Recently in Reading
What's on the Fitness Shelf? Quite a lot actually.
NB : If you'd like to suggest a training-related book or video to us (or to submit a review of one you own yourself), drop us a line.
Silentmode (Music-Enabled Sleep Mask)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : music, sleep
Very interesting combination.
Luft Qi (Portable Air Purifier)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : air pollution
Interesting idea (though I do have a few questions ... ).
Bala Bangles (Wearable Weights)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Wearables, weight vest, yoga
Interesting idea.
Professional Heavy Duty Abdominal Roller
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : abdominal, equipment
The 'King of Ab Wheels'.
Perk (Caffeine Bracelet)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : caffeine, equipment, workout clothing
Interesting idea.
INBair O2 (Oxygen Purifier)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : breathing, equipment, recovery
Interesting idea.
SQRDUP (Alignment Tool for Golf)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment
Interesting idea.
'The Mighty Atom' Movie
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : DVDs, Old-Time Strength
Finally getting a chance to watch this. Looks great.
The DCT (Dynamic Contraction Technique) PROFLEX
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment, stretch
Interesting device.
The DynoSense Adore Scale
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : fat loss, fitness device, health
Very interesting combination.
EvoWheel eBike Conversion Kit
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : cycling, equipment
Looks great.
Dreamlight Sleep Mask
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment, sleep
Looks good.
SitTight - Balanced Active Sitting Chair
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment
Interesting idea.
Steve Pulcinella's Iron Sport Strength Method [Kindle Edition]
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, books, Highland Games, powerlifting, strongman
Great read.
PiCO Air Quality Monitor
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : air pollution, equipment
Looks great.
Bear Squeeze (Meal Replacement Shake)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : diet, nutrition, post-workout nutrition
Interesting combination.
The Search for Greatness
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : books
This looks great.
ONE SMARTDIET Bodyfat Measurement Tool
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodyfat, equipment
Very keen to test this one out.
The Radius™ F1 - Smart Bike Light
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : cycling, equipment
Fantastic.
GO2SLEEP
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : fitness device, sleep
Yes, I'm somewhat obsessed with tracking my sleep.
Sleep Phaser
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : measurement, sleep
One of the most promising ones I've come across.
KetoneAid
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : diet, sports psychology
A Ketone Ester performance drink.
Dragon Door Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : books, DVDs, equipment, kettlebell
40% discount.
Athena Roar
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment
Love running when you travel? Add one of these.
Anchor Point Training's 'Unbreakable' Bands
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bands, equipment
These look great.
NB : if you're looking for something specific, use the search box (top of the page) or drop us a line. And if you're happily browsing around, here's a list of all the categories and tags we use on the site :
Categories
- 10 of the Best
- 30 Days to a Stronger, Fitter, Healthier You
- 30DC
- Articles
- Blast from the Past
- competitions
- Diet and Nutrition
- DIY
- elsewhere
- Equipment
- events
- exercises
- Favourites
- feats
- featured
- From the Archives
- guides
- Gymchats (formerly twitterchats)
- Health
- highlighted
- HoS
- How They Got Started
- interviews
- Magnificent Seven
- News
- photos
- podcasts
- Quotes
- Reading
- Research studies & clinical trials
- Reviews
- routines
- Scripts, Tables and Calculators
- Sites
- TGIF
- This site
- Tips
- video
- Weekly summary
- workouts
Tags
- 30DC (30 Day Challenge)
- 3D printing
- abdominal
- accessibility
- agility
- aging
- aging & longevity
- air pollution
- allergy
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
- Alzheimer's Disease
- amino acids
- anatomy
- ankle weights
- appetite
- apps
- armwrestling
- artificial intelligence
- assistance device
- athletes
- audio
- augmented reality
- autism
- axle
- back pain
- balance
- bands
- basketball
- BCI (Brain-Computer Interface)
- beginner
- bench press
- bending
- bioengineering
- biomechanics
- biphasic sleep
- blindness
- blob
- blood donation
- blood pressure
- blood test
- body composition
- bodybuilding
- bodyclock
- bodyfat
- bodyweight
- bone
- books
- boxing
- brain
- brain injury
- brain-controlled device
- breathing
- Bulgarian Bag
- Bulking & Cutting
- cable
- caffeine
- calculators
- calisthenics
- calves
- cancer
- car pushing
- card tearing
- cardio
- CBD
- certification
- chain
- charity
- cheat meals
- children
- chin-up
- chinning bar
- cholesterol
- Christmas
- circuit training
- climbing
- clubs & maces
- coffee
- combat
- community
- competition
- competitive eating
- concussion
- conditioning
- contest
- core
- counting calories
- CrossFit
- cryogenics
- cycling
- deadlift
- depression
- diabetes
- diagnosis
- diet
- dip
- discussion
- DIY
- DNA
- doping
- drinking (alcohol)
- dumbbell
- DVDs
- ear lifting
- ear pulling
- ebooks
- eggs
- electroceuticals
- endurance
- energy harvesting
- energy security
- enhanced prosthetic
- equipment
- exercise ball
- exercises
- Exercising at Work
- exoskeleton
- exosuit
- Farmers Walk
- fasting
- Fasting & Caloric Restriction
- fat loss
- fattening
- Feats of Strength
- film
- finger strength
- fitness
- fitness business
- fitness device
- flexibility
- focus
- football
- forearm
- Forgotten Lifts
- free weights
- front squat
- futurism
- gene editing
- genetics
- genomics
- giving
- glucose
- gluten
- Goal Setting
- goals
- golf
- Google Glass
- grappling
- grip
- grip strength
- grippers
- gymchats
- Gymchats
- gymnastics
- hair
- hair lifting
- hand strength
- hands
- handstand
- health
- healthspan
- hearing
- heart
- heart disease
- heartrate
- heat
- hemp
- Highland Games
- HIIT
- hiking
- history
- history of strength
- HIT
- hockey
- home gym
- hormones
- horseshoe bending
- hypertrophy training
- IF
- IIFYM
- illness
- injury
- injury prevention
- insomnia
- inspiration
- insulin
- intensity
- intermittent fasting
- interval training
- interview
- isometrics
- jaw lifting
- joggling
- juggling
- jump
- keg
- ketosis
- kettlebell
- kipping
- leg press
- leverage
- levering
- life extension
- lifting
- links
- log
- longevity
- low-carb
- lunge
- mace
- martial arts
- massage
- measurement
- medical cannabis
- medical devices
- medical drone
- memory
- mental health
- mental toughness
- metabolism
- microbiome
- microimplants
- MMA
- mobility
- motivation
- Muay Thai
- muscle
- muscle control
- muscle gain
- muscular imbalances
- music
- nail driving
- nails
- nanotechnology
- nap
- neck
- Nerve damage and neurological conditions
- neuroprosthetics
- newsletter
- Note the best article on blog (or Gem From The Vault
- nutrient timing
- nutrition
- obesity
- obstacle course
- odd object training
- Old-Time Strength
- Olympic Weightlifting
- online training
- organ donation
- organ transplant
- outdoor training
- pain
- Paleo
- paleo
- Paralympics
- paraplegia
- parkour
- partial
- partner-assisted
- percher squat
- periodisation
- Personal Training
- photography
- physical therapy
- pinching
- Plant-Based Diets
- plastic surgery
- plate
- plyometrics
- podcast
- post-workout nutrition
- post-workout supplements
- posture
- powerlifting
- pre-workout nutrition
- pre-workout supplements
- Primal
- probiotics
- program design
- prosthetic
- prosthetics
- protein
- public health
- pull-up
- pulse
- push-ups
- quadriplegia
- quantified self
- recovery
- regenerative medicine
- rehab
- rehabilitation
- rep speed
- resistance bands
- rest
- review
- reviews
- rings
- robotics
- rock climbing
- rope
- rotator cuff
- routine
- routines
- rower
- rowing
- RSS
- rugby
- running
- running a gym
- sandbag
- sandbell
- sandpit
- self-defense
- seminar
- seminars
- shoes
- shoulders
- shrugs
- sight
- sites
- skiing
- skin
- sled dragging
- sledgehammer training
- sleep
- slosh pipe
- smoking
- snow
- Social Media
- Social Media (Twitter Google+ and Facebook)
- sport
- sports psychology
- sprinting
- squat
- stability ball (aka 'exercise ball', 'fitness ball')
- stem cells
- still got it
- stimulant
- stone lifting
- streaming video
- strength
- strength endurance
- stress
- stretch
- stretching
- strongman
- studies & trials
- supplementation
- supplements
- surfing
- surgery
- suspension training
- swimming
- tearing
- technique
- telesurgery
- testosterone
- TGIF
- thick bar
- thirst
- thumb
- Timeless Exercises
- toxicity
- training
- training at work
- Training Concepts & Strategies
- Training Concepts & Strategies
- Training When Travelling
- Transhumanism
- traps
- treadmill
- triathlons
- triboelectrics
- tricking
- triglycerides
- truck pull
- TRX
- TTK
- tutorial
- twitterchats
- tyre
- upper back
- used strength-training equipment
- vaccination
- video
- video games
- video training
- virtual reality
- vitamin b
- walking
- warming up
- water
- water consumption
- Wearables
- weight gain
- weight loss
- weight vest
- whey
- workout clothing
- workout times
- workout tracking
- workshops
- world record
- wrestling
- wrist strength
- yoga
- Yoga
- yoke
- zercher squat
Cheers.
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.