal stabilization. Most people do this exercise without added resistance, but that’s a mistake (see “tip” below vid). Done with added resistance, there’s improved responses, as all muscles require added resistance (vs volume) to adapt and get stronger. And NO, they are not just for women!!!

Bridges are a highly functional exercise that can lead to both functional improvements as well as visual. For example, one practitioner of Brazilian jiu jitsu I know said “This is a key exercise for anyone who competes in jiu jitsu tournaments. Strong bridge makes all the difference in escaping. I work bridges hard.”

Bridges are an exercise that have both expected and unexpected benefits both functionally (for various sports) and visually, for bodybuilders, figure/fitness, or the average person looking shape up and strengthen the area. It’s also used for both rehab and prehab. Personally, I tend to incorporate it into lower body days. A typical workout might look like: front squats, RDLs, Bridges, and planks, or a workout I did the other day geared more toward conditioning/GPP/conditioning was a complex of:

Sand bag step ups
Slayer Barbell Bridges
High/low Prowler sprints

Did three circuits of the above then some planks and side planks. My butt was sore for days!

Tip: most people do bridges with body weight only as adding additional resistance comfortably is not always easy. The Slayer Barbell allows for as much added resistance as you could want in perfect comfort, which is one of many exercises this bar allows. If not using a Slayer, try putting a foam pad around an Olympic bar (so the bar does not dig into your hips), or try a plate across your lap, or a heavy medicine ball. None of those options are as comfortable and smooth as using the Slayer Barbell, but experiment with those options and see what works for you. As with any body weight only exercise, your own weight will only get you so far and added resistance will be needed for continued increases in strength, etc.

Note: if you want more information on Sandbags, Slayer Barbell, or Prowler sleds, go HERE and or use the search function (upper right hand corner of this site) to see more vids, articles, etc on them. They are “must have” training tools in my book.

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December 19, 2012 by Will Brink

Monica Mollica Upper Body Workout!

Monica is a regular contributor to the BrinkZone. Her articles here cover the gambit of topics from fish oil, to successful aging, to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for men, and many other topics. I highly recommend readers take a look at her stuff if they have not already. If you read her materials here, you know she’s a rare intellect and why she’s hand picked by yours truly as a writer for The BrinkZone.

If you look at her pictures in her articles, you can see she puts as much effort into her workouts and body as she does her well researched articles. I was recently in southern FL for business, and met up with her at World Gym Fort Lauderdale, where we did a quick upper body workout. I’m sure none of you will complain I’m not in this short training vid

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December 15, 2012 by Will Brink

Setting The Record Straight on the Waxy Maize Craze.

The Facts on Waxy Maize, Vitargo, and other carb sources

As found on Muscular Development Magazine

A few years back a bunch of studies supported the concept that both the timing and type of carbohydrate athletes used could have positive effects – for both aerobic and anaerobic oriented athletes. Since then there has been a rush to find the “best” pre and post workout carb source. As is typical for the bodybuilding/fitness industry, a new “miracle” carb source burst onto the market almost monthly promising muscle growth second only to an Anadrol* enema, but I digress… The point being, there’s been a great deal of information, misinformation, and down right disinformation, regarding these “amazing miracle anabolic” carb sources. The pinnacle of which, is Waxy Maize Starch (WMS), but before we get to that, let’s back up a second to recap why the focus on these carb sources.

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December 4, 2012 by Will Brink

Whole Body Training With Slayer Barbell

Versatility of the Slayer Barbell

In my prior post and video with the Slayer Barbell I focused on arm training, the “bread and butter” of this bar. However, as this latest video shows, it’s a very versatile piece of equipment for home or commercial gym use. This whole body program I did with figure competitor and model Kelly Anne DeCollibus shows this to be an effective piece of equipment that has a very small foot print. A workout like this can be done in minimum space and easily finished in under and hour depending on the pace you keep and number off sets of each exercise you perform. It’s going to hit all major muscle groups and allow for a wide variety of workouts.

One can do it as circuits, complexes, or straight sets, depending on goals. Beginners might do one set of each exercise 2-3 times per week, while more advanced trainers might do 3 sets per exercise while increasing the weight, and or reps, as they progress. One could also do the lower body workout one day, followed the the upper body portion the next day, then take a day off. Just a few possibilities on how to construct a program using the Slayer. Obviously it would change if there was additional equipment involved, etc.

If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that allows whole body training for conditioning, metabolic work, ‘burning’ calories, and general fitness, that takes up minimal space, the Slayer Barbell would be on my short list. If I was looking to build a highly effective home gym for around 1k, a Slayer Barbell with stand, TRX suspension Trainer, set of sand bags from Ultimate Sandbag, a balance ball, and perhaps a kettle bell or two, would cover it well for overall fitness, conditioning, “functional” training, metabolic work, etc.

No, it’s not a set up design for say bodybuilders or power lifters per se. That’s pretty much my home set up BTW when I can’t get to the gym and the products on that list can be found in my Approved Stuff section if looking for more info. For more information on the Slayer Barbell, hit HERE

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December 2, 2012 by Will Brink

Vegetarian Eating For Athletes: The Facts!

Been asked many times regarding vegetarian eating in terms of athletics/athletes, so here’s my take on the issue. I cover the topic in greater depth, using what exists for data (which as mentioned in the vid is limited), as well as “real world” experience, in the Body Building Revealed Program.

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November 9, 2012 by Will Brink

50 Shades Of Whey (FREE!) Report

My latest report, which is a collection of useful whey information you can use to make smart choices when purchasing whey and learn what makes whey a unique protein source, both for active people/athlete, as well as health minded individuals.

Whey protein is one of the most popular protein supplements sold. It’s used by athletes of all kinds and those looking to benefit from this protein, that has literally been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years. However, much confusion over whey abounds. What types are best? Isolates or concentrates? Grass fed organic whey best? Can it help with weight loss? What about cancer and immunity? Where does whey come from and what about compounds within whey (such as lactoferrin) that have their own potential benefits?

Fifty Shades Of Whey will clear up the confusion – using objective science based information vs. marketing and hyperbole so common – to help users of this food supplement make smart decisions on whey proteins. And it’s FREE!

Now FREE on Amazon! Click HERE for Amazon download or click image below!

No, you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Amazon supplies a free Epub reader for their Ebooks to read on anything. Free Reader App HERE:

HIT PICTURE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

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November 6, 2012 by Will Brink

Body Building Panama Style

I have been traveling to Panama and surrounding countries this past year or so. An interest in Fitness/Body Building has been growing rapidly in the region. Some of you may recall some prior vids I did from Panama, specifically Power Club Gym, a chain in Panama I frequent.

Recently, the PowerClub put on their first fitness/body building competition, and I was invited to be a guest judge for their show. Here’s the vid from the show.

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