Now, why do we stretch?  Is it because it feels good?  I’d have to say that what “feels good” depends largely on the body part.  In fact, I seriously contemplate headbutting a concrete wall (like The Situation on Jersey Shore) so that I don’t have to stretch my hamstrings.

I’ve made it no secret that squats are probably one of my 5 favorite things about life.  While you probably think that’s pretty sad, I’d counter by saying that it’s much better than spending any amount of time watching E! or “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”

Anyway, since Monday is always bench day, that means Tuesday or Wednesday should be squat day.  To help avoid the skinny legged bros hogging the squat rack and using a barbell for their “all biceps all day” routine, I wanted to post some of my favorite squat variations. 

Every now and then, I get asked about my diet and what type of philosophy I like to give out to others.  Well I’m here to say that you could do strict Paleo, Weight Watchers, South Beach, or high-protein diets.  Because when it comes right down to it, it really doesn’t matter.

Yup, you heard me.  The type of diet you’re on doesn’t matter if you subscribe to one of the ones above (just as long as it’s not the antiquated Grapefruit/Cookie diets).  Why?  Because a rising tide lifts all boats.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard somebody tell me that they have “bad knees.”  Well, your knees may bother you, but I’m here to say that your knees are probably not the problem.  In actuality, your knees are most likely doing everything right, but you have bad hips (or ankles).

I should make clear that there are exceptions, and I will not be talking about any knee issues that may have developed from a contact injury (like having someone headbutt your knee, shattering your ACL).  But, everyone needs to realize that the pain is NOT the problem - it’s merely the signal of a larger problem.

As Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I’m running short on time for the next few days, I wanted to throw up some random thoughts here. 

First, here’s a great article on how and why women should lift heavy weights. While it doesn’t list the physiological benefits of women lifting heavy (which are plenty), the author, Dan Trink, does a great job articulating how the marketing that's supposed to motivate women to lift is terrible.