by Josh Hodnik

Just a few decades ago, depression was a condition that people were reluctant to talk about. People diagnosed with depression were sometimes viewed as weak, being unable to handle the tough times in life. That has all changed. It seems that every time I turn on the television I see a commercial for one of the many new antidepressants on the market today. There are always blue skies, green grass, and big smiles in these ads. Views on depression have flip flopped from what they once were, and it could be one of the most overdiagnosed conditions there is.

by Cade Thomas

Oh, the drama. There is no question that the main thing that separates bodybuilding today from any other time in it’s history is the fact everyone and their dog has a coach. Shit – everyone and their dog IS a coach. The concept of having someone experienced guide you through a contest prep or a professional enlisting the help of a “guru” to take him to the next level is not exclusive to this modern age, but it has spiraled out of control.

by Matt Weik

Sugar! That wonderfully sweet ingredient that could literally make anything taste better, is slowly trying to destroy you. Consider sugar like Jedi mind tricks. Even a little bit can have a lasting effect on you, your body, and your health. Most people don’t know the damaging effects of sugar until it’s too late. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make a change in your nutritional habits, make the change TODAY. Read below to find 6 ways that sugar is damaging your body.

by Matt Weik

In an industry that is judged on appearance, do bodybuilders have the right to hide their physique during their prep, or do they owe it to the fans to showcase their progress leading up to the show?

by Matt Weik

I must admit, I’m a bit of a YouTube addict. If they had group meetings to beat the addiction, I’d probably be sitting in the front row say, “Hi, my name is Matt Weik, and I’m addicted to YouTube”. I’m not one to sit in front of the screen and watch all the gossipy news and BS that floats around the industry, rather, I’m trying to find informative videos on different topics that interest me—not all of which are fitness related. That being said, I subscribe to certain YouTube personalities that are in the fitness industry just to see if there’s anything new going on or anything of interest that I might want to watch/listen to. What I see more times than not is a bunch of people bitching about people in the industry, exposing companies for things they are doing to screw consumers, etc. I sit here and scratch my head at what’s going on in the industry.

by Matt Weik

The fact that someone is starting their journey through health and fitness itself is a step in the right direction. It can be scary, yet rewarding at the same time. The old saying “if it were easy, everyone would do it” applies to the situation. If becoming strong and healthy were easy or came in a pill, the US wouldn’t be flooded with a population that is overweight and obese. Starting a workout program can be overwhelming and confusing.

by Josh Hodnik

Much like growth hormone, insulin is a functional protein. Unlike proteins that are physical building blocks of muscle, insulin is a protein chain of amino acids that is folded in such a way that makes it act more like a signaling mechanism than a building block. Insulin originates in the pancreas, and once it leaves there it enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to various tissues, including muscle tissue. These tissues are lined with insulin receptors, and once the insulin attaches to the receptor, it signals the muscle cell to open it’s gates.

by Matt Weik

With so much information out there today, it’s difficult to weed through the BS “Bro-Science” and the legitimate research backed science. These days everyone who picks up a weight is a fitness guru in their own mind. Everything they read in magazines is taken as gospel and these goons will hang onto every word that the biggest guy in the gym says. “I just read an article that showed Phil Heath’s workout on how to get 20+ inch arms! Now I can finally look like ‘The Gift’ himself!” Cool bro, I have a needle of the highest quality oxygen for you to inject into your vein too that will make you huge. Actually, don’t attempt that last sentence, it’s a sure way to end up dead—but you get the sarcasm, right? Come on, get real people. Snap out of it. Stop listening to the opinions of individuals and start looking into the actual concrete research.

by Matt Weik

If you’re like me, you hate going to the doctor. I’m just about on my death bed before I finally decide to go in to see what could be wrong with me. In fact, whenever I call to schedule an appointment I wonder if the doctor I had previously is even practicing anymore—or alive even as that’s how long it is between my visits. Doctors certainly have their place, but I’ve personally found most doctors that I’ve seen to be total quacks. After all, someone has to graduate last in their class, right?

by Mike Arnold

To those of us who have been part of the bodybuilding community for the last few decades, it doesn’t seem like that long ago when hardcore gyms were a dime a dozen. In those days, training facilities that catered to the competitive bodybuilder were the norm, rather than the exception. This mind-set was reflected in the gym membership itself, in which most of the people who trained there either looked like bodybuilders or aspired to, while the remaining members were comprised primarily of powerlifters and other serious athletes. By and large, gyms both existed for and were run by bodybuilders.