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Interview Q&A Series with Ben: Optimizing Focus & Energy Without Stimulants

Question: “What are neurotransmitters and why are they important?  How can I optimize them to improve my training?” Your neurotransmitters ...

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MI40 Strength: Hypertrophy & Strength Periodization Programming – Part 2

The process of muscle growth is best stimulated with high volume using relatively moderate weights. But to get stronger faster, ...

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Satellite Cells and Muscle Growth

Satellite Cell Activation: A Necessary Muscle Growth Component… How You Can Stimulate Yours for Maximum Muscle Gains! The regenerative, healing ...

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Super-Mineral Magnesium: Essential for Muscle Gains and more…

In their eagerness to increase strength and build muscle, most devoted iron trainees will ceaselessly pound down the protein, carbs, ...

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Cinnamon: The Surprising Spicy Advantage Sitting on your Shelf

Cinnamon, one of the most undervalued, underestimated, and under-appreciated supplements around. When taken at effective doses, it packs a very ...

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What 10 foods should I avoid if I want to get shredded?

1. Margarine Not because it’s a fat. Real butter from grass fed cows is high in fats (good fats) like ...

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Back Isolation Exercises

 

__________

(1) Prone Reverse-Flys (for back, not rear delts)BI1

  • head slightly over the edge of the bench (looking at the ground)
  • keep trunk tight to the bench throughout (more chest than abs)
  • reach for opposite walls on the way up keeping arms as far away as possible throughout
  • imagine a line running from one wrist to the other and try to contract everything across it
  • at the bottom, try not to come inside the shoulders, avoid resting / relaxing the working muscle; really fight the negative and aim for constant controlled movement

 

__________

(2) Reverse Pec Deck Flys (for back, not rear delts)

  • keep hips behind shoulders slightly / more chest against the pad and less stomach
  • keep arms rigid and shoulders retracted

__________

__________

(3) Band Pull-Aparts

band pull aparts

  • Abs tight
  • Pronated grip and elbows rigid
  • Rear delt emphasis: keep scapula slightly protracted
  • Mid-back emphasis: allow full protraction and retraction

__________

__________

(4) High Pulley Pull-Aparts

high pulley pull apart

(standing, supported)

  • Apply outward force on the handles as if you are trying to rip it apart
  • Brace against pad or support with hips
  • Set pulley above eye level

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(5) Prone DB Retractions

prone db retraction

  • Elbows rigid and neck neutral
  • Pinch the scapula together (this NOT a shrugging movement)