All Articles & Reviews by
Scott Andrew Bird
(12625 posts in total - only latest ones shown)
Scott Andrew Bird is a writer, photographer and a guy who just loves this stuff. He's been at home in front of a computer for more years than he cares to remember (OK, 35) and is now making amends for years of many mistakes noted in the De-constructing Computer Guy articles (part 2) on T-Nation.
Find out what he's up to via Twitter, Google+, Facebook; and of course his online home. Enjoy.
NB : Like to write a guest post for Straight to the Bar? I love hearing about how other people are training. And if you've got a strength-related competition or seminar coming up, add it to the calendar. And if you'd love to be on one of the weekly Gymchats - get in touch. Look forward to hearing from you.
Silentmode (Music-Enabled Sleep Mask)
Very interesting combination.
TweetVery interesting combination.
I've tried out a number of ways to listen to music (or audiobooks) as I fall asleep, with my current preference being audio via the TV (with an off-timer set for 15mins or so).
The Silentmode looks to beat them all.
If anyone's tried anything like this, I'd love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, a spot of video :
The Silentmode Music-Enabled Sleep Mask.
Why Sleep is More Important Than Diet (Shawn Stevenson on Health Theory)
Love it.
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We talk a lot about sleep on this site - it's easily my favourite form of recovery - as well as optimal nutrition. This is a fascinating discussion of both.
Love it.
Looking At : May 20, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
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During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Luft Qi (Portable Air Purifier)
Interesting idea (though I do have a few questions ... ).
TweetInteresting idea (though I do have a few questions ... ).
In particular - range (I'd love to use something like this in the gym, without carrying it around from one station to the next); and effectiveness for various types of pollutants. As for the item itself, a spot of video :
The Luft Qi Portable Air Purifier.
Meathead Meal Prep (Brian Shaw)
Interesting look at some of the regular meal prep (the meat) for a competing Strongman.
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Interesting look at some of the regular meal prep (the meat) for a competing Strongman.
Looking At : May 13, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Bala Bangles (Wearable Weights)
Interesting idea.
TweetInteresting idea.
Although I'd usually like something a little heavier, the 'wearable weight' approach would be ideal for several things. To give you an idea of what I mean by 'wearable weight', a bit of video :
Bala Bangles.
100 Push Ups A Day (THENX)
Great way to get a few push-ups in.
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Good way to get a few push-ups in (100 in this case) - different varieties, multiple sets.
Looking At : May 6, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Professional Heavy Duty Abdominal Roller
The 'King of Ab Wheels'.
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Using DIY Strongman Equipment with Clients (Alan Thrall)
Very interesting area (and yes, I agree entirely).
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Very interesting area (and yes, I agree entirely).
Looking At : Apr 29, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Perk (Caffeine Bracelet)
Interesting idea.
TweetInteresting idea.
The Perk is caffeine-laden wearable which delivers a set amount of caffeine (via a patch) gradually. Looks ideal for the pre-workout caffeine hit, particularly when travelling (or whenever a cup of coffee simply isn't available).
A spot of video :
The Perk.
The Deadlift Bar (Alan Thrall)
Great explanation.
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Great explanation.
Looking At : Apr 22, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
INBair O2 (Oxygen Purifier)
Interesting idea.
TweetInteresting idea.
The INBair O2 is an oxygen purifier, delivering the gas via a simple headset. Although the claims made are fairly general in nature, I'm keen to test this (as well as the competitors which will undoubtedly follow rapidly) in the home gym.
To give you an idea of the setup, a bit of video :
The INBair O2.
How To Properly Train To Lose Fat (Omar Isuf)
Great information.
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Great information.
Looking At : Apr 15, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
SQRDUP (Alignment Tool for Golf)
Interesting idea.
TweetSQRDUP is an alignment tool for golf, though the basic idea has a great many applications beyond that. It's essentially a pair of laser lights, highlighting the optimum position.
The video below will how you what I mean :
Curious : where would you love to see this approach used next? In the gym, or on a sporting field somewhere?
AutoRegulation & RPE (Silent Mike)
Interesting area.
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Interesting area.
Looking At : Apr 8, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
'The Mighty Atom' Movie
Finally getting a chance to watch this. Looks great.
TweetFinally getting a chance to sit down and watch 'The Mighty Atom'.. Looks great.
If you haven't seen it yet, you can grab it here (Amazon's 'Prime Video'). And to get you in the mood, check out the trailer :
'The Mighty Atom'.
Bench Press Tips (Silent Mike)
I love these videos - examining form and discussing possible improvements.
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I love these videos - examining form and discussing possible improvements.
Looking At : Apr 1, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
The DCT (Dynamic Contraction Technique) PROFLEX
Interesting device.
TweetInteresting device.
Tim Ferriss mentioned this one recently, and it's certainly an intriguing combination. Designed to enable stretching of the various muscles of the lower leg (to help prevent things like ankle sprains, as well as to correct and strengthen your feet/calves/knees); the DCT PROFLEX is a, well, take a look at the video :
The DCT PROFLEX.
A Guide To Your First Powerlifting Meet (Alan Thrall)
Great explanation.
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This is a great explanation. Nice one Alan.
Looking At : Mar 25, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
The DynoSense Adore Scale
Very interesting combination.
TweetVery interesting combination.
The DynoSense Adore Scale meausres the things you'd expect, in addition to estimating things like body fat, bone density and muscle mass. Sounds great.
For a look at the product itself (as well as the smartphone app), a spot of video :
Nice one. The DynoSense Adore Scale.
"How Many Calories Should I Consume?" (Jordan Feigenbaum)
Nice one.
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Nice one.
Looking At : Mar 18, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
EvoWheel eBike Conversion Kit
Looks great.
TweetLooks great.
We've noted a couple of the eBike conversion kits in the past, and this one certainly looks like the simplest option (just replace the front wheel of an existing bike). A spot of video will show it in action :
Nice one. The EvoWheel.
Training Older People with ZERO Experience
Nice one.
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Ever tried training your older friends & relatives? Here's why you should, and how to go about doing just that.
Looking At : Mar 11, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Looking At : Mar 4, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Looking At : Feb 25, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Dreamlight Sleep Mask
Looks good.
TweetLooks good.
It's a fascinating area (sleep-assistants in general), and the form factor of this one certainly appeals - an eye mask. The Dreamlight uses a combination of light/sound/basic genetic knowledge to help determine how deeply you're sleeping at any point, and wake you when you're at the lightest point - close to the alarm time of course.
For a bit of a look at the device itself, a spot of video :
The Dreamlight Sleep Mask.
Hosting A Strongman Competition
Nice one Alan.
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Nice one Alan.
Looking At : Feb 18, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
SitTight - Balanced Active Sitting Chair
Interesting idea.
TweetInteresting idea - a purposely unstable chair (think chair + balance board). A spot of video will show you what I mean :
Keen to try one out. The SitTight - Balanced Active Sitting Chair.
How To Press Things Overhead (Stones, Barbell, Logs etc)
Great tutorial.
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Great tutorial.
Looking At : Feb 11, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Steve Pulcinella's Iron Sport Strength Method [Kindle Edition]
Great read.
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Ronnie Coleman on Surgeries
From 'Nothin But A Podcast'. Great show.
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A snippet from 'Nothin But A Podcast' with Derek Ciocca, this is a wonderful discussion of a gym injury and subsequent surgeries.
Looking At : Feb 4, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
PiCO Air Quality Monitor
Looks great.
TweetThis is certainly an area of interest - air quality monitoring - and this offering looks great.
A small, smartphone-connected device, the PiCO is ideal for measuring the air quality both indoors and out. For a look at the device itself, a spot of video :
The PiCO Air Quality Monitor.
How To Start Calisthenics
Very interesting suggestions.
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Very interesting suggestions.
Looking At : Jan 28, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Bear Squeeze (Meal Replacement Shake)
Interesting combination.
TweetInteresting combination.
Although I tend to shy away from any of the 'replace every meal' shakes, this one caught my eye. Particularly as a part-time, post-workout meal.
For an overview of the Bear Squeeze (Meal Replacement Shake), here's a spot of video :
Intriguing. Out of interest, have you ever tried any of the other Meal Replacement Shakes available? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting, Daily (Josh Hewett)
How and why Josh fasts. Incidentally - I do it the same way, for the same reasons.
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How and why Josh fasts. Incidentally - I do it the same way, for the same reasons. Works well.
Looking At : Jan 21, 2018
What we were talking about this week on Google+, Twitter and Nuzzel
TweetDuring the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Are You as Strong as You Could Be?
Grab the Straight to the Bar Strength Kit.
Training Guides, eBooks and of course the Strength & Fitness Newsletter. Absolutely free.
If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.
To give you an idea of what they're like, here's an example :
Gymchat 277 - Barefoot Running - Believe the Hype! (Steven Sashen)
Fantastic discussion.
NB : if you'd like to be interviewed on an upcoming show (or know someone who should be), drop us a line. It's great to find out how other people train. And if you'd like to add your comments and suggestions on the Gymchats in general, we'd love to hear them. Cheers.
what we're saying
NB : In addition to leave a comment or two beneath the articles themselves, come and join us over on Google+ to see what else we're talking about.
just joined us? try these
There are some incredible writers on the team here. To give you an idea, check out these posts :
DIY: How to Build an Olympic Weightlifting Platform
Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker
Building A Neck Of Steel
Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
Straight to the Grip Contest
Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
Scott Andrew Bird
29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner
Jason Kirby
Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength
Josh Hewett
Small Victories
Josh Hanagarne
If you enjoyed the articles above, check out the complete 'Best Of Straight to the Bar' list. And if you'd like to do some fitness writing yourself and submit your own piece, get in touch.
ready to get in shape?
A dose of Online Personal Training is ideal. Your place, their experience.
As you'd expect, I work with a number of Fitness Professionals myself - including the wonderful Josh Hewett. If you're about to begin your own strength-training journey, swing by his site at :
top-form-fitness.com/online-coaching
Highly recommended. If you're looking to get serious about 'getting in shape', book some time with Josh. Fantastic guy.
setting up a home gym?
If you're getting ready to put together a solid Home Gym (fantastic thing), here's how.
And for more, swing by the full guide. Absolutely free.
images of strength
Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.
gift buying guide
When your spouse/sibling/friend is ready to 'get in shape' (or they already are), what do you get them?
No matter what sort of training they're in to, we've got a few suggestions. And if you're looking for something specific, we'll help you find out where to get it. Just leave a comment on any of the posts listed below.
There are a number of articles that may help you in your quest. Specifically :
- Grrl's Valentine's Day Wishlist (Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker)
- The Bodyweight Aficionado's Guide to Gear (Jason Kirby)
- Recommended Books and DVDs on Strength-Training & Nutrition (The Straight to the Bar Authors)
And there's also the full list of the fitness-focused books and DVDs we've looked at over the years : Reading
NB : if you're still not sure what to get, there's always the option of buying them a gift card. There are certainly plenty of options; Amazon
's still my favourite.
Now it's your turn. Let us know how you get on, and feel free to share any photographs of what you bought or how it's being used.
Look forward to hearing from you.
strength calendar
Looking for an upcoming competition, or know of one in your area? Why not add it to the spreadsheet.
reading : Ferocious Fitness (Phil Ross, Marty Gallagher)
Remember this? Great book. Ferocious Fitness : A Fighter's Proven Action Plan to Develop Blazing Power, Animalistic Strength and Killer Conditioning is a distillation of Phil Ross' training wisdom, in the form of a superbly comprehensive book. We took a look at the digital version recently, and you'll be pleased to know that the paperback version is now available. Definitely worthy of a place on the fitness shelf. Phil Ross' Ferocious Fitness.
community
talking about If you tweet a lot about fitness and would love to be on this list, let me know.
giving
If you've been training for a while, gradually cleaning up your diet, no doubt you've experienced the amazing power of transformation. It's a tremendous feeling. If you're ready to give someone else a hand to transform their own lives - through education, sharing equipment, financial help - take a look at the full list of organisations on the Giving page. Cheers.
daily newsletter
For some people, this site's weekly newsletter (The Strength & Fitness Weekly - part of the Strength Kit) isn't quite frequent enough. For those I produce a daily version, which you can grab here. Absolutely free.
love your grip work?
Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.
want to help out?
As you've doubtless noticed, in addition to the main site is a Community on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Wherever you are, a daily dose of strength isn't all that far away.
To help run all of these sites, we're on the lookout for several additional Moderators. To welcome new community members, bring up new items to discuss and generally keep the conversations on track.
If you're already spending a bit of time at any of the above sites, and would like to offer your services as a Moderator, just drop us a line. And thanks for that, it really is appreciated.
in the wild
It’s always great to see how other people train.
If you’d like to send in a photo of yourself in action (wearing one of the Straight to the Bar Shirts of course - the latest design is here), just upload it somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.
the future of fitness
Over the years we’ve looked at the fitness industry from a number of angles - discussing the history, present approaches and potential future trends involved. Fascinating areas.
When it comes to the last part - discussing potential future trends - things get a little, well, unusual. If it’s an interest you share, or you just want to find out the types of things we think are likely, check out the posts tagged ‘Futurism’. And of course, Gymchat 224 (Roundtable) - The Future of Fitness. Superb discussion.
leave it in the ground
On Straight to the Bar we talk a lot about air pollution, primarily from a gym-owner's perspective. In the 'Leave it in the Ground' newsletter we look at the topic far more broadly - the gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels. Daily, and free.
elsewhere
As you can see, we love talking about training. In addition to the conversations on here, in the Google+ Community, Twitter and so on are discussions on several other great fitness-focussed sites.
Check out :
- Josh Hewett : Basic Home Workout for Beginners
- Al Kavadlo : How to Hang from a Pull-up Bar by Your Feet
- Dictated Journeys Of A Personal Trainer : My caloric goal achieved using the s health app on my phone
- Gains & Aesthetics : In a rut with your routine? Tips to get motivated again
Of course, we're always on the lookout for new additions to this list. If you'd like to suggest a site you've come across personally (or perhaps one that you run), drop us a line.
checking out
Silentmode (Music-Enabled Sleep Mask)Very interesting combination.
I've tried out a number of ways to listen to music (or audiobooks) as I fall asleep, with my current preference being audio via the TV (with an off-timer set for 15mins or so).
The Silentmode looks to beat them all.
If anyone's tried anything like this, I'd love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, a spot of video :
The Silentmode Music-Enabled Sleep Mask.
If you're new to the world of nail bending, this is the perfect book to get. It'll show you the exact techniques you'll need to get started right away. Written by world-class bender Jedd Johnson.
The Diesel Crew's Card Tearing eBook
This is a fantastic book. If you've ever considered learning this incredible strength feat, the Card Tearing eBook is the perfect place to start. Love it.
This is a superb resource. With a focus on law enforcement personnel, it takes the form of a Facebook Group as well as one on one coaching sessions. Created by the incredible Jeff Wilson.
Mike Gillette explains the various ways to put the gymnastic rings to work - progressively - in Rings of Power. With clear emphases on both strength and rehabilitation, it's an ideal place to start.
Particularly those of us in the 'over 40' crowd.
When it comes to body transformation - whether that's an increase in strength, packing on a bit of muscle or losing a bit of excess fat - this is the perfect place to start. Dr Berardi's Precision Nutrition.
This is a fantastic book. As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train. Love it.
The Art of Expressing the Human Body
If you've ever watched a Bruce Lee film and marveled at his strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility or muscularity, this book should take pride of place in your collection. Unlike many other writings covering everything from Lee's training methods to nutrition, this book is based not on the recollections of people around him; but on Lee's own notes. Brilliant.
For a full list of what we're reading at the moment (training-related and otherwise), join us on Goodreads. And for a cut-down list showing only the ones we recommend, swing by the Recommended Books & DVDs page. See you there.