Are you one of those old school gym rats who believe heavy and low 6-10 rep resistance training the best stimulus for muscle growth? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us (yours truly included, so I’m not pointing any fingers) believe that the best stimulus for muscle growth is heavy lifting in the 6-10 rep range. However, recent scientific findings show that the classical heavy and low 6-10 rep training might not be the best way to induce muscle anabolism…
As my colleague Will Brink likes to say, “From Mentzer’s ‘one set to failure’ to Poliquin’s ‘German volume training,’ there is no program which recommends using progressively lighter weightloads from week to week.” Brink is of course, alluding to the universal requirement of all successful strength and mass gaining programs: progressive overload.
The Facts About Building the Perfect Booty!
I don’t usually write about a specific bodypart, but I was inspired to by the recent development of companies selling booty building sneakers claiming to “help make your legs and butt look great…” The Reebok “EasyTone” sneaker probably being the best known, but there are others. The Reebok version claiming to be based on “balance ball technology” and “tones your butt up to 28% more just by walking.” I’m sure many of you have seen the commercial, but if not, here it is:
Hello & Welcome To The Brinkzone web site and blog!
My site and blog are different to the deluge of fitness based blogs which seem to be 99% advertising and 1% content. Here you’ll find the BrinkZone to be the reverse; you’ll also find it full of science based information rather than generic information you can find elsewhere.
I add up-to-date info on all sorts of topics relating to health, fitness, weight loss, bodybuilding, longevity, and what ever relevant topics come across my desk.
I’ll also be inviting a select number of bright folks to join me in providing information for you, I can’t churn out quality content every day alone, takes some thinking about ya know, so don’t be surprised if you see some big names here.
I hope you will join me, get involved, feel free to leave questions and comments, it’s all welcome.If you have a topic you would like to suggest, just let me know!
Who Is Will Brink?
Writer/Contributing Editor for:
I have been a writer for over almost two decades and have been published in a wide variety of publications, including: Muscle Media, MuscleMag International, Lets Live, Muscle n Fitness, Life Extension magazine, Muscular Development, Townsend Letter for Doctors, IronMan, Inside Karate, Tactical Response, Exercise for Men Only, Physical, Power, Body International, Oxygen, Penthouse, Fitness RX, Big, as well as others over the years and in many different languages. I had a monthly column in MuscleMag International called “The Intake Update” for a decade.
Many of my articles can be found on the major fitness/health/bodybuilding web sites, such as bodybuilding.com and hundreds of other sites.
You name it, I have written an article on it: Weight training, weight loss, HIV, cancer, heart disease, anabolics and other drugs, pre contest diets, supplements of all kinds, hair loss, and many other topics relating to health, fitness, longevity, and bodybuilding, as well as law enforcement/military related topics. I have put a large sample of my articles on the web page for your perusal.
Trainer of high levels athletes, police, and military personnel.
“Back in the day” I had a good reputation for getting high level bodybuilders into top shape for competition or getting them ever larger in the off season. That spun off to other athletes, such as golfers, runners, etc. A lot of my clients were actually trainers who wanted to learn more and improve their knowledge about the business they were in, as well as medical professionals and dietitians who were interested in sports nutrition and other health related issues. I was a busy private trainer at one time and ran a small business for 4 years. I also do seminars and workshops for police departments and Tactical Law Enforcement (SWAT). A few letters regarding the seminars I do for SWAT/RRT teams can be found on my site dedicated to Tactical Law Enforcement HERE
Another service I have performed for Tactical Law Enforcement is fitness/exercise specific training camps. Videos can be viewed here:
Interested parties can contact me via the contact links on my OptimalSWAT web site
Guest on various syndicated radio programs/ guest speaker.
I am a semi-regular guest on radio shows such as the Atkins show, which was hosted by the famous inventor of the Atkins Diet, the late Dr. Robert Atkins himself. I also do such shows as the Carrie Nossler show as well as others. On the bodybuilding front, I have been a guest several times on Muscular Development’s “No Bull” radio. Some recent appearance can be heard here:
Will Brink on No Bull Radio Part 1
Will Brink on No Bull Radio Part 2
Will Brink on No Bull Radio Part 3
I travel to speak as an invited guest at conventions and scientific conferences. For example, I spoke at the GNC convention about processing issues of whey proteins and the contaminants found in creatine (see articles on the BrinkZone site for more info on that). Prior to that I was in Canada speaking about the medical benefits of whey protein at the University of Alberta at a symposium on functional foods. I have been interviewed on a variety of topics for Fox News and other networks over the years.
Research, etc…
I maintain an extensive network of scientists, researchers, medical doctors, athletes, and just general research freaks who I am in constant contact with. Many of the articles I have written in that past were co-authors with various scientist friends and I always enjoy making new contacts with researchers, trying to be of help in their search for answers regarding nutrition and other endeavors. Although I don’t consider myself a researcher in the classic sense (as I don’t work at a research oriented lab) I have been involved in some research, including:
Brink W. Task specific supplements for Special Operations Forces and law enforcement tactical teams. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 3 (1)S1-S29, 2006. (www.theissn.org))
J.Antonio, C.M. Colker, G.C. Torina, Q. Shi, W. Brink, and D. Kalman. “Effects Of A Standardized Guggulsterone Phosphate Supplement on the Body Composition in Overweight Adults: A pilot study.” J. of Current Therapeutic Research. Vol. 60, Number 4, p220-227, 1999.
D.Kalman, C.M. Colker, J. Antonio, G.C. Torina, W.D. Brink, Q., Shi. “Effects Of A Guggulsterones Extract-Phosphate Salt Based Product on Body Composition And Energy Levels In Overweight Adults.” Medicine n Science In Sports n Exercise. Vol.31, Number 5 (S), 1999.
Antonio J, Kalman D, Colker C, garza T, Brink W, Swain M. “Effects of Creatine-Pyruvate vs. creatine monohydrate on exercise performance.” J.Strength Cond Res . 1999;13(4):a422.
C.M. Colker, D. Kalman, W.D. Brink, L.G. Maharam. “Immune Status Of Elite Athletes: Role Of Whey Protein Concentrate.” Medicine n Science In Sports n Exercise. Vol. 30, Number 5 (S), 1998.
Along with Karils Ullis MD, Tim Ziegenfuss PhD, Rick Cohen MD, Bill Roberts, and yours truly, we had a Letter to the Editor published in JAMA regarding our criticism of a study done on the controversial supplement androstenedione. See:
K. Ullis, T. Ziegenfuss, B.Roberts, WD.Brink, R. Cohen, “Letter to the Editor: Androstenedione.” JAMA. February 9th, p 742. 2000
Books:
Fat Loss Revealed. A comprehensive internet based e-book examining the latest nutrients marketed for weight loss, as well as nutrition and exercise for optimizing fat loss. Published by Internet Publications. See products section for more info HERE
Bodybuilding Revealed. A comprehensive internet based e-book examining the latest supplements, diet strategies, and exercise regimens for increasing strength and lean bodymass. See products section for more info HERE
Priming The Anabolic Environment. A little book I wrote a few years ago that contains a wide range of subject matter ranging from weight loss to supplements to training. It’s a short book but it’s jammed full of useful information. It’s geared mostly toward bodybuilders but if one reads between the lines it’s easy to see that anyone can get something from this book, bodybuilder and non-bodybuilder alike. BTW, Bodybuilding Revealed is a MUCH more advanced book, with FAR more useful info in it.
Practical Applied Stress Training (P.A.S.T) for tactical law enforcement. Info on this book for tactical LE/SOF and like groups can be found at the OptimalSWAT site linked above, or book stores like Barns And Nobel, Amazon, etc.
Chapters Written:
“Diet” ( Chapter 5 ) of Sports Supplement Encyclopedia (Edition One) edited by Jose Antonio PhD and Jeff Stout Ph.D. Published by Nutricia Institute of Sports Science 2001. Data based chapter on how athletes can structure their diet to gain lean body mass.
“The Supplement Pyramid” (Chapter 11) of the Sports Supplement Review 3rd Edition by Bill Phillips. An up to date chapter on various supplements for sports and bodybuilding nutrition used by athletes and how to prioritize them in order of importance. Published by Mile High publishing. 1997
RnD and marketing consultant to the health, weight loss, and bodybuilding industry.
Consulting Services:
I have worked with many supplement, pharmaceutical, and dairy companies helping them design nutritional supplement/products, improve existing products, assist with marketing products in fitness, bodybuilding, longevity, or other markets, as well as web based consulting work.
Some of the services have included:
o Product RnD
o Connecting manufacturers with retailers and vise versa.
o Assisting with raw material acquisition to keep costs down and quality up.
o Working on label and product literature to match the product lingo with the buyer.
o Working with the advertising staff, as well as various departments within a company to coordinate product RnD, and development.
o Assisting in setting up locations and protocols for research and validation of formulas or compounds.
o Finding markets for raw material manufacturers through my network and relationships with retail companies.
o Marketing assistance.
These are just some of the functions I have served for some of the industries best-known companies. Interested parties can contact me at my email address listed on the home page.
Recent Letter from Department of Police.
Letter Of Thanks From Law Enforcement Team
People that follow my articles know I generally write about nutrition, supplements, training, and other topics that are more science based than subjective, like interviews or contest coverage. However, what most people don’t know is early in my career, interviewing pro bodybuilders and covering contests was how I started out in the bodybuilding and fitness biz. In conjunction with Big Magazine, I decided to go back to my roots and cover the 25th Anniversary of the IFBB Night of Champions held May 30th each year in New York City.
