Straight to the Bar Archives : Research studies & clinical trials

Recently in Research studies & clinical trials

Taking a detailed look at Health & Fitness from all angles.

Looking At : Apr 22, 2012

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : coffee, conditioning, deadlift, grip, links, nutrition, photography, sleep, Social Media (Twitter Google+ and Facebook)

What we were talking about this week : on Google+, Twitter, and the Forums.

»» Continue reading »».

Looking At ...

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : cycling, jump, links, photography, skiing, Social Media (Twitter Google+ and Facebook), streaming video, water consumption

Binoculars. Photo by Phil Whitehouse.During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Exercise in Healthy Older Adults

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning, still got it

Ida Wasserman, hitting the gym at 100.Chris notes two very interesting studies which look at the impact of exercise on older adults - Cardiovascular Aging and Exercise in Healthy Older Adults and Is Regular Exercise a Friend or Foe of...

The Effects of Music Tempo

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Dr Costas Karageorghis.Scott Dunlap over at A Trail Runner's Blog notes the work of Dr Costas Karageorghis on music tempo and exercise. For an overview, head over to the New York Times; for a little more meat, check out the...

Better Sleep, Better Memory

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : sleep

Time for a bit of quality shut-eye.

Hunger Can Make You Happy

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Hungry mouse. Photo by pasotraspaso.Via Digg : Livescience notes an interesting study published this month in Nature Neuroscience. The short version? Hunger can make you (well, mice anyway) happy....

Learning to Juggle At Any Age

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : brain, juggling, still got it

Juggling. Photo by jayniebell.Via Just Your Average Joggler : the Journal of Neuroscience noted an interesting study this week, relating to the brain changes associated with learning a new skill (specifically juggling) - particularly for those over 50. If you've...

The Smell of Coffee

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : coffee, podcast

Even rats enjoy waking up to it.

All In The Mind?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Placebo. Photo by purchio.Chris notes another study which looks at the performance-enhancing effects of a placebo. Very interesting....

Extra Sleep Improves Athletic Performance

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

Sleeping. Photo by prakhar.Via Conditioning Research : Science Daily notes one of the many sleep vs performance studies taking place at the moment. Although I disagree with the idea of simply increasing the duration of sleep - in my opinion,...

Does Fasting Help Prevent Jetlag?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodyclock, fasting

Starved. Photo by Crystl.Via Digg : Reuters notes an interesting study on the benefits of starvation prior to a long flight. Anyone tried it?...

Maximal Strength Training Improves Running Economy in Distance Runners

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning, endurance, running

The benefits of strength training for endurance athletes.

The Number of Fat Cells Remains Constant

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

They're happy because they eat lard. Image via SharkeyinColo.Via Conditioning Research : EurekAlert notes another very interesting snippet from the current research on fats : the number of fat cells in a person's body is established during teen years; remaining...

Fat Cells Die and Are Replaced

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

Mmmmm. Photo by terren in Virginia.Chris points to a very interesting piece in the NYT, noting a Swedish study on the lifecycle of fat cells. From the article : Every year, whether you are fat or thin, whether you lose...

The Effects of Training in a Fasted State

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

No Food. Photo by Mykl Roventine.Chris points to an interesting study on a slightly controversial issue for Intermittent Fasters : what are the effects of training in a fasted state? Definitely something to think about....

The Benefits of Carbohydrate Restriction

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

Carbohydrate Restriction.Chris notes an interesting study [256kb, .pdf] on carbohydrate restriction. Several potential benefits....

Tattoo Vaccination

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : vaccination

Perfect.

Fasting-Induced Changes

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning, fasting

Chris notes an interesting study on the effects of fasting : Fasting-Induced Changes in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis (abstract only). It's a fascinating area of research....

Is it Ever Too Cold to Exercise?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : sports psychology, swimming

Not according to the NY Times.

Stretching May Increase Strength

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : stretch, stretching

Via FitSugar : MSNBC notes another study on the positive aspects of regular stretching - possible strength gains. It's all good....

Feeling Tense? Try a Spot of Meditation

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Yahoo! Health notes an interesting study on mediation - pointing out that short, regular sessions can have real benefits in overall health. What's more, it's relaxing. And no, you don't need to sit out in a field and chant....

Alternate-Day Fasting

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning, diet, fasting, intermittent fasting

Over at Conditioning Research Chris points to an interesting study on the effects of alternate-day fasting (as per routines such as The QOD Diet) in mice. There's still a way to go before the long-term effects of similar diets are discovered for humans, but it's a great start.

Another look at 2 green tea studies

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : water consumption

The Got Strength? Blog takes a brief look at two studies on my favourite beverage (other than water) - green tea. Short version - a miracle cure it isn't, but there are health benefits aplenty. Good stuff....

Heart Attacks Down Following Smoking Ban

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : public health, smoking

Not bad at all.

Spiderman Suit May Not Be That Far Away

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : climbing

At least in the ability-to-climb-walls department.

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 :

Cheers.

The Gymchats with Josh Hewett. Talking about strength, every week.

If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.

This week :

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.

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?

'Do It With Hewett.'

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.

what we're saying

And if you'd like to see the comments as soon as they arrive, you can grab the RSS feed here.

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 :

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)

Ferocious Fitness.

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

Straight to the Bar Team on Kiva.

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.

love your grip work?

Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.

want to help out?

Sign in here. Photo by Robert Bejil ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/robnas/ ).

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

On the Lookout 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 Do A Double Under
Diesel Crew : Diesel Crew Shirts
Year of the Bear : Training Update, Life in Taiwan
Gains & Aesthetics : What The Greek God Fitness Program Is All About

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

The Modius Headset

This is certainly an interesting idea (although I'm not sure that this particular device is anywhere near precise enough to be effective) - vestibular stimulation for fat loss. Still, I'd love to see a whole lot more research (on humans) on this area.

To give you an idea of the product itself, a bit of video :

The Modius Headset.

NB : We've recommended a number of books, DVDs & pieces of equipment over the years. Here's the complete list :

straighttothebar.com/articles/reading.

Read on »»

The Diesel Crew Bending eBook

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.

Powerful Peacemaker

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.

Rings of Power

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.

Precision Nutrition

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.

Strength Training Anatomy

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.

Just Joined Us? Try These.

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 these, check out the complete 'Best Of Straight to the Bar' list. Fantastic.

Converters and Calculators.

Before you start your fitness journey, it's important to measure a few things.

Here's how.

Wherever You Are, We Are.

In addition to the main site, you can share your strength-training passion with a like-minded community on :

Wherever you like to hang out, get your regular dose of strength. Straight to the Bar.

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